What is a Water Distiller, and How Does It Work?
A water distiller is a highly effective way to produce pure water. Distillation is a simple process that removes impurities from water by boiling it and then collecting the steam as it condenses. This condensed steam is pure, contaminant-free water, which can be collected for drinking or other uses.
The distillation process starts with heating the contaminated water until it reaches boiling point. The heat causes the water to vaporize and release steam, leaving any dissolved minerals, chemicals, or other impurities in the original container. The steam rises and enters a cooling chamber where it cools down and condenses into liquid form.
As the steam cools, it leaves behind all its impurities, resulting in clean drinking distilled water. The purified distilled water can be collected in a separate container for consumption.
Is a Water Distiller Worth Your Money?
If you’re concerned about the quality of your drinking water, then a water distiller might be worth considering. A water distiller is a device that purifies tap water by boiling it and then collecting the steam as it condenses back into liquid form. This process removes impurities such as bacteria, viruses, minerals, and chemicals that may be present in your tap water. However, the distilled water that comes out of a distiller may have a distinct taste and lack some of the positive qualities of regular tap water.
Water distillers may seem expensive at first glance, but they can save you money in the long run by reducing your reliance on bottled water which can be costly over time. Additionally, they provide peace of mind knowing that you drink clean and pure water without harmful contaminants. Here is a list of the best water distillers that you can go through.
What Contaminants Does a Water Distiller Remove?
The method of water distillation has been proven to be effective at removing many types of contaminants, such as:
Chlorine
Chlorine is a disinfectant used in public water systems for decades. It’s added to kill any bacteria, viruses, or other harmful organisms that may be present in the water. While chlorine has proven effective in keeping our drinking water clean and safe, it also has some potential negative effects on our health if consumed in large quantities over time. Distilled water can remove up to 99% of all contaminants, including chlorine.
Iron
Water distillers work by boiling water and capturing the steam, which is then condensed into liquid form. During this process, impurities such as minerals, chemicals, and bacteria are left behind in the boiling chamber, while the resulting distilled water is free from these contaminants. While some types of iron can be removed through this process (known as ferrous iron), others cannot (ferric iron).
Flouride
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral often added to municipal drinking water supplies to promote dental health. However, many people are concerned about the potential health risks of consuming too much fluoride. Fortunately, a high-quality water distiller can remove up to 99% of the fluoride present in your tap water. So, buying a distiller is a cost-effective option than buying distilled water from bottles.
Sulfates
Water distillation can effectively remove sulfates from your drinking water. Sulfates are a type of salt that naturally occurs in groundwater and surface water sources. They can cause a bitter taste in your tap water and have been linked to gastrointestinal issues when consumed in large quantities over time.
Nitrates
Fortunately, water distillers can effectively remove nitrates from drinking water through distillation. Water is heated to a boiling point during distillation and evaporates into steam. As the steam rises, it leaves behind any impurities, including nitrates and other minerals or chemicals that may be present in the water.
Heavy metals
A high-quality home distiller removes virtually all types of heavy metal pollutants through its boiling process.
Volatile Organic Compounds
While a distiller effectively removes many impurities, including water, salts, and non-volatile organic compounds, it falls short when removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals have low boiling points and evaporate readily at ambient temperatures. However, some high-quality water distillers may help remove these compounds.
Pesticides
Water distillation provides one of the best ways to eliminate a wide range of contaminants, including pesticides and other harmful chemicals.
Pharmaceutical residues
Some distillers use charcoal filters to remove pharmaceutical residues. However, if the water was contaminated with a large amount of drugs that are difficult to filter out, this may not remove all the toxins.
Pathogens
A water distiller can remove pharmaceutical pathogens from water. The distiller process removes all contaminants, including pathogens, from the source.
Microplastics
While distillation may remove impurities from liquids, it may not remove microplastics effectively. This is because microplastics have a lower boiling point than water and cannot be removed through distillation.
Pros and Cons of Water Distillers
Advantages of Water Distillers
There are many advantages to using pure water distillers, such as:
Delivers purified water
One of the main advantages of using a pure water distiller is that it provides purified water, free from any impurities or contaminants. The purified water obtained through a distiller tastes better than regular tap or bottled water since it contains no chlorine or fluoride. Additionally, distilled water is free from bacteria and viruses, which can cause health problems such as diarrhea and stomach upset.
Convenient to use and maintain
Another advantage of using a water distiller is its convenience. Unlike other methods of water purification, such as filtration or reverse osmosis, which can be time-consuming and require regular maintenance, a water distiller is easy to use.
To use a water distiller, simply fill the boiling chamber with tap water and turn it on. The unit will do the rest of the work for you. You don’t need to worry about changing filters or cleaning membranes – just empty out any remaining impurities after each cycle.
Eliminates the cost of buying bottled distilled water
When you invest in a water distiller, you can purify your tap water instead of purchasing expensive bottled distilled water. You can save money in the long run and reduce your environmental impact by avoiding single-use plastic bottles. With a one-time investment in a high-quality distiller, you can produce unlimited pure distilled water at home without additional costs.
Disadvantages of Water Distillers
However, there are also some cons to using a water distiller.
High energy consumption
One major disadvantage of using a water distiller is its high energy consumption. Distilling water involves boiling it to remove impurities and condensing the steam into pure water.
The energy required to boil the water can be significant, especially if you regularly distill large quantities. Using a water distiller can increase electricity bills and carbon emissions. In addition, some models may require additional equipment, such as cooling fans or pumps, which further add to their energy usage.
Slow production rate
Another downside of a water distiller is its slow production rate. Depending on the model, it can take anywhere from 4-8 hours to produce just one gallon of distilled water. This slow production rate can be frustrating for those who need a constant supply of clean water for drinking or other uses. It also means that if you have guests over or need to fill up large containers, you must plan and start the process well in advance.
Distilled water tastes bland
Unlike filtered water (Using a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter) distilled water tastes flat due to its lack of essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These minerals are important in giving drinking water its distinctive flavor profile. When these minerals are removed during the distillation process, what’s left behind is plain and flavorless H2O that doesn’t have any distinct character or taste notes.
Is Drinking Distilled Water Healthy?
Some people have concerns over whether drinking distilled water is healthy for the body. One reason is that distillation removes minerals from the water that are essential for human health, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals play crucial roles in various bodily functions, such as muscle function, blood pressure regulation, and bone health.
On the other hand, proponents of drinking distilled water argue that these minerals can also be obtained from food sources and supplements.
So, deciding whether distilled water is healthy is up to you based on your personal health goals.
Is Distilled Water Better Than Filtered Water?
Distilled and filtered water are two common types of purified water used for various purposes. Both types of water are meant to remove impurities, chemicals, and minerals from tap water to make it safe and healthy for consumption.
Distillation is a process that removes all impurities from tap water by boiling it and then condensing the steam into pure liquid form. Distilled water has no minerals (even beneficial minerals) or contaminants, making it very pure and bland in taste.
On the other hand, filtered water uses a physical or chemical process (reverse osmosis systems or carbon filters) to remove harmful elements while leaving some beneficial minerals behind. This makes filtered water more palatable than distilled.
The choice between distilled and filtered waters depends largely on personal preference and intended use.
Does Boiling and Distillation Mean the Same Thing?
Boiling and distillation are two terms that are commonly used interchangeably, but they actually have different meanings. Boiling turns a liquid into a vapor by heating it to its boiling point. This occurs when the pressure of the vapor becomes equal to that of the surrounding atmosphere. Distillation, however, is a process of separating components from a mixture using heat.
The main difference between boiling and distillation is that while boiling simply changes a substance from liquid to the gas phase, distillation separates mixtures into their individual components. This makes distillation important in many industries, such as chemical production and oil refining. Distilled water, for example, has had all impurities removed through this process.
Conclusion
A water distiller can be an effective way to get the cleanest and purest drinking water. The advantages of using one include having safe and clean drinking water that is free of contaminants, as well as reducing plastic waste from purchasing bottled water. However, there are drawbacks, such as the cost and time it takes to distill the water. Whether or not a water distiller is worth it depends on individual preferences and needs.