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Dennis Uram says
June 12, 2022
I’m looking for a water distiller that is Stainless steel and has a holding tank about 5 Gal.
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8 Best Water Distillers (*Update 2023)
Written by: Gene Fitzgerald // Last Updated: Aug 15, 2023
Please note: This page may contain affiliate links. If you buy a product or service through such a link we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more about our product review process or check our FTC affiliate disclosure.
Properly distilled water is the cleanest water possible. Level of purity: Above 99%.
Basically, water is heated to the point where it rises as steam. The steam leaves all contaminants behind, cools down, condenses back into water, and is collected in a carafe.
The benefits of water distillation are that
- You can use almost any water source – even salt water – to feed the distillation process.
- All microorganisms including bacteria and viruses are destroyed.
- You get rid of lead, chromium-6, and other toxic impurities.
- Even after taking into account the cost for electricity, you still end up paying much less for distilled water than for buying bottled water.
The only problem: How do you find the best water distiller for your needs and not waste your money? Well, you came to the right place!
Contents
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No Time to Read? Check Our List of the Best Water Distillers!
| Water Distiller | Details | |
|---|---|---|
 Best Water Distiller: Megahome MH943SBS |
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Price: $$ Water Output: 1 Gallon in 5½ Hours Materials: Steel + Glass Filter: Charcoal Power: 580 Read Review: Click |
 The Runner-Up: Megahome MH943TWS |
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Price: $$ Water Output: 1 Gallon in 5½ Hours Materials: Steel + Glass Filter: Charcoal Power: 580 Read Review: Click |
 Best Budget Option: ROVSUN |
|
Price: $ Water Output: 1 Gallon in 4 Hours Materials: Steel + Glass Filter: Carbon Power: 750 Read Review: Click |
Best Water Distiller Reviews
Review Order
- Megahome MH943SBS – Best Overall
- Megahome MH943TWS – Runner-Up
- Pure Water Mini-Classic CT – Best American Made
- ROVSUN – Best Budget Pick
- Mophorn Pure
- H2o Labs Best-In-Class
- WaterWise 3200, 4000 & 9000 – Best Customer Service
- GRAVI-STIL & D-STIL Lite (Portable) – Best Non-Electric
1. Best Countertop Water Distiller: Nutriteam Megahome MH943SBS
In our opinion, the best water distiller in 2023 is the Megahome MH943SBS.
Megahome by Nutriteam is the most popular brand of water distillers around. Nutriteam, Inc. has 20+ years of experience in the field of air and water purification, and the high quality MH943SBS is the company’s flagship when it comes to distillation. 5 stars!
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Megahome Countertop Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Output: | 1 Gallon in 5.5 Hours |
| Material: | Steel + Glass |
| Filtration: | Charcoal |
| Watt: | 580 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Outstanding customer ratings.
- To start the distillation process, simply fill the 304 stainless steel (food-grade) kettle with water and push the start button. Using the Megahome MH943SBS is as simple as that!
- Your water won’t touch plastic parts during the purification process. Thus, recontamination is out of the question.
- An activated charcoal filter sachet traps volatile chemicals that might be present in your water before it’s stored in the carafe.
- 6-month supply is part of the package.
- Carafe is made from glass instead of plastic which looks a lot better than cheap PP.
- 580W sounds like this water distiller uses a lot of energy, right? 580W equals 0.58kW which means if you let the unit distill 1 gallon of water each day you’ll pay between $10-15 per month, depending on your price per kWh.
- For the same amount of drinking water, you’d have to spend $45 on bottled water.
- UL (Underwriters Laboratories) approved for highest safety standards.
- Covered by 1-year warranty on parts and labor for peace of mind.
Cons
- The MH943SBS shuts off automatically once all the water has boiled out. There is no on/off switch.
- If you want to avoid the headache of dealing with burned deposits which are oftentimes difficult to clean, do yourself a favor and buy a timer switch. Set it to approximately five hours which prevents the distiller to run until all water has boiled out. This will also increase the unit’s lifespan.
- Not the cheapest option out there, but well worth its price tag.
Best for
The Megahome MH943SBS is best for people who want a water distiller made from non-plastic food-grade materials that’s easy to use and approved for safety.
→ Read Our Full Megahome Review Here
2. The Runner-Up: Megahome’s MH943TWS Water Distiller
Next on our list: The Megahome MH943TWS which is very similar to its older cousin, the MH943SBS (see above).
Although rare, we would have liked this countertop water distiller even more if there wasn’t an issue with unpleasant taste and odor. Therefore, the Megahome MH943SBS remains our top pick.
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Megahome Countertop Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Output: | 1 Gallon in 5.5 Hours |
| Material: | Steel + Glass |
| Filtration: | Carbon |
| Watt: | 580 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Easy to use: Just remove the lid, fill up the boiling chamber, and hit the start button.
- Distiller interior is 304 stainless steel. Everything else is ceramic or glass. Your water won’t get in touch with plastic avoiding recontamination.
- Carbon filter sachet removes volatile contaminants.
- 6-month supply included.
- High-quality glass carafe preserves clean water taste.
- Compared to the Megahome MH943SBS, the MH943TWS comes with an enameled metal exterior instead of stainless steel. This makes it slightly more affordable.
- Meets UL safety standards.
- Nutriteam offers a 1-year product warranty.
Cons
- For some units, there seems to be a problem with either plastic or another material come into contact with the water making it smell and taste unpleasant.
- Another issue is the tank that started to leak for a couple of people after a few weeks/months of use.
Best for
This Megahome is our second best choice of countertop water distillers.
3. Best Made in USA: Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Counter Top Distiller
Are you looking for a countertop water distiller made in the USA? Then the Pure Water Mini-Classic CT should be your first choice!
The overall quality is good but we also have a higher price – a little too high for our liking. Is the Pure Water the best home water distiller on the market? Probably not, but it’s a solid product.
Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Countertop Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Output: | 1 Gallon in 4⅔ h |
| Material: | Steel + Glass |
| Filtration: | Carbon Filter |
| Watt: | 800 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- Unit is relatively compact and perfect for small families, apartment buildings, and RVs.
- The water distillation capacity is 3 liters (.75 gallon) in a three-and-a-half-hour-cycle or about 5 gallons of distilled water within 24 hours.
- The stainless steel interior and glass collection bottle make sure that the distilled water doesn’t come in contact with any plastic.
- A charcoal post-filter eliminates volatile organic compounds for added water safety.
- What makes this unit stand out from the crowd is the 15-year manufacturer warranty covering the distiller itself, meaning the steel parts. There’s a 2-year warranty on the electrical elements such as the fan.
- If you experience any problems you can simply contact the manufacturer support line. Pure Water Inc. is a family-owned, Long Island-based company that provides excellent customer service.
Cons
- Nothing except the ordinary here. Individual units leaking or malfunctioning due to a defect heating element for example.
- Replacement parts are shipped for free.
Best for
The Pure Water Mini-Classic is best for people who want a water distiller Made in USA and don’t mind paying a higher price tag.
4. Best Budget Pick: ROVSUN Stainless Steel Countertop Water Distiller Machine
From a quality and price perspective, the ROVSUN has all the good features that the Mophorn distiller comes with plus a shockproof glass container on top, while not being as expensive as an original Megahome countertop water distiller.
However, there have been issues with oily deposits that customers had to deal with. Our verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars!
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ROVSUN Stainless Steel Countertop Water Distiller Machine |
|
| Price: | $ |
| Output: | 1 gal Distilled Water Every 4 h |
| Material: | Steel + Glass |
| Filtration: | Carbon |
| Watt: | 750 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
- You get an anti-rust 304 stainless steel interior including extra cleaning powder for longevity.
- 3 activated carbon filter sachets remove volatile water impurities – think chlorine and chemicals like disinfection byproducts.
- The glass container is shockproof for durability and pristine water aesthetics.
- A one-year warranty backs the unit.
- As far as we can tell, the seller is responsive and offers a full refund for malfunctioning units.
Cons
- The instruction manual is poorly written. And although the distiller is by no means complicated to set up, it would have been nice to have something that actually provides value.
- It can be hard to get rid of the obtrusive rubber taste. In some cases, even after a couple of distillation cycles it just wouldn’t fade.
- We believe this has something to do with the oily residue inside the distiller that could be leftover from the manufacturing – quite disgusting and probably not healthy at all!
Best for
The ROVSUN is the best option for people on a very tight budget.
5. Mophorn Pure
We are torn between a thumbs up and a thumbs down for this one.
On the one hand, we have a solid distillation process combined with an unbeatable price. On the other hand, we have a plastic water collector that’s complete junk and a handful of serious system issues. You can take care of the former but not the latter. Decide for yourself if you are willing to take the risk.
Mophorn Countertop Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $ |
| Output: | 1 Gallon of Water in 4 Hours |
| Material: | Steel + Plastic |
| Filtration: | Carbon |
| Watt: | 750 |
|
Our Rating
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Pros
- The Mophorn Pure is a 4-liter home water distiller with the most important selling point being its cheap price. In fact, it’s among the most affordable distillation unit we could find.
- Model is easy to use and easy to clean.
- It can treat up to 1 gallon of water in 4 hours which is quite fast.
- At the same time, the Mophorn requires more power (750W). If you do the math the cost for electricity is about the same.
- A built-in charcoal filter takes care of any volatile and potentially harmful substances for even better water quality. The filter requires changing every three months.
Cons
- The outside is white enamel, the inside steam chamber is made of food-grade stainless steel (304) – which is all well and good if it was not for the cheap plastic water collector. It might be food-grade, BPA-free polypropylene, however, our research has shown that it will make your water smell like an old tire in the sun and taste even worse.
- Thorough cleaning does not solve the issue. The only solution is to discard the plastic container and replace it with one made from glass.
- We read about single units breaking down completely and without warning for no apparent reason within months after first use. Either the fan motor failed, the switch stopped working, the temperature sensor malfunctioned, …
Best for
If you value a low price and ease of use, the Mophorn Pure might be the right choice for you.
6. H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller
The standard 565W heating element of the H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller needs about five hours to distill 1 gallon of water at a time. Easy to use – check. Automatically turn off – check.
H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $$ |
| Output: | 1 Gallon / 5 Hours |
| Material: | Steel + Glass |
| Filtration: | Carbon |
| Watt: | 565 |
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Our Rating
|
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Pros
- Overall high quality (made in Taiwan).
- Standard stainless steel (food-grade) interior in combination with BPA-free plastic parts guarantees water quality and safety.
- Porcelain nozzle insert is part of the deal that prevents the distilled water from touching any plastic.
- Glass carafe stores your water safely.
- For effective VOC removal, the distiller features activated charcoal filter pods that fit inside the spout. Filters have to be changed every 60 gallons or 60 days – whichever comes first.
- You get a whole year’s supply at initial purchase.
- Large openings allow for easy cleaning.
- Including cleaner to remove hard water scale.
Cons
- People said the seller is unresponsive at times.
Best for
In case you are looking for a high-end product but don’t like Megahome for some reason, H2o Labs could be best for you.
7. Best Customer Support: WaterWise 3200, 4000 & 9000
Lastly, we’re going to review 3 different distiller models all manufactured and sold by WaterWise:
- The 3200
- The 4000
- The 9000
The WaterWise 4000 has a similar design to the distillers we’ve already reviewed above. All in all, it’s a solid product but also quite expensive.
The first thing that comes to mind when taking a look at the WaterWise 3200 is that it features an entirely different design. It’s a little bit bigger due to the fact that it comes with a docking station for not one but two 1-gallon water collectors. Why two? Because one stays inside the station for water collection while the other can be placed in your refrigerator for cooling – pretty clever actually!
Our verdict: An excellent product that is worth its price tag. No leaks, no issues with malfunctioning units. The only suggestion for improvement would be to swap the 2 plastic water collectors with some made of glass.
The WaterWise 9000 also has a unique system design producing up to 5 gallons of water in 24 hours, so you never run dry. Still, this is not our favorite water machine quite frankly. What irritates us is the use of a plastic boiler and water collector. If it’s too difficult to manufacture a glass version of both elements due to their shape, this distiller could do with a redesign.
Side note: Don’t hesitate to contact the WaterWise customer service team. These guys are very helpful and just one phone call away.
WaterWise 4000 Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Output: | 1 gal of Distilled Water Every 4 h |
| Material: | Steel + Glass |
| Filtration: | Charcoal |
| Watt: | 800 |
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Our Rating
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Pros
WaterWise 4000 Only:
- The WaterWise 4000 features an easy-to-fill and clean stainless steel condenser and a glass water jug (upgraded) to guarantee contaminant-free water.
- An activated carbon filter takes care of any remaining VOCs. 1 extra replacement filter is included in the package. Lifetime: About 2 months depending on your usage.
- The distiller shuts off automatically after each cycle that provides you with a full gallon of water within four hours.
WaterWise 3200 Only:
- The 800W machine produces one gallon of steam distilled water within 4 hours with a maximum capacity of 6 gallons of water per day, enough even for large families.
- Unit shuts off automatically after each cycle.
- Thanks to a seamless stainless steel boiler with a large opening, filling and cleaning is a breeze.
- Combines steam distillation process with carbon post filtration for highest water purity.
- A 6-pack of carbon post-filters is part of the deal. Replacement: Every 2 months or 60 gallons.
- Distiller was tested and certified against NSF/ANSI Standard 62.
WaterWise 9000 Only:
- Assembly or installation prior to first use isn’t required.
- Simply fill the boiler with tap water and press the reset button.
- The home distiller will shut itself off when finished.
- Boiler and dispenser bottle are WQA-tested and certified.
- All you need to do in terms of maintenance is replace the carbon post filter cup made from organic coconut shell every once in a while – easy.
Cons
WaterWise 4000 Only:
- We heard from customers complaining about bad water taste/odor when using the distiller for the first time.
- Make sure to thoroughly rinse it before first use.
- With the glass carafe, you need to pour the water very slowly or it will spill.
WaterWise 3200 Only:
- Both carafes are not glass but made from Tritan copolyester (BPA-free). We would have preferred the former.
WaterWise 9000 Only:
- Boiler is made from thermoplastic. Although the bottom inside over the heating element is metal, we would have preferred stainless steel to ensure that no plastic enters our water.
- The dispenser bottle on the other end is plastic, too.
Best for
WaterWise water distillers are best for people who want responsive and reliable customer support in case of problems.
8. Best Water Distillers for Camping, Survival & Emergency Prep: GRAVI-STIL + D-STIL Lite (Non-Electrical)
Because people asked us to also include stove-top/non-electrical water distilling equipment kits in this review guide, we decided to add this short bonus section where we would like to introduce to you the GRAVI-STIL and the D-STIL Lite water distillers sold by survival and emergency supplier SHTFandGO LLC.
We consider the GRAVI-STIL to be the best non-electric water distiller. It’s a combination of emergency and survival water distiller and gravity filter. At a closer look, it becomes obvious that the creators of this beast actually use their own products.
Wait, what? Emergency survival water distiller and gravity filter combo – how is that supposed to work? It’s quite simple: You can use the GRAVI-STIL either as a distiller or convert it into a high-speed gravity water filter.
Which brings us to the highly portable D-STIL Lite, a DIY emergency survival still (distiller) also made of stainless steel. Why DIY? Because you can use it with your own pots which saves you money. What you need is any boiler pot from 8″-12″ graduations. For the condensing pot, you can use any pot larger than 10″ in diameter and you are good to go.
Wrapping it up, we highly recommend both the GRAVI-STIL and the D-STIL Lite to people who want to be prepared when disaster strikes. The distillers might be pricier than you’d expect, but this is because they are U.S. made by a family owned business in Burlington, Wisconsin which offers great customer support.
GRAVI-STIL Non-Electric Water Distiller |
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| Price: | $$$ |
| Output: | Up to 20 gpd |
| Material: | Steel |
| Filtration: | Ceramic |
| Watt: | – |
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Our Rating
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Pros
GRAVI-STIL Stainless Steel Distiller Only:
- As a gravity filter, the GRAVI-STIL produces up to 4 gallons of filtered drinking water every hour. First, the feed water runs through a 10-micron pre-filter to remove any large debris. Then it enters the storage tank through a .2-micron ceramic silver impregnated bacteriostat for disinfection. Both filter elements last for up to 2,000+ gallons.
- As a non-electric distiller, you can expect anywhere between 8 to 10 cups of water in the same amount of time (up to 20 gallons per day).
- Naturally, the heat source and temperature will directly affect the output. What kind of heat source can you use? Anything really, from an electric stove-top, gas range or wood furnace, to a rocket stove or barbecue grill.
- The GRAVI-STIL is made from full 304 stainless steel with a stainless steel water dispenser and valve as well as high-temp gaskets, hoses, and fasteners – so no reason to worry!
- Auto fill feature allows you to run the distiller continuously. Just keep adding new feed water to the condenser pot which will automatically fill the boiler.
GRAVI-STIL Stainless Steel Distiller Only:
- Thanks to its compactness, you can take the kit anywhere you want, such as your next camping trip.
- Production capacity is 8-10 cups per hour.
- High temperature medical grade silicone hose and gaskets provide for longevity.
- Again, as a heating source you can use gas, wood, charcoal – you name it.
- The portable unit also comes with a storage bag for easy carrying.
Cons
- Not exactly cheap.
Best for
The GRAVI-STIL and D-STIL Lite are best if you are looking for a water distillation set for outdoor use and emergency preparation.
More Reviews:
Best Water Distiller Comparison List
How do the best water distillers on the market compare to each other?
(Mobile Hint: Swipe to Scroll)
| Water Distiller | Price | Water Production | Glass Carafe | Wattage | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Megahome Water Distiller MH943SBS | $$ | 1 gal/5.5 h | Yes | 580 | Thermostatically Controlled, Unit Includes 6-Month Supply of Activated Charcoal Filters, Underwriters Laboratory Approved |
| Megahome Water Distiller MH943TWS | $$ | 1 gal/5.5 h | Yes | 580 | Water Distiller Includes 6-Month Supply of Activated Charcoal Filters for Tap Water, Thermostatically Controlled |
| Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Counter Top Water Distiller | $$$ | 1 gal/4.66 h | Yes | 800 | Distiller is Made in the USA, 800-Watt Heating Element, Glass Collection Bottle |
| Mophorn Countertop Distiller | $ | 1 gal/4 h | No | 750 | BPA-Free Plastic Components, Large Opening, Unit Comes With Cleaning Powder |
| ROVSUN Stainless Steel Water Distiller | $ | 1 gal/4 h | Yes | 750 | Non-Toxic BPA-Free Glass Carafe, Unit is Easy to Clean with Cleaning Crystals |
| H2o Labs Best-In-Class Stainless Steel Water Distiller, Easy to Clean with Cleaning Crystals | $$ | 1 gal/5 h | Yes | 565 | Water Distiller Includes Activated Carbon Pods for Tap Water, Glass Container |
| WaterWise 4000 Countertop Water Distiller | $$$ | 1 gal/4 h | Yes | 800 | 800-Watt Heating Element, BPA-Free Plastic Components, Unit Includes Activated Carbon Pods for Tap Water |
| GRAVI-STIL Water Distiller | $$$ | Up to 20 gpd | – | – | Portable Water Distiller, Easy to Carry and Easy to Clean |
| CO-Z Water Distiller | $ | 0.3 gph | Yes | 750 | CO-Z Water Distiller is Able to Produce 4 Liters Per Cycle, FDA Approved (Safe to Use) |
| Vevor Countertop Water Distiller | $ | 0.26 gph | No | 750 | Vevor Countertop Water Distiller is Able to Produce a Gallon Per Cycle, FDA Approved (Safe to Use) |
Buying Guide: How We Picked the Best Water Distillers for Home Use + What You Need to Consider
The following are things worth considering before you go out and buy a home water distiller. These are also the very same criteria we focused on when picking our top products for this guide.
Quality Materials (Plastic vs. Stainless Steel vs. Glass)
Water distillers heat water to the boiling point, so 212 °F (100 °C). Therefore, you should double-check that the distiller you buy has a steam chamber made from food-grade stainless steel. Plastic or aluminum may result in even more contaminants leaching into your water.
Above that, water should never get in contact with any plastic parts along its way to the collector in order to rule out possible recontamination and not compromise water purity – even if the plastic is certified food-grade and BPA-free.
Another advantage of stainless steel is that it’s durable, it doesn’t rust, and it’s way easier to sterilize and keep clean.
The carafe or water collector should be glass for the same reasons.
Bottom line: Good quality might be a little pricier but the investment is well worth it. Better to spend more now than pay with your health later on.
Water Filtration
Why is a charcoal post-filter necessary when using a water distillation system? Because chances are that volatile chemicals lurking in your water – think chlorine and VOCs – could otherwise end up in the distillate due to their low boiling point.
An activated charcoal filter made from organic coconut shell is ideal to trap these kinds of impurities.
By the way, this has nothing to do with improving water taste as many online sources claim erroneously.
NSF Certifications
NSF Standard 42, 53, and 401 are for regular water filtration systems. For distillation, you want to look for NSF/ANSI Standard 62. The standard was specifically established to determine the quality of home water distillers and safeguard drinking water by ensuring material safety and optimum system performance.
In addition, you might stumble upon further certifications for the carbon post-filter stage that many water distillers come with. It’s a nice-to-have, but we don’t consider this to be super important.
Energy Consumption
Conventional water distillers run on electricity. Keep that in mind if you are planning to use yours around the clock. Otherwise you might get a heart attack checking your next utility bill.
Does it make sense to go with a lower-watt unit in order to save money? Not really. The lower the wattage, the longer the distillation process is going to take. Overall energy consumption and efficiency don’t change much. For example:
- A 0.58kW water distiller might distill a gallon of water within 5 hours. 0.58kW x 5 hours = 2.9kWh
- A 0.75kW water distiller needs 4 hours to distill one gallon of water. 0.75kW x 4 hours = 3kWh
Based on 12 cents per kWh, you end up with
- 9kWh x 12Cents/kWh = 34.8 Cents for product A versus
- 3kWh x 12Cents/kWh = 36 Cents for product B.
In the end, the difference per gallon is about 1 cent. Using half a gallon of distilled water per day, you’ll roughly pay $2 more/less per person and year.
Water Distilling Capacity & Speed
The thing is distillation is slow, very slow. The average water maker supplies you with a gallon of fresh water every four to five hours (around 6 gallons of water within 24 hours). Larger machines might achieve 6 gallons of distilled water in the same time period – not fast by any means.
As a result, you have to be patient no matter which product you choose. Now obviously, the size of your family plays a major role here. Will 2 to 3 gallons of distilled water a day be enough to meet your demand?
Pro tip: Start your water distiller right before you go to bed to wake up to 1 gallon of clean water in the morning. This is where the automatic shut-off feature that most models come with really pays off.
Your Budget
There are water distillers that cost $100 and there are models for $400. What’s important is that high-quality materials are being used (see above). As long as you pay attention to this, a system’s initial price tag doesn’t really matter. Feel free to opt for a cheaper distiller if your budget is limited.
Product Warranty & Support
We could only find one water distiller with a warranty lasting longer than 1 year, and that’s the Pure Water Mini-Classic CT. It’s covered for 12 or rather 15 years.
More on Water Distillers
What is a Water Distiller?
A water distiller is a simple device that allows you to distill water. It’s comprised of a heating element, a boiling chamber, a condenser, and a container to collect the distilled water.
In a nutshell, a water distiller heats the water until it vaporizes. As steam, the pure water rises out of the boiling chamber, cools down in condensing coils, and collects in a carafe.
The number one benefit of using a water distiller at home is that you get an unlimited supply of water that’s almost 100 percent free from contaminants. One of the drawbacks is that distilled water lacks minerals.
Furthermore, water distillers don’t require installation and they are simple to maintain.
How Does a Water Distiller Work?
First of all, let me say that water distillers are really simple devices. They are not nearly as complicated as a reverse osmosis system or a water softener for example.
The important elements that every water distiller requires are:
- A heat source
- A boil chamber
- A condenser
- A water collector
How to Distill Water? – The Distillation Process
The distillation process works as follows:
- You fill (contaminated) feed water into the boiling chamber and turn on the heating element.
- The water starts to heat up. At 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the water has reached its boiling point and vaporizes.
- The hot water steam rises out of the boiling chamber. All contaminants are left behind.
- It enters the condenser where it cools down back into its liquid form.
- The pure water is then collected in a collector, usually a carafe.
A few notes:
- You can use almost any kind of heat source as your heating element, from a campfire to a stove. Conventional water distillers use a boiling plate which runs on electricity.
- 212 degrees Fahrenheit is the boiling point of water at sea level. The exact boiling point depends upon the surrounding environmental pressure.
- Most contaminants have a higher boiling point than water; take minerals and heavy metals as an example. However, there are contaminants like chlorine and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are highly volatile and condense at lower temperatures. This is why almost all conventional electric water distillers tend to come with an additional carbon filter stage. Activated carbon is a great means of trapping these volatile substances.
- It’s possible that there are contaminants lurking in your water with a slightly higher boiling point than water. This is why it’s important that you use the minimum temperature required for boiling. Too much heat may cause undesirable chemicals to end up in the distillate.
- A conventional water distiller also has a built-in fan to discharge undesired gases.
How Much Electricity Does a Water Distiller Use?
This differs for each individual model. The distillers listed above have somewhere between 500W and 850W, meaning that they use about 0.5 to 0.85kW per hour. If you pay 12 cents per kilowatt-hour which is the U.S. average, then you pay about 40 cents per distillation cycle and gallon.
Types of Water Distillers and Their Cost
There are three types of distillers:
- Household distillers – Can be placed on your kitchen counter at home or the office. You need to manually refill the boiling chamber after each distillation cycle which provides about 1 gallon of water distilled every 4-6 hours. Costs: From $80 to $300.
- Plumbing distillers – Can be installed into your home’s plumbing system or at a point of use. Distillation is on demand and cost-effective. Costs: $400 to $1000 and above.
- Commercial Distillers – For commercial/industrial use. Costs: Price on request.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Using a Water Distiller
Advantages
Water is Pure
The main advantage of using a water distiller is that you get access to highly pure water. As mentioned above, distilled water is the cleanest water possible. In other words, you don’t need to worry about harmful contaminants in your drinking water anymore.
In addition, you can use the distilled water for other purposes such as ironing and in your humidifier.
Ease of Use
Conventional home water distillers are very simple to use. You just plug in the power cord, fill the kettle, and hit the start button.
Compactness (Portability)
Countertop water distillers are not exactly small, but they are compact enough to be moved around.
Saving
At 40 cents per gallon, you are much better off than buying water bottles, which costs anywhere between $0.89 to $8.26 per gallon.
Disadvantages
Lack of Minerals
Distillation removes all the bad contaminants but also the good impurities like healthy calcium and magnesium. If you’re worried about your daily mineral intake, consider remineralizing your distilled water before drinking.
Limited Capacity
Using a water distiller at home, you are limited to 1 gallon of pure distilled water within 4 to 6 hours. If that’s not enough, you may want to consider running two units in parallel.
Energy-Intensive
Around 3 kWh of energy used per gallon distilled isn’t negligible. Obviously, distilling water uses more resources than drinking plain tap water.
How to Clean a Water Distiller
Hard water minerals and other contaminants will cause scale buildup in the boiling chamber of your home distiller. This is why you need to remove any residue from the heating element regularly.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to clean a water distiller at all, and it doesn’t require much time either.
Cleaning can be done with a commercial descaler or plain white vinegar. If you opt for a commercial descaler, usually citric acid powder, here is what you need to do:
- Unplug the power cord.
- Insert about a third of a cup of the descaler into the boiling chamber.
- Mix with room temperature water or warm water (not hot).
- Let the mixture sit for 6-8 hours.
- Drain out the water distiller.
- You may need to rerun the process or give everything a good scrub. A plastic scrubber or sponge works much better than a toothbrush. Remember to wear gloves to protect your skin from the acid.
Caution: NEVER turn on your water distiller when there is cleaner inside of it. You might wipe out the heating element.
For cleaning with white vinegar, follow these steps:
- Add 1 part white vinegar to 1 part water. Make sure to add enough to cover the entire deposit.
- Boil for 1 hour and/or let it sit overnight. The heavier the build-up, the longer you’ll need to wait. The mixture will loosen the scale.
- Give everything a good scrub. A plastic scrubber or sponge works much better than a toothbrush. Remember to wear gloves to protect your skin from the acid.
- Rinse out.
- You might need to rerun the process.
Further Maintenance
Remember to also disinfect the water collector every once in a while.
In addition, if your water distiller features an activated carbon filter stage, change the sachets about every 3 months or 60 gallons – as per manufacturer instructions. This prevents bacteria growing inside the filter and ensures that all volatile substances are properly removed.
What Contaminants Does a Water Distiller Remove?
Distillation is the most effective water purification method used today. Properly distilled water is the purest of its kind (99.99% purity, close to 0 TDS). It’s free from:
- Water tastes and odors
- Heavy metals such as lead, iron
- Arsenic
- Fluoride
- Bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms (which are destroyed in the heating process)
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Nitrate
- Radioactive elements like radium
- Organic contaminants including pesticides and herbicides
- + many more substances
What is Distilled Water and What is It Used For?
Distilled water is the product of water distillation. High purity is its main characteristic – by high purity we mean that distilled water is almost 100% free from any impurities.
This purity is why distilled water can be used for a wide range of applications:
In Humidifiers
It is recommended to fill humidifiers with distilled water rather than plain tap or well water. That’s because either one can contain harmful microorganisms that you may breathe out of the air when used in a humidifier.
Drinking Water
Some people like to drink distilled water. After all, it doesn’t contain potentially harmful chemicals, salts, and heavy metals etc. so it makes sense. That said, we would recommend you remineralize distilled water before consumption.
Medical Applications
Many medical applications simply require water to be distilled. For example: Hospitals use distilled water for sterilization and to prepare food for some of their patients. And surgeons use distilled water during medical procedures.
Cars
Some people recommend using distilled water inside a car’s cooling system to prevent limescale from forming deposits. Other sources, however, claim that distilled water can strip electrons from the metals in a cooling system resulting in damage that could eventually cause the cooling system to fail.
Canned Foods
The best type of water to use for canning foods like fruits and vegetable is distilled water. It aids in maintaining taste and color. What’s more, it doesn’t cause cloudiness as would be the case when using water rich in minerals.
Cosmetic Products
As a solvent, distilled water is used in cosmetic products. It effectively dissolves all the used ingredients and, even more importantly, it doesn’t contain microorganisms and other pollutants that could affect the product’s quality.
Aquariums
With proper remineralization, distilled water is one of the best to fill a fish tank. They key term here is proper remineralization. Without the added minerals, distilled water can be fatal to fish due to imbalanced pH levels.
Watering Plants
You can use distilled water for Watering plants, which has a couple of benefits. For one, it provides for irrigation that doesn’t add to toxicity buildup.
Cooking & Baking
Because of the absence of minerals, distilled water can absorb more flour than regular water. Consequently, breads and other baked products have a smoother texture. Another advantage of using distilled water for baking is that it doesn’t alter flavor. Of course, the latter also applies when using distilled water for cooking.
Baby Formula
Usually, any water used for preparing baby formula must be boiled first in order to make it microbiologically safe. This includes tap water and well water. The exception is distilled and purified water. Both can be used without prior boiling.
Ironing
According to Consumer Reports, steam irons don’t require distilled water. Only in case your water is exceptionally hard should you mix it with distilled water to lower the mineral content.
The Benefits of Using Distilled Water
Purest Drinking Water Option: No Chlorine, Nitrate, Lead, Bacteria, Viruses…
We’ve mentioned this a couple of times already: Distilled water is almost pure H2O. It’s free from chlorine, nitrate, bacteria, viruses, lead, fluoride, and more or less every other contaminant found in water.
Cheaper Than Bottled Water
One gallon of pure distilled water costs around 40 cents. In comparison, a gallon of bottled water costs between $0.90 and $8.25, depending on brand, container size, and whether or not you buy in bulk.
Cheaper Than Other Water Purification Methods
Distillation may be cheaper than other water purification methods for home use. This depends on a variety of factors such as your water usage, feed water condition, the filtration system and filter media you use, and the cost for replacement filter elements.
Helps with Detoxification
Many online sources claim that drinking distilled water is a great way to detoxify your body. As far as we can tell, it remains to be proven if this really is the case.
Distilled Water vs.
Spring Water
Spring water is one type of bottled water. It originates from a natural underground formation from which water flows to the surface. In other words: Spring water is groundwater. It contains naturally occurring minerals and other healthy impurities. But it may also contain harmful contaminants like coliform bacteria and lead. Distilled water contains neither good nor bad impurities.
Purified Water
Water purification includes all methods used to remove undesirable solids, gases, chemicals, and organic contaminants from water. These methods include mechanical filtration, sedimentation, slow sand filtration, carbon filtration, chlorination, radiation, and distillation.
Thus, all distilled water is purified water, while not all purified water is distilled water.
Distillation is certainly the most effective way of purifying water.
By the way, most purified water is used for human consumption.
Filtered Water
Filtered water is one form of purified water. It’s produced using one of the many different water filtration methods. The main difference to distilled water is that filtered water still contains more impurities, especially minerals and salts.
Reverse Osmosis Water
Reverse osmosis water is very similar to distilled water. Both are classified as purified water with little impurities left.
Reverse osmosis water purification is better suited to be applied at scale – think seawater desalination. Water distillation achieves higher purity levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Can you make distilled water from tap water?
Yes, you can. In fact, you cannot only use tap water but about any water source to feed the distillation process. - How much does it cost to distill water?
A 4-hour cycle provides you with a gallon of distilled water and costs around 36 cents, if you pay 12 cents per kilowatt-hour which is the U.S. average. - Is boiling water the same as distilling water?
No, it is not. Boiling kills pathogens like bacteria and eliminates volatile substances like chlorine. However, concentration levels of non-volatile contaminants such as lead will actually increase because some water vaporizes during the process. - Does distilled water lack minerals?
Yes, distilled water does lack minerals. But you can easily add those minerals back into the clean water afterwards. - Is drinking distilled water a good idea?
You can drink distilled water without worrying. - Is it cheaper to buy or make distilled water?
In the long run, it is definitely cheaper to make distilled water yourself instead of buying it. - Is distilled water in plastic jugs safe to drink?
Because distilled water is highly pure water, we wouldn’t recommend storing it in a plastic jug. Pure water tends to leach more contaminants. Other than that, it’s safe to drink. - Do water distillers need water filters?
Most use a charcoal sachet after the distillation process to adsorb any volatile substances.
Questions about our water distiller reviews? Ask away!
And keep in mind: We’ll continue our hunt for the best water distillers, so come back for more!
About the Author Gene Fitzgerald
