2020’s Best Water Distillers? – Check Our Reviews & Buying Guide

Properly distilled water is the cleanest water possible. Level of purity: Above 99%.

Basically, water is heated to the point 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 process.
• All microorganisms i.e. bacteria and viruses are destroyed.
• You get rid of fluoride, lead, radium and other toxic impurities.
• Even after taking into account the cost for electricity, you still end up paying much less for distilled water than you would buying (contaminated) 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…

On This Page You Will…

• Find our water distillers best-of list
• Find our reviews of countertop water distillers
• Buying guide – learn what features to look for in a reliable product so you don’t end up wasting your money
• Find more useful information on water distillers

Best Water Distiller Reviews

1. Best Countertop Water Distiller: Nutriteam Megahome MH943SBS

Our #1 Top Choice: Megahome MH943SBS Water Distiller
Unit Price:	$$$
Warranty:	One Year
Material:	Steel + Glass
Filtration:	Carbon
Output:	1 gallon / 5½ h
Our Rating Check Current Price

Pros

Megahome by Nutriteam is the most popular brand for 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:

• Outstanding customer ratings
• UL (Underwriters Laboratories) approved for highest safety standards
• Watts: 580
• Capacity: 1 gallon per cycle
• Cycle length: 5½ hours

To start the distillation, simply fill up the 304 stainless steel kettle with plain water and push the start button. That’s it!

But what we really like about this water distiller is not its simplicity – most units are pretty easy to use to be honest. It’s the fact that your water won’t touch plastic parts during the purification process. Thus, recontamination is out of the question.

Above that, an additional activated charcoal filter traps volatile chemicals that still might be present in your water before it’s stored in the carafe (6-month filter supply is part of the package).

Which, by the way, is made from glass instead of plastic making it look a lot better than a cheap PP collector.

580W sounds like this water distiller uses a lot of energy, right? Nope. 580W equals 0.58kW which means that if you let the system distill 1 gallon of water each day, you will end up paying between $10 to $15 per month, depending on your price per kWh.

FYI: For the same amount of drinking water, you’d have to spend $45 per month on bottled water, so 3x to 4.5x as much.

Cons

The MH943SBS shuts off automatically once all the water has boiled out. There is no on/off switch. Meaning that 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 5 hours which prevents the distiller to run until all the water has turned into steam. This will also increase the unit’s lifespan.

Our Verdict

In our opinion, the Megahome MH943SBS is the best water distiller for home use on the market. It might not be the cheapest option out there, however, it’s well worth the price tag.

→ Read Our Full Megahome Review Here

2. Megahome’s MH943TWS Water Distiller

Best Selling: Megahome MH943TWS Water Distiller
Unit Price:	$$$
Warranty:	One Year
Material:	Steel + Glass
Filtration:	Carbon
Output:	One gallon / 5½ h
Our Rating

Pros

Next on our list: The Megahome MH943TWS distiller which is very similar to its older cousin, the MH943SBS (see above).

The only differences are that the former distiller comes with an enameled metal exterior instead of stainless steel. This makes it slightly more affordable. Customer feedback is equally positive.

Cons

For some units, there seems to be a problem with either plastic or another material getting into contact with the water making it smell and taste unpleasant.

Assuming that you don’t want to run the risk of receiving one of these, we recommend you opt for the MH943SBS.

Another issue is the tank that started to leak for some customers after a couple of weeks/months use.

Our Verdict

We would have liked this Megahome countertop water distiller even more, if there wasn’t the issue with the unpleasant water taste and odor. Therefore, the Megahome MH943SBS remains our top pick.

3. Mophorn Pure 4L Water Distiller

Cheap Water Distiller: Mophorn Pure
Unit Price:	$
Warranty:	?
Material:	Steel + Plastic
Filtration:	Carbon
Output:	One gallon / 4 h
Our Rating

Pros

The Mophorn Pure is a 4-liter home distiller with the most important selling point being that it’s super cheap. In fact, as the cheapest distillation unit we could find, the model is easy to use and easy to clean. Furthermore, it can treat up to 1 gallon of water in 4 hours.

Compared to both Megahome distillers on top, you get your distilled water way faster. At the same time, the Mophorn also requires more power (750W). If you do the math, the costs for electricity is about the same.

Lastly, the 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 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.

And no, thorough cleaning does not solve it. The only solution is to discard the plastic container and replace it with one made from glass.

One more thing: 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, or the switch stopped working, the temperature sensor malfunctioned, …

Our Verdict

We are torn between a thumbs up and a thumbs down.

On the one hand, we have a solid distillation process combined with an unbeatable market 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 that bet.

4. Review: ROVSUN Water Distiller

ROVSUN 4L Countertop Water Distillation Machine
Unit Price:	$
Warranty:	One Year
Material:	Steel + Glass
Filtration:	Carbon
Output:	One gallon / 4 h
Our Rating

Pros

From a quality and price perspective, the ROVSUN has all the good features that the Mophorn distiller comes with + a shockproof glass container on top, while not being as expensive as an original Megahome.

You get an anti-rust 304 stainless steel interior including extra cleaning powder for longevity, 3 activated carbon filter sachets for the removal of volatile water impurities – think chlorine and chemicals like chlorination byproducts – and one year warranty.

As far as we can tell, the seller is responsive and offers a full refund for malfunctioning units.

Cons

Things to criticize:

1. The instruction manual is poorly written. And although the distiller is by no means complicated to set up, it would be nice to have something that actually provides value.
2. It can be hard to get rid of the obtrusive rubber taste. In some cases, even after a couple of distillation cycles, it just won’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!

Our Verdict

This is a product where solid price meets quality design. The only issue is the oily deposit that some customers are struggling with. However, the majority of users is happy with their purchase. Our verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars!

5. H2o Labs Home Water Distiller – Unrated

H2o Labs Home Water Distiller – Unrated
Unit Price:	$$$
Warranty:	One Year
Material:	Steel + Glass
Filtration:	Carbon
Output:	One gallon / 5 h
Our Rating

Pros

The H2o Labs stainless steel water distiller has the best ratings among all distillation systems listed on amazon.com. In fact, there are so many 5-star reviews and almost nothing else that one could get the idea that there might be a couple of fake ones among them (no accusations, just saying).

This is why we decided not to rate this distiller. It’s probably best if you decide for yourself whether or not you think this is a good purchase. As for the product features & benefits:

• Overall high quality (made in Taiwan).
• We have the standard food-grade stainless steel interior in combination with BPA-free plastic parts to guarantee water quality and safety. Large openings allow for easy cleaning.
• The standard 565 watt heating element needs about 5 hours to distill 1 gallon of water at a time. Easy to use – check. Automatically turn off – check.
• A porcelain nozzle insert is part of the deal that prevents the distilled water from touching the plastic.
• For efficient removal of VOCs, 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. More filters are available at seller’s website.
• Glass carafe to safely store your water.
• Including cleaner to remove hard water scale.

Cons

People said the seller is unresponsive at times.

Our Verdict

Sorry people, like we said, we are not going to rate this home water distiller.

6. Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Counter Top Water Distillation Unit

Pure Water Mini-Classic CT Countertop Water Distiller
Unit Price:	$$$$$
Warranty:	12/15 Years
Material:	Steel + Glass
Filtration:	Carbon Filter
Output:	One gal / 4⅔ h
Our Rating

Pros

Looking for countertop water distillers made in the USA? Then the Pure Water Mini-Classic CT should be your first choice!

It’s 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 in 24 hours.

The metal interior and glass container make sure that the distilled water does not come in contact with any plastic. A charcoal post-filter eliminates volatile organic compounds for added water safety.

Another benefit that makes this system stand out from the crowd is that it’s backed by a 15-year manufacturer warranty, which covers the distiller itself meaning the steel parts. There’s a 2-year warranty on the electrical elements, such as the fan.

In order to make the Pure Water last for many years, make sure to clean the pitcher with hot white vinegar about once a month – especially when you are on well water with a lot of hardness minerals.

If you experience any problems, simply can contact the manufacturer support line. Pure Water Inc. is a family owned, Long Island based company that provides excellent customer service.

Cons

Disadvantages? Nothing except the ordinary here. Individual units leaking or breaking down due to a defect heating element for example. Replacement parts are shipped for free.

Our Verdict

Overall good quality and manufactured in the U.S., thus the higher price – a little too high for our understanding. Is the Pure Water the best home water distiller on the market? Probably not, but it’s a solid product.

7. Bonus: Stove-Top Non-Electrical Water Distilling Equipment Kits for Camping, Survival and Emergency Prep

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.

GRAVI-STIL Stainless Steel Distiller

Best Non-Electric Water Distiller: GRAVI-STIL
Unit Price:	$$$$
Warranty:	One Year
Material:	Steel
Filtration:	Ceramic
Capacity:	up to 20 GPD
Our Rating

Pros & Cons

The GRAVI-STIL is an emergency survival distilled water maker-gravity filter combo. At a closer look, it becomes obvious that the creators of this beast actually use their own products.

Wait, what? Emergency survival distilled water maker-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 to a high speed gravity water filter. You can’t use both at once. And distillation doesn’t require gravity filtration anyway.

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 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! The portable unit also comes with a storage bag for easy carrying.

On a side note: Follow this link for more portable water filter/purifier reviews.

Plus the auto fill system allows you to run the distiller continuously. Just keep adding new feed water to the condenser pot which will automatically fill the boiler.

D-STIL Lite

D-STIL Lite – Portable & Non-Electric Distilled Water Maker
Unit Price:	$$
Warranty:	One Year
Material:	Steel
Filtration:	–
Capacity:	up to 20 GPD
Our Rating

Pros & Cons

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.

Again, as a heating source you can use gas, wood, charcoal – you name it.

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.

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.

In case you are not 100% sure how the water distillers work, check out this video by SHTFandGO.COM. Also, you can find many more videos on their YouTube channel:

Best Water Distillers Comparison List

Still haven’t found your favorite water distiller for home use? This comparison list might help. It lists all water distillers reviewed in this buying guide.

Buying Guide: Considerations

The market is huge. So what do you need to consider when choosing the best home water distiller?

Water Distiller Materials

Water distillers heat water to the boiling point, so about 100 °C (212 °F). Therefore, you should double check that the steam distiller you buy has a steam chamber made from food-grade stainless steel. Plastic or aluminum will result in even more contaminants leaching into your water.

Above that, water should not get in contact with any plastic parts along its way to the carafe in order to rule out possible recontamination and not compromise 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.

Filtration

Why is a charcoal post-filter necessary when using a water distillation system? Because chances are that volatile chemicals that could be lurking in your water – think chlorine and VOCs – would 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 impurities.

By the way, this has nothing to do with improving water taste as many online sources claim erroneously.

Water Distiller Certifications

NSF Standard 42, 53 and 401 are for regular water filtration systems. For distillation, you want to look for NSF/ANSI Standard 62 certifications. 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 to that, you might want to pay attention to further certifications for the carbon post-filter stage that many water distillers come with, although it’s not that important.

Power 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 when checking your next electricity bill.

Does it makes sense to go with a lower-watt water distiller in order to save money? Not really. The lower the wattage, the longer the distillation process is going to take. Energy consumption and efficiency don’t change much. For example:

• A 0.58kW distiller might distill 1 gallon of water within 5 hours. 0.58kW x 5 hours = 2.9kWh
• A 0.75kW distiller needs 4 hours to distill 1 gallon of water. 0.75kW x 4 hours = 3kWh

Paying 12 cents per kWh, you end up with

• 2.9kWh 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 1 gallon is about 1 cent. Consuming half a gallon of distilled water per day, you’ll roughly pay $2 more/less per person and year.

Water Distilling Capacity

The thing is, distillation is slow, very slow. The average unit will supply you with a gallon of fresh water every 5 hours. Larger machines might achieve 6 gallons 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 water a day be enough to satisfy your needs?

Pro tip: Start your water distiller right before you go to bed to wake up to 1 gallon of pure water in the morning. This is where the automatic shut-off feature that most models come with really pays off.

More on Water Distillers for Home Use

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The following are questions people repeatedly ask about water distillers:

• 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 run a water distiller?
  One 4-hour cycle provides you with 1 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 distilled 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 fluoride 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 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?
  Because distilled water is highly pure water, we wouldn’t recommend storing it in a plastic jug. Pure water tends to leach more contaminants out of plastic.
• Does distilled water need to be filtered?
  Filtering distilled water can help to get rid of volatile stuff, yes.
• Do water distillers need filters?
  Most already use a charcoal filter after the distillation to adsorb any volatile substances.
• What is the advantage of using distilled water?
  Distilled water is pure H₂O without any contaminants. It doesn’t get any cleaner than that!
• What does distilled water taste like?
  Honestly? Tastes pretty flat due to the lack of minerals.

Questions about a water distillation product or any other type of water purifier? Ask away!

And don’t forget to come back to this page from time to time as we are going to review a new water distiller occasionally.

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