THE WATER WE DRINK…

Maintaining Your Water Distiller

DISTILLERS RESEARCH TOPIC LINKS:
Impurities Removed by Distillation
Types Of Distillers and Equipment
(VOC’s) volatile organic compounds
Maintaining Your Water Distiller
Pricing, Purchase, Operational Costs
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pre-Purchase Considerations

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Also See: Distillation Process Defined

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And: Testing Your Water Supply

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Cleaning And Proper Maintenance: Water Distiller

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.