A 5 in 1 tap adds one thing that 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 kitchen taps do not: filtered, chilled still water, delivered from the same spout as your instant boiling water. For anyone who already relies on a boiling water tap day to day, that's the one function most often missing. No jug in the fridge, no half-empty bottles taking up shelf space, just cold, filtered water on demand alongside the boiling water you're used to.
So, is that fifth function worth paying for, and what does it change about how your kitchen works? That's what this guide sets out to answer, starting with what the format actually delivers.
What Is a 5-in-1 Boiling Water Tap?
What does a 5-in-1 tap do, exactly? Where a standard boiling water tap covers hot and cold plus one filtered option, the format adds a second filtered function so every type of water people use comes from a single spout.
This setup gives you:
- 98°C filtered water, ready instantly for tea, coffee and cooking
- Mains hot water for washing up
- Mains cold water for everyday use
- A filtered drinking option, cleaner in taste than mains alone
- Filtered chilled still water, cooled and ready to drink
Behind the tap sits a compact digital boiler and, on a UK boiling tap like this, an under-sink tank that heats and stores water ready to dispense the moment you lift the lever.
What Does the Fifth Function Add?
As mentioned above, the fifth function is filtered chilled water, and in practice it's the one homeowners notice first once they've lived with a 5-in-1 tap for a few weeks. Instead of keeping a jug of filtered cold water in the fridge, or restocking bottled water for guests, it's there at the tap, cooled and ready.
For anyone who already has a boiling water tap and is weighing up a kitchen upgrade, this is usually the deciding factor. It removes the last non-tap step from getting a decent glass of water. Think about it, there’s no waiting for the fridge jug to refill, no ice trays, no bottles in the recycling. For households that entertain, or simply drink a lot of water day to day, that convenience adds up quickly.
How Does the Chilled Water Function Work?
The mechanism behind filtered boiling water and filtered chilled water is largely the same unit. It just works at opposite ends of the temperature scale. Mains water first passes through a K5 Carbon filter. This removes particles, chlorine taste and the compounds that can make tap water taste flat or metallic. From there, the filtered water splits into two lines. One feeds the digital boiler, which produces instant boiling water at a genuine 98°C. The other feeds a small chiller that cools the water before it reaches the spout.
The filtration step doesn't change depending on temperature; the same K5 Carbon cartridge does the work either way. What changes is what happens after filtration, handled by the digital touchscreen boiler and chiller. Because both draw from the same filtered supply, there's no extra plumbing run needed just for the chilled function.
What Does Installation Involve?
Fitting a 5-in-1 tap involves more under the counter than a standard mixer tap. None of it is beyond what a competent plumber handles routinely, though. The box includes the tap, a digital touchscreen boiler, a K5 Carbon filter, and all the pipes and fittings needed to connect them. There's no separate under-sink tank to source; the boiler and filter simply sit in the cabinet below.
Most kitchens have enough room under the sink for a premium tap's boiler and filter unit. It's still worth checking clearance first, especially if the cabinet is already tight with waste pipes, a dishwasher connection or a bin system. Installation usually takes a plumber a few hours. Anyone upgrading from a 3-in-1 or 4-in-1 will often find the wiring and water connections already sit in a familiar layout.
5-in-1 vs 3-in-1 vs 4-in-1: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
A straightforward tap comparison makes the differences easy to see. A 3-in-1 tap covers instant boiling, hot and cold. A 4-in-1 adds a filtered drinking option. A 5-in-1 tap adds filtered chilled water on top of that, so it's the only format covering every temperature and every filtered option from one spout.
In terms of everyday value:
- 3-in-1: Covers the basics, a straightforward kettle replacement
- 4-in-1: Adds filtered drinking water for households who value that on its own
- 5-in-1: Adds chilled water, removing the need for a fridge jug or bottles too
Whether the upgrade is worth it comes down to how often chilled water gets used. Households that entertain regularly or want to clear fridge-door clutter tend to get the most value; those who mainly use the tap for tea and coffee may find a 4-in-1 covers what they need.
Who Is the 5-in-1 Format Really For?
This format tends to suit a specific kind of buyer, not every kitchen. It's a natural fit for anyone already using a boiling water tap who's ready for a further kitchen upgrade. It suits them most if that extra filtered cold water would get used daily, not just occasionally.
It also suits households that entertain often. Chilled still water at the tap replaces bottled water for guests, without extra prep. And for anyone who sees the tap as a genuine premium tap purchase, not just a kettle alternative, the 5-in-1 format covers every use case in one fixture. That includes the Fohen 5-in-1 range, which pairs the format with a solid brass body and a choice of finishes.
Choosing Your Fohen 5-in-1
A 5-in-1 tap earns its place by covering boiling, hot, cold, filtered cold and filtered chilled water from one spout, making the tap comparison against simpler ranges easy once you know how often you'd use that fifth function. Built around solid brass, with WRAS approval and a 2-year warranty, it comes with free UK delivery and 30-day returns.
Weighing it up as a kettle replacement? Call Fohen on 01924 975888 or use our contact form, and we'll help you choose the right fit. You can also shop any of our products online.