Water distiller recommendations?

Heritagefarm · #1 02/21/10, 09:59 PM

We are in the process of buying a water distiller. Does anyone here have any suggestions?

blooba · #2 02/22/10, 07:37 AM

Is this for drinking water? If so, not sure what all is in your water but are you sure a water distiller would be the best option? Most water can be treated with filters, water softeners, or other means to make it potable. If you have heavy mineral deposits I would think a distiller would get clogged up after a while.

Me personally haven't used a water distiller so have no recommendations.

Randy Rooster · #3 02/22/10, 07:40 AM

Been using a distiller for many years- it doesnt clog.

You can get a decent basic distiller for around $100 - just do a google search.

Randy Rooster · #4 02/22/10, 07:41 AM

heres the sort I use- I would go with the stainless model as it will last longer.

http://www.a1-water-distiller.com/?g...Fclg2godQhTRJg

Heritagefarm · #5 02/22/10, 10:20 AM

We have lots of minerals, and lime, and we are sick of getting the plastic jugs from Wall-mart.

blooba · #6 02/22/10, 12:19 PM

I used to buy those jugs and refill them because I have iron in my water, I installed a carbon filter (not a carbon block filter) to the coldwater line to the kitchen sink and now its perfect. Although the replacement filters are expensive, they do last for 500-1000 gallons (a year or 2). http://www.waterlinetechnology.com/p...c.html#hfc1000
Not sure if it will work for lime or not but it does filter down to .5 microns which gets all the iron.

Harry Chickpea · #7 02/22/10, 12:49 PM

I use a countertop unit that I bought from Sears many years ago. I figured out the cost of distilling, and with electricity at a ten cent per KWH rate, it runs about 32 cents per gallon. In the winter, the waste heat just offsets the heat needed to heat the house. In the summer I put it outside. Caveat here- some people have reported a model similar to mine having a sticky thermostat and melting on the counter. I never leave mine on when we are out of the house.

If you are a kidney stone former, distilled water is one of the top best things you can do for yourself.

I've been mulling over a design for a solar still for a while. Maybe I'll build one this spring. Most of the designs on the web are silly and only semi-functional.

Heritagefarm · #8 02/22/10, 01:19 PM

I have no problems drinking our water; I've got a glass right now and I'm gonna get another one. It's just that another member of the household can't stand our missouri water.

Beeman · #9 02/23/10, 06:27 AM

How well does a distiller work when you have lime deposits in your water? Our coffee maker clogs up from the lime. You can chip it off the inside when you clean it. I can't imagine what it would do to a distiller.

Sparkey · #10 02/23/10, 07:07 AM

We've been using distillers for about 15 yrs. A friend gave us 2 WaterWise (brand name) distillers & got about 12 yrs of use with then before they wore out. In dealing with the company for replacement parts I found they basically wanted you to toss the old distiller & buy new. From my experience I've found they have not been the most, "customer friendly". Their high priced units do the same thing as the one I bought about a yr. ago from Nutriteam Co. for $130 delivered. Yes, they all do have deposits build up inside the tank & need to be cleaned after about 10-20 gallons of use (depends on how much calcium, etc. is in your water). We use the cleaner from Nutriteam & it works well. We use the distilled water for drinking, coffee, soup, etc. Yes, it is another "thing" to buy & maintain but we have been satisfied using the distilled for many years.

Charlie

We prefer the model with "no plastic inside"...& prefer the 'all stainless'.

Harry Chickpea · #11 02/23/10, 11:34 AM

You can use either vinegar or lemon juice to remove the calcium deposits. They only occur in the boiling vessel, so I just pour some vinegar and water in mine, stick an old plate on top, and let it boil for an hour. Swish around the water with a long handled sink brush and pour it down the drain.

Heritagefarm · #12 03/02/10, 09:04 AM

Well, we've been doing loads of research, and finding many conflicting views. This person says it caught fire, this person says it lasted for 7 years, that person says it broke in a couple months, this person says it made their water taste WORSE, and so on and so forth.

Harry Chickpea · #13 03/02/10, 11:30 AM

I can't imagine one breaking in a couple of months. They are too simple a device. As for the water tasting worse, buy a jug of distilled and taste that. It will taste similar. You do have to use the carbon post-filter to "finish" the water, and it can taste odd if that filtration is missing or old.

Heritagefarm · #14 03/21/10, 04:50 PM

Well, we got our distiller. After looking at the model with stainless steel on the outside, we settled on the one with plastic on the outside. When we got it, we were pleased to find out it was actually a metal outside with a nice white enamel finish, rendering most of the distiller recyclable!
The first thing I noticed was the packaging, which took packaging almost to an art (as much of an art as polystyrene can get). The distiller itself was packaged in styrene, and there were compartments on the outside for the cord and cleaner. Then, the glass collection container (yes, we got the one with the glass collection container, not the plastic one. What's the point in getting a distiller only to have it end up in a toxic container?) was in the distiller. Then the container parts were packed nicely inside the container (handle etc.).
We ran the distiller, and the #1 complaint was that it was loud. Well, the fan blows, but it doesn't bother someone who sleeps with a fan on every night!
The only thing I don't like is that it was made in china. But the few that were made here where $500+! Also, we got it from Nutriteam, but when we got it the side says "Megahome", some Taiwanese company who couldn't write their manual in very good english. Their moto is "We care for you all the time". Lol.

Harry Chickpea · #15 03/21/10, 07:27 PM

Sounds like you got the oriental version of mine. But you got a glass jug, which makes me wonder if you wanna trade?

This one is just "slightly" used - has more hours on it than most cars...

Seriously, for the first couple of weeks, stick a metal cookie pan under it and keep it away from anything flammable, or the MINISCULE chance that the thermostat is defective. After that, rock-n-roll.

That packaging is cool. I was amazed as well. Congrats. Between mine and the Berkey, we are happy folks.

Heritagefarm · #16 03/21/10, 11:34 PM

We got this one:
http://www.nutriteam.com/servlet/the...lection/Detail
More hours than most cars? I say slightly more than slightly used, lol!

**Shrek** · #17 03/22/10, 01:09 AM

On the occasions that I use my steam iron, rather than buy distilled water, I use two broiler pans, some string and clear drop cloth to assemble a solar tent water distillery in my sunroom.

blooba · #18 03/22/10, 08:00 AM

Shrek, That might be a pain for all your drinking water though.

HF, So how's the water taste? Does it taste like water?.....lol

Heritagefarm · #19 03/22/10, 09:01 AM

I don't know. I don't have to drink distilled water. I guess I'm addicted to lime-filled water, lol!

Heritagefarm · #20 03/30/10, 09:31 AM

Hey HarryChickpea, a quick question:
After it's done distilling, what do you do with it? Do you wash it, rinse it or what?