Lincat FilterFlow Water Boilers: Wall-Mounted or Counter-Top, and Which Size?

Last updated: October 2026

In 30 seconds:

• Lincat FilterFlow boilers plumb into the mains and refill themselves, so there is filtered boiling water on tap all day. Prices run from £529 to £889.
• Wall-mounted (M3F, M5F, M7F, M10F and the glass WMB3F) saves counter space. Counter-top (EB3FX, EB3FX/PB and EB6FX) holds far more water ready to pour.
• Every 3kW model makes about the same amount per hour. A bigger tank only gives you more water at once. Only the 6kW EB6FX doubles the hourly output.
• Check two things first: a mains cold-water feed, and whether you need a 13A plug. The WMB3F and EB6FX must be wired in.

How long does your team stand by a kettle at 8am? In a busy café, canteen or staff room that time adds up fast, and a kettle can’t keep up with a queue anyway.

An automatic-fill water boiler is the standard fix for any business pouring tea, Americanos, soups or noodles all day. Lincat’s FilterFlow range is the one we stock: nine UK-made electric boilers that connect to your mains water, filter it, and keep it at temperature. This guide shows which one suits which business.

The honest summary

The biggest mistake is paying for a bigger tank to get “more hot water”. On the 3kW models, a bigger tank does not boil any faster. It only gives you a larger first rush. If you need more water every hour, you need the 6kW EB6FX and a supply to match.

Lincat FilterFlow water boilers compared

Figures come from Lincat’s spec sheets and manuals. “Instant” is how many cups you can draw from a full tank before you wait for it to reheat.

Lincat quotes 140 cups an hour for the M range, 205 for the WMB3F, 155 for the EB3FX and 300 for the EB6FX. Those counts use different cup sizes, so compare the litres.

Wall-mounted: M3F, M5F, M7F and M10F

Quick specs

• Power: 3kW, 13A, supplied with a UK 3-pin plug.
• Output: 28 litres an hour on every model.
• Temperature: adjustable from 70°C to 96°C.
• Height with fittings: 398mm (M3F) up to 580mm (M10F).
• Weight when full: 12.1kg (M3F) up to 22.1kg (M10F).
• Price: from £529 (M3F) to £699 (M10F).
• View the Lincat FilterFlow M5F →

Best for

Staff rooms, offices, small cafés and kitchens where counter space is tight. It hangs on the wall from a bracket and leaves the worktop clear.

Which size?

• M3F: a staff room or small office where people drift in one or two at a time.
• M5F: a small café or tea room. Our pick for most counters: 28 cups ready at once, for £10 more than the M3F.
• M7F: a busier service point that pours in waves.
• M10F: a canteen break or a function where 50 cups go out together.

Don’t buy it for

• A plasterboard wall. Lincat says it must go on a solid concrete or brick wall.
• A site that needs more than 28 litres every hour. Every M model tops out at the same rate.

Trade-off: the M range has a simple LCD screen and push buttons. There is no eco mode or weekly timer, so it stays on unless you switch it off.

Wall-mounted glass: WMB3F

Quick specs

• Power: 3kW, 13A, wired into a terminal block. No plug, cable or water hose is supplied.
• Output: 31 litres an hour, 23 cups at once.
• Size: 300mm wide, slim enough to sit close to the wall, 8.5kg.
• Front: 6mm toughened glass, cool to the touch, in white or black.
• Price: from £659.

Best for

Front-of-house tea stations, hotel receptions and coffee shops where the boiler is on show. The tap sits high, so teapots, jugs and airpots fit underneath.

Trade-off: it costs £120 more than the M5F and holds less water. You are paying for the slim glass look, and you need an electrician to wire it in.

Counter-top: EB3FX and EB3FX/PB

Quick specs

• Power: 3kW, 13A, supplied with a 13A plug.
• Tank: 15 litres. Output 31 litres an hour, with 55 cups available at once.
• Temperature: 70°C to 98°C on the EB3FX.
• Footprint: 250mm wide and 525mm deep. Weight 15kg.
• Controls: colour touchscreen, a timer to switch off overnight and at weekends, and an eco mode.
• Price: EB3FX from £689. EB3FX/PB from £859.
• View the Lincat FilterFlow EB3FX →

Best for

A busy café, canteen or catering kitchen that pours in big rushes. The EB3FX is our pick for most food businesses. It holds about twice the ready water of an M5F and still runs from a normal socket.

How the eco mode works

Eco mode fills the tank only halfway in quiet periods, which saves energy and heats up faster from cold. The predictive setting learns when you are busy and switches itself in and out.

The push-button EB3FX/PB

The /PB dispenses at the press of a button and has a PIN lock that stops water being drawn without a code. It suits self-service points, schools and care homes. If nobody else uses your boiler, save £170 and buy the standard EB3FX.

High output: EB6FX

Quick specs

• Power: 6kW, 26A. It must be wired in with a 4mm² cable and an isolator.
• Tank: 22 litres. Output 60 litres an hour, with 90 cups available at once.
• Footprint: 250mm wide and 525mm deep. Weight 18kg.
• Price: from £889.

Best for

Canteens, school kitchens, staff restaurants and conference venues where hot drinks go out non-stop. It is the only FilterFlow that doubles the hourly output.

Trade-off: budget for an electrician to run a dedicated 26A supply before it arrives. If your rush is short and sharp rather than all day, an EB3FX on a plug may be enough.

What you need before you order

• A mains cold-water feed. Every FilterFlow connects through an accessible isolating tap with a ¾-inch BSP thread. There is no manual-fill option.
• Enough water pressure. Mains pressure of 2 to 6 bar suits every model in the range.
• A drain for the overflow. The wall models have an overflow pipe that should run to a suitable drain.
• The right electrics. A 13A socket for the M range and the EB3FX models. A wired supply for the WMB3F and EB6FX.
• Space to service it. Leave 300mm below a wall boiler to change the filter, and 200mm above an M model (400mm above a WMB3F) to lift the cover.
• A frost-free indoor spot. Lincat says the wall models are not for outdoor use, and every model needs a room between 5°C and 30°C.

Lincat’s manuals say a qualified person should install and commission each boiler.

Filters, descaling and warranty

The built-in FilterFlow cartridge cuts scale and improves the taste of drinks. The screen counts down its life and shows a reminder when it needs changing. Fit a genuine Lincat cartridge, because Lincat says another make could invalidate the warranty.

Descaling still matters, especially in hard-water areas.

• EB counter-top models have a built-in descale programme. It takes about an hour, and the boiler can’t be used while it runs.
• M and WMB3F wall models must be descaled by trained staff, because the panels come off.
• Warranty: 2 years on UK mainland. Service calls caused by limescale are not covered, and nor are filters.

Need hot water away from the mains?

FilterFlow boilers need mains water and a fixed indoor wall or counter. They are not built for a catering van or an outdoor pitch. For off-grid trading, read our gas tea urn and water boiler buyer’s guide, or see how LPG and electric portable water boilers compare.

Running a café as well? Our commercial coffee machines guide covers the espresso side.

Frequently asked questions

Do Lincat FilterFlow water boilers need plumbing in?

Yes. Every FilterFlow model connects to a mains cold-water supply through an isolating tap with a ¾-inch BSP thread, and refills itself automatically. Mains pressure of 2 to 6 bar suits the whole range. The wall models also need their overflow pipe run to a drain.

Can a Lincat water boiler plug into a 13A socket?

Most can. The M3F, M5F, M7F, M10F, EB3FX and EB3FX/PB are 3kW and come with a 13A plug. The WMB3F has no plug and must be wired in. The 6kW EB6FX draws 26A and needs a dedicated wired supply fitted by an electrician.

How many cups an hour does a Lincat water boiler make?

The 3kW models make 28 to 31 litres of boiling water an hour, which Lincat rates at 140 to 205 cups depending on the model and cup size. The 6kW EB6FX makes 60 litres an hour, or about 300 cups.

Should I choose a wall-mounted or counter-top water boiler?

Choose wall-mounted if counter space is tight and your rush is small, as the M5F holds 28 cups ready. Choose counter-top if you pour in big waves, as the EB3FX holds 55 cups ready. Both make about the same amount per hour on 3kW.

How often should I change the FilterFlow filter?

Change it when the boiler tells you. The screen shows the estimated filter life and displays a reminder when it is due. Use a genuine Lincat cartridge, because Lincat says another make could invalidate the warranty, and run off a few litres after fitting.

How do I descale a Lincat FilterFlow boiler?

The EB counter-top models have a built-in descale programme that takes about an hour. The M and WMB3F wall models must be descaled by trained staff, as the panels come off. Limescale service calls are not covered by the warranty, so descale regularly in hard-water areas.

Can I use a Lincat FilterFlow boiler in a catering van?

It is not designed for one. It needs a mains water feed, a frost-free indoor location and, for wall models, a solid brick or concrete wall. For off-grid trading, a propane water boiler such as the Fracino Atlantis Mini Gas is the better fit.

What warranty comes with a Lincat FilterFlow water boiler?

Lincat gives a 2-year warranty on UK mainland. It does not cover filters, damage from limescale, misuse, or incorrect installation. Keeping up with filter changes and descaling protects both the boiler and your cover.