THE WATER WE DRINK…

Types of distillation equipment

Before Considering Purchasing…
Types of water distillers

Distillers are commonly made of stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic materials. These materials do not absorb impurities from water and are easy to clean.

There are two types of distillers: batch units and continuous flow units (Figures 2 & 3).

Figure 2. Batch distiller.

Batch Distillers: Water is poured directly into the boiling chamber. The unit is turned on and the water is heated to boiling. When all the water in the boiling chamber is evaporated, the unit shuts off. Distilled water is removed from the storage container for household use. Batch units can range from 1gallon countertop units to 10 gallon floor units. Batch distillers produce from 3 to 10 gallons of distilled water per day. The smallest distillers are about the same size as a coffee maker.

Continuous flow units: Continuous flow or automatic units are connected to the water supply line. The water level in the boiling chamber is maintained by a float valve connected to the water supply. As distilled water is removed from the storage tank, the unit turns itself on and starts producing more distilled water. A discharge line periodically removes the concentrated impurities from the boiling chamber. Distilled water is either stored in a container or is piped to the use area

Figure 3. Continuous flow distiller.

Distiller accessory: Additional storage containers, transfer pumps and special kitchen taps can be installed adjacent to a distiller. Increased storage capacity will only be advantageous for continuous flow units. For example, you can install a kitchen tap and an under-the-sink reserve tank that has a level switch to turn on a small transfer pump. This pump transfers water from the distiller to a storage container located under the sink (Figure 4). When the under-the-sink reserve tank empties it turns on the transfer pump to refill the reserve tank. When the distiller’s storage tank empties, it turns itself on and fills the storage containers.

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Proper Maintenance

Minerals and other residues accumulate in the boiling chamber as water is boiled away. These minerals and compounds need to be removed occasionally. The boiling chamber of a distiller should be emptied about once a week. When distillation is continuous, the boiling chamber should be emptied more often. If these materials (scale and sediment) are not removed periodically, a distiller becomes inefficient.

Mineral scale buildup from hard water can be difficult to remove without the use of an acid-type cleaner. Commercial cleaning agents are available. The cleaners usually containsulfamic acid or other organic acids. DO NOT use strong mineral acids like hydrochloric, sulfuric or nitric to clean distillers. Strong acids can damage stainless steel and aluminum. Check the owners manual or consult your local distiller dealer for the appropriate cleaner to use.

To remove the scale buildup from a distiller, fill the distiller with the proper acid mixture to approximately 1/2 inch above the mineral line. Let the acid solution sit for the proper amount of time, then discard and rinse.

An alternative cleaning agent is vinegar because it contains acetic acid, a weak organic acid. Pour a 50 percent solution of vinegar into the distiller to about 1/2 inch above the top of the mineral line. Let the unit sit over night, then discard and rinse. If mineral scale is still present, increase the vinegar concentration or cleaning time.

Other regular maintenance duties may include replacing the ACF cartridge and keeping the gas vent holes free of mineral deposits. These steps are necessary to ensure that distillation units equipped to removeVOCs will effectively perform that function.

Lifespan: The lifespan of any distiller depends on the levels of impurities in the raw water supply, how often the distiller operates, and how often the distiller is cleaned. A good distiller should last 10 to 15 years with proper maintenance and routine cleaning. The most common repair for distillers is replacing a heating element or a cooling fan.