- Water distillation has three basic steps. Water is heated to boiling. The steam is collected and condenses into water droplets on a surface as it cools. The droplets are collected in a storage container. The water is cleansed of heavier elements and impurities such as bacteria that are not carried by water in vapor form.
- In a water distiller unit designed for home use, some added features help purify the end product. During the water vapor or steam phase, a baffle vent allows the discharge of gasses other than H2O. The steam is trapped in a coiled tube, cooled by either a fan or cool water, and condensed into liquid form. An activated carbon filter may be present in the condenser to remove any remaining gasses from the water as it becomes liquid, before it goes to the storage tank. This will also re-oxygenate the water.
- Water distillers are best used with already potable water. Impurities can still remain in distilled water if the water used contains certain contaminates. With municipal water or safety-tested well water, the distiller is used to remove minerals. In areas with hard water, using a water-softener system prior to distilling the water is recommended but can leave a salty taste in the finished product. Distillers without a carbon filter may leave the water tasting "flat" due to the lack of oxygenation. Chilling the finished product in a refrigerator can help the taste. Since gases such as chlorine can be released during the distillation process, adequate venting around the distiller is a must. The home distillation system can be hooked directly to your refrigerator's water and ice unit, a furnace humidifier or run to a special faucet at your kitchen sink.
