The water cooler is the hub of all things fun at the office. It’s a place to exchange ideas and jokes amongst co-workers. It’s the lifeline to the outside world. Well… wouldn’t it be terrible if your water dispenser suddenly broke down? Suddenly, you’re left with nothing but a giant bottle of water, sitting there and mocking you. Here’s some tips on how to avoid accidents and keep your water cooler in tip-top shape:

– Clean tray. Keep things hygienic by cleaning your water dispenser place with multiple hands and bottles in. Make sure to clean the tray where the water is dispensed. Use a household disinfectant or make your own (2 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water) to clean this area to prevent mold growth.

– Change the filter. If your dispenser has a filter, make sure to change it regularly as directed by the packaging. It’ll keep the water fresh and free of impurities.

– Flush out the system. Add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 gallon of warm water to flush out the drained system. This helps to disinfect your system and keeps your water tasting fresh.

– Reboot. If there seems to be a problem with your machine, such as not having cold water, you should unplug and replug the water cooler. Also, make sure that the cold water switch is on.

– Call a handyman. If something’s wrong with your dispenser and you’re not quite sure what it is or how to fix it, it may be time to call a handyman to fix the problem. Let TalkLocal help connect you with a local pro for free.

– Buy a new one. If all else fails, buy a new one. You can buy a best selling water cooler for $99.99 on Amazon as of April 29, 2016.

We hope these tips help keep your water cooler running and the conversations flowing.