Oasis MIR301D-2 WHI Mirage Bottom Bottle Load Water Cooler with Option to Convert to Bottleless Cooler, White

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Price: $479.95    

Product Feature

• Bottom load feature eliminates heavy lifting of 5 -Gallon water bottles
• Convertible to connect direct to water line; parts for conversion included
• Features easy to use controls located on front display panel for tri-temperature dispensing hot, cold or ambient water
• Fits 3 or 5 -Gallon water bottles in bottle cooler mode; bottle not included
• Features a large faucet alcove for filling sports bottles and carafes

Product Description

Since 1910 Oasis has delivered sustainable, state-of-the-art water dispensing and filtering solutions for residential and commercial applications. We deliver water-friendly solutions that provide clean, safe drinking water for everyone, everywhere. Innovative design combines ease-of-use and versatility into one. The Mirage is a bottom-load bottled cooler or direct to water line water dispenser with water filtration. The bottom loading technology eliminates heavy-lifting of water jugs making refills a breeze. And the simple conversion to direct water line offers optional water filtration utilizing the OASIS green filter for the best possible water quality. Easy to use controls located on front display panel for dispensing hot, cold or ambient water, large faucet alcove for filling sports bottles and carafes. The cold water refrigeration unit is convection-cooled and has a sealed compressor and automatic overload protector. The Hot Water Safety Faucet is simple to use and protects from accidental water flow. Uses 3 or 5 gallon water bottles in bottle cooler mode and delivers one gallon of cold water and 45 6oz cups of hot water per hour. It features a large, durable drip tray that lifts out for easy removal and is dishwasher safe. Stylish, modern white cabinet matches any d cor. The flexibility to use the Mirage as a bottle cooler or point-of-use cooler makes this water dispenser a valuable addition to any home or office. Includes a three year warranty.

Oasis MIR301D-2 WHI Mirage Bottom Bottle Load Water Cooler with Option to Convert to Bottleless Cooler, White Review

I don't often buy items that have no reviews, but I took a chance on this unit. I've only had this unit for a day, but I'll give my initial impressions so you guys at least have something to read before you buy.

UPDATE JUNE 8, 2013: Just wanted to let you know that the cooler is still going strong, and my review stands. As an aside, I bought "Premium Non-spill Bottle Caps - Quantity of 25" from Amazon, and I refill five-gallon bottles with filtered water from my sink (Aqua-Pure #APDW80/90) so no more Poland Spring deliveries.

UPDATE APRIL 26, 2013: After owning this unit for four months, we're still very happy with it.

First, packaging was very good. Might even be considered overkill. The unit was packed much like a refrigerator or large appliance, on a pallet-like bottom made of cardboard and styrofoam with a cardboard sleeve over the top, secured by plastic strapping. This container was packed into another box, with a heavy foam pad on both top and bottom. This was then packed by Amazon into yet another box, so unpacking the unit was kind of like opening a set of nesting dolls. It may have been overkill, but the unit arrived in perfect condition.

Second, the unit is pretty. With the bottle hidden in the bottom of the unit and the sloping front panel, it looks much cleaner than my old top-loading unit. The blue lights are pretty, too, although they're quite bright and it doesn't appear that they can be turned off. You might be able to open the back panel and disconnect them, but I don't see a switch or setting that turns them off. I like the lights, but my wife would like to be able to turn them off. Also, while it's not clear in the product photos, the top of the unit is flat from the back to where the sloping front panel begins. This is nice if you want to set something on top.

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2013: My wife does not like the bright blue LED that illuminates the fill area. I have to agree. It's very bright -- lights up the kitchen at night. It's useful, but too bright for us, and it can't be turned off. I stuck a small square of self-adhesive Velcro fuzz over the LED which dimmed it nicely and turned it into a very pleasant night light in the kitchen.

Third, the unit has some nice features. For one, the fill area is nice and big, so it can easily accommodate a pitcher or large sports bottle. For another, you can turn the hot water heater on and off, so you don't need to constantly heat water. The hot water temperature is factory set and cannot be changed, but we found the water to be quite hot enough to steep a cup of tea. My wife wasn't sure she'd like or use the hot water feature, but she was very happy to be able to toss a teabag in a cup, fill it with steaming hot water, and have an instant cup of tea without having to boil water on the stove. The hot water safety is easy to manipulate with one hand while holding your cup with the other. Cold water temperature can be adjusted to taste. I found the factory setting to be fine, but the water can be made colder, so it's nice to have that option.

UPDATE APRIL 26, 2013: We're still very happy with the water temperatures. My wife turns the heater on when we walk in the door from work, and turns it off again at bedtime. She's able to easily make a hot drink anytime she likes without boiling water on the stove, and the temperature is plenty hot enough for tea or cocoa. I'm also still happy with the factory setting for cold.

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2013: Consider the way the spout is designed. It's not like a spigot, where the fill nozzle is right out in the open. On this cooler, you must bend down and look to see the little nozzle. This isn't a problem if you're filling something like a glass or a wide-necked bottle, but if you're filling something with a smaller neck, say, a Sigg bottle, you'll have to bend down and look so that you can align the bottle with the nozzle. That said, I'm used to it now, so I know where to position and how to tilt these bottles without looking at the nozzle. I suspect you'll get used to it, too. The nice thing about the non-spigot style nozzle is that people can't take their water bottles and stick them up against this nozzle. At my office, for instance, guys will refill their water bottles by putting them up against the spigot. That's unsanitary. This cooler is better in that regard. Also, this cooler has very good water flow. Our office cooler has an annoying little trickle. If you've encountered one of those low-flow coolers, you know what I'm talking about, and you'll be happy to know that this cooler does not suffer from that problem.

Finally, the bottle fill mechanism seems very good. I was looking at reviews of BPA-free bottles, and one person said these bottles wouldn't work in her bottom-loading unit because her unit pressurized the bottle, and couldn't form a seal with the top of the bottle. This unit doesn't do that, so I was able to perform the initial cleaning and testing with a bottle that I keep around for emergencies. The bottle is completely open at the top, and the unit had no problem pumping water out of it. And the pump nearly completely emptied the bottle, so that's good, too.

Now for the small criticisms that I have. I already mentioned the bright blue LED, which you may or may not like. The "Mirage" label on the front of the unit was placed slightly crooked and appears to be just a sticker, so that offends my extremely picky sensibilities.

Also, the product description says that the plastic drip tray is dishwasher safe. The manual with the unit says that it is not. Who to believe?

The most significant criticism that I have is that the unit was noisy, but keep reading and I'll tell you why. When I first turned it on, the unit was fine: quiet and smooth. When running normally, it makes a low-pitched hum. After running for a few minutes, a very annoying buzz began, emanating from the top of the unit. It seemed the compressor was causing something to vibrate. My wife said, "call the company, let's send it back." I removed the back panel (just a couple of screws) and looked inside. There's a steel cover on top of the steel water reservoir that was vibrating when the compressor came on. I cut a large o-ring and slipped it between the two steel pieces, and that stopped the buzzing vibration. I also added a thin piece of foil insulation between the steel cover and the bottom of the unit top, folded to sit against the inside of the back panel for a little extra sound insulation. No more buzzing, and quite quiet.

UPDATE MARCH 7, 2013: The unit is still quiet most of the time, but you can definitely hear the pump running to fill the reservoir. Otherwise, I can't really hear the unit cycling on and off to cool or heat. The sound of the pump doesn't bother my wife at all.

UPDATE MARCH 16, 2013: Actually, I do hear the unit humming when cycling on and off, whether to heat or cool, I haven't investigated. It doesn't really bother me, but it isn't silent, either.

UPDATE APRIL 26, 2013: Noise is still something you probably should consider as a factor in purchasing. I removed the rear panel again (four screws - very easy) and added some non-fiberglass insulation around the reservoir tank and pump to quiet the cooler down. It helps. Also, remember that, while a top-mounted bottle cooler uses gravity to keep the reservoir filled, this unit must pump water to the reservoir, and that means it's inherently noisier. Also, I've noticed that the unit is generally quieter the fuller the bottle is. A full water bottle seems to stablilize what is otherwise quite a lightweight cooler, and it seems that this results in quieter operation.

Those are my initial impressions of a very nice unit. I'll update after it's been running for a few months and let you know if we still like it.

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