Guide
Only a cold-water connection in the kitchen — what options are there?
Only cold water in the kitchen is not a problem: you produce hot water on site with a storage heater or an instantaneous heater.
Which solution fits depends on your hot-water demand, the electrical supply available, and the kitchen tap you want.
For most kitchens we recommend an unpressurised 5-litre under-sink storage heater with a low-pressure tap — ideally with anti-drip and ThermoStop functions.
A pressurised storage heater allows standard high-pressure taps, but requires professional installation by a plumbing contractor.
Small 230 V instantaneous heaters supply hand-warm water continuously, but often are not enough for a fully used sink.
Conclusion
With a cold-water connection and a 230 V socket you can produce hot water in the kitchen reliably — the preferred solution is the 5-litre under-sink storage heater.
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Not every kitchen has a central hot-water supply alongside the cold-water connection. Hot water can still be produced at the sink. Which solution fits depends on hot-water demand, the electrical supply and the tap you want.
1. 5-litre under-sink storage heater with a low-pressure tap
For a normally used kitchen sink, an unpressurised 5-litre under-sink storage heater is usually the simplest solution: compact in the sink cabinet, on a 230 V socket, water heated to around 60 °C and mixed with cold water when you run the tap. Five litres of stored water then yield a larger volume of warm mixed water.
It needs a low-pressure tap with three connections — not a standard high-pressure tap. Matching models are available from BLANCO, for example:
Look for anti-drip and ThermoStop functions. Water expands as it heats; without anti-drip the tap drips. ThermoStop cuts heat loss through the tap. An example is the STIEBEL ELTRON SNU 5 Plus.
Once the tank is empty it has to heat a new fill. Even so, for most kitchens with only a cold-water connection this remains our preferred solution.
2. Small electronic instantaneous heater (230 V)
Without a tank, water is heated only when you open the tap — in theory continuously. Without an extra 400 V three-phase supply (often already used by the hob), only small 230 V units of around 3.5 kW remain. At a low flow they raise the temperature by about 25 °C: 10 °C cold water becomes roughly 35 °C.
That is enough for washing hands and a quick rinse, not for a strong, hot washing-up jet. Only worthwhile if you need little water, or only hand-warm water.
3. Pressurised under-sink storage heater with a high-pressure tap
Also compact with five litres and 230 V — but with a standard high-pressure tap. That pays off if a particular tap or a wide design choice matters. High-pressure taps are available from BLANCO, for example the BLANCO LANORA in brushed stainless steel:
View BLANCO high-pressure taps
Connection and safety devices belong with a plumbing contractor. In return you get free choice of tap and good hot-water comfort.
Recommendation
- 5-litre under-sink storage heater with a low-pressure tap — the best compromise for a typical sink.
- Pressurised storage heater with a high-pressure tap — if a particular tap is already decided.
- Small 230 V instantaneous heater — only for low demand.
Decide sink, tap and hot-water solution together early, and plan a free 230 V socket in the sink cabinet. For the waste, plastic kits work well, for example the Naber Montage-Set 3.
Conclusion
With a cold-water connection and a 230 V socket you can produce hot water reliably. In most cases we recommend the 5-litre under-sink storage heater with a low-pressure tap (anti-drip and ThermoStop). We are happy to advise on the right combination — Contact.