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Does boiling tap water make it safe to drink?
Simply boiling water on a stovetop will kill biological contaminants such
as bacteria, parasites and viruses. Boiling water will not get rid of salts,
heavy metals, or other chemicals which may be present in the water.
In fact, many are left behind. As the pure water evaporates into
steam, the water left behind in the kettle becomes MORE concentrated
with contaminants.
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What is distilled water?
Distilled water (also called steam-distilled water) is water which has
been heated to the boiling point (sea level Boiling Point= 212 degrees
Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Centigrade). Steam is then cooled and
condensed back into liquid form as pure water. The impurities remain as
residue (scale and sediment) in the boiling vessel (to
be removed during periodic maintenance). Distillation kills
biological contaminants such as bacteria, parasites, cysts, and viruses,
and removes organic and inorganic chemicals, heavy metals, volatile
gases, and other contaminants. The water produced is pure and contains
no solids, minerals, or trace elements. Steam distillation is the only
water purification method that removes virtually ALL contaminants.
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What do water softeners do?
Water softeners can be indicated in areas where the source water is
"hard" or full of dissolved minerals and are meant to provide utility
water for the home. They remove the minerals which makes water "hard".
Hardness in water interferes with the action of soap and detergents.
Water softeners use an expensive process called ion-exchange which
replaces minerals such as calcium and magnesium with sodium or potassium.
Softened water is not necessarily improved for drinking. In fact,
softened water is less desirable because of the addition of sodium.
Individuals with heart disease are usually cautioned against
adding an additional source of sodium to their diet.
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What are some suggested uses for distilled water?
The uses for pure water in the home include: drinking water, cooking,
steam irons, juices, baby formulas, coffee, tea, aquarium maintenance,
low sodium diets, photography/dark room, ice cubes, beauty/complexion
care, car battery maintenance, plants and flower arrangements, pet care,
and contact lens care.
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How does distilled water compare with bottled water?
Top quality bottled water could actually be made by the same process
(distillation). However, because bottled water is processed in a variety
of ways, and is unregulated, quality is not assured. Over 25% of bottled
water is ordinary tap water from municipal sources. Water from our
distillers is more economical than bottled water. The cost of bottled
water can be $1.00 or more per gallon. With our distillers, the average
cost is $0.25 per gallon .Our Water Wise and Pure Water distillers
are also more convenient than bottled water. With distilled water
produced at home on your kitchen countertop, there is no more hauling
heavy jugs of bottled water or running out of water when you need
it most.
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How good is the water from vending machines?
The treatment method used in high quality water vending machines is
commonly reverse osmosis and carbon filtration, with UV disinfections.
As with any filtration technique, the treated water quality depends
upon the age and condition of the filter media. Unless you know what the
treatment method is and how well the machine is maintained, you cannot
always be assured of the quality of water.
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Why don't municipal water treatment plants use distillation to treat water?
The large amount of energy required for the distillation of water makes
it too costly to utilize on a large scale. Also, since less than 2% of
the water supplied to a community is used for drinking, almost all of
that expensively produced pure water would be used for showers, baths,
toilets, washing machines, and dishwashers. Even so, some rich
countries in the Middle East that have limited fresh water do use distillation
as the method to purify their water. Don't forget that water may still
pick up some contaminants from the distribution pipes and home plumbing.
On the other hand, a home distillation unit produces pure water in your own
kitchen, right where you use it.
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Is fluoride removed by distillation? Isn't fluoride necessary for dental health?
Yes, distillation removes fluoride from water. Fluoride is sometimes
added to the municipal water supply because it helps prevent tooth
decay. However, there is controversy surrounding fluoridation:
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After childhood, fluoridation is not as effective in
preventing tooth decay.
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Fluoride tablets are much more cost effective, allowing
administration of fluoride to only those that desire
it.
- There is controversy concerning health problems that
could be caused by fluoride.
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Again, since less than 2% of the water used by a household is used for
drinking, fluoridation of the entire water supply is expensive
and wasteful.
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What causes cloudy or bad tasting ice cubes?
Cloudy ice cubes are primarily caused by dissolved substances in the
water. They can interfere with crystal formation, causing fractures and
yielding a cloudy or milky appearance. Dissolved solids and gases,
chlorine, and organic contaminants can give ice cubes a foul taste.
Remember, also, that ice will absorb odors in your freezer. The Water
Wise and Pure Water distillers reduce up to 99.9% of all Total Dissolved
Solids, giving you crystal clear ice cubes.
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Aren't some of the minerals removed by distillation needed for health?
Yes, your body needs calcium, for instance, and distillation removes this mineral
and all others. However, your body does not obtain the calcium it
needs from water. Your body obtains minerals more easily
from foods than from the water you consume. There is controversy
over the subject of minerals in water even among health authorities.You
will find compelling arguments on both sides of the issue.
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Minerals in water exist as salts or inorganic minerals. In this form,
minerals are not nearly as biologically acceptable to the human
body as the organic forms of minerals found in all foods and
high quality vitamin/mineral supplements.
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Excess minerals can interfere or compete with the taste of foods and beverages.
Many bottled beverages (beer, soft drinks) are made with purified
water for the best possible flavor.
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What impurities will distillation remove?
The distillation process removes virtually all impurities from water. Properly
equipped distillers are highly efficient at removing nitrates (fertilizer
residuals), bacteria, cysts, viruses, sodium, dissolved solids,
most organic compounds (solvents, herbicides, and pesticides), heavy metals
including lead and arsenic, and radionucleides from water. Distillers
remove about 99.5 percent of the impurities from the raw water.
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What impurities are not removed by distillation?
Distillers can actually allow a tiny percentage of impurities to pass over into
the storage container during distillation. Volatile organic contaminants
(VOC's), including some pesticides and solvents, boil at temperatures
below or very close to water (207-218 degrees Fahrenheit). Distillation
alone might not be enough to remove VOC's. Distillers equipped
to remove these substances are vented and/or have carbon post treatment
filters (ACF's).
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What should I know about water testing?
Municipal or community water supplies are strictly monitored, highly regulated,
and treated with disinfectant (usually chlorine) to protect users from water-borne
organisms and substances that are known or suspected to cause
health problems. Bacteriological tests are required weekly and other contaminants
are tested for on a monthly or yearly basis. Disinfections by-products
are also a major concern in community water supplies using chlorine
and chlorine compounds for disinfections. Your water supplier
is required to provide you with a copy of the latest water test results
once a year.
If you obtain water from a private water supply such as a well, you make
the final decision about water testing. To determine the types and amounts
of impurities in your water, you should have it analyzed by a certified
laboratory. The recommended testing interval for private water supplies
is usually once a year. When problems occur or the source becomes questionable,
more frequent testing is in order.
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How does distilled water taste?
Some folks feel that distilled water has a bland taste, because the dissolved
minerals that give water the taste they are used to have been removed.
For best taste, distilled water should be stored in the refrigerator
in a clean, covered glass, poly carbonate, or stainless steel
container. These containers are fairly inert and will not introduce any
taste to the water. Serving suggestions include: drink it cold
and give it a shake before drinking to reintroduce some air into
the water.
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What materials are used in Distillation Equipment?
Distillers are commonly made of stainless steel, aluminum, poly carbonate,
glass, and plastic materials. These materials are fairly inert, do not
absorb or add impurities to the water and are easy to clean.
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What are VOC's? How are they removed by distillation?
VOC stands for "volatile organic carbon". VOC's are are carbon-based substances that have
low boiling temperatures. Typically, most organic solvents fall into
this category, as well as some herbicides and pesticides. Distillers
can employ different methods for VOC's removal: 1) gas vents,
or 2) activated carbon filters (ACF). Distillers that use a combination
of methods for VOC removal are more efficient than those that employ
only a single method. The Water Wise and Pure Water distillers
use both gas vents and activated carbon filters for VOC removal. Gas
vents are small holes drilled into the tube leading to the cooling
coils. Gas vents allow VOC's to escape the distiller before they
enter the cooling coils. These tiny vent holes (one or two) are usually
between .045 inches to .065 inches in diameter. They can clog
and may require periodic cleaning. Activated carbon filters (ACF) trap
VOC's like a sponge. The ACF units are normally located at the end of the
cooling coils and remove the VOC's prior to entering the storage
container. The ACF's are replaced at regular intervals depending upon
the amount of water distilled. Removal of VOC's in distillers without
gas vents or ACF's can also be accomplished with some success
by discarding the first bit of distilled water that is produced
during a distillation cycle.
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How do I properly Maintain my water distiller?
Similar to a tea kettle or coffee maker, minerals and other residues deposit in
the boiling chamber of a distiller as water is boiled away. These
residues (scale and sediment) need to be removed occasionally. It is recommended
to rinse out the boiling chamber before EACH USE,
or at least once a week. If residue is not removed periodically,
a distiller becomes inefficient and can use more energy.
Mineral scale buildup can be difficult to remove without the use
of an acid-type cleaner. Commercial cleaners marketed for use in coffee
makers are appropriate for cleaning distillers and are available at the
grocery store. The cleaners usually contain sulfamic acid or other
organic acids. DO NOT use strong mineral acids like hydrochloric,
sulfuric or nitric to clean distillers. Strong acids will damage the
distiller. Check the owners manual for an appropriate cleaner to use.
Do not run the distiller with the cleaning solution in the
boiling chamber. The cleaner is simply poured in, left alone to
do its work, and then rinsed out well.
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To remove the scale buildup from a distiller, fill
the distiller with enough commercial cleaner to cover the
mineral deposits. Let the acid solution sit for the proper
amount of time, then discard and rinse well.
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An alternative cleaning agent is vinegar, which contains
acetic acid. Pour a solution of half vinegar/half water into
the distiller to cover the mineral deposits. Let the unit
sit over night, then discard and rinse well. If scale is
still present, increase the amount of vinegar or cleaning
time.
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Other regular maintenance duties include replacing the carbon filter
regularly (every one to three months or between
150 and 200 gallons distilled water produced) and keeping
the gas vent holes free of mineral deposits. These steps
are necessary to for effective VOC removal.
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Life span: The
life span 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 at least 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.
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What is the Cost of Distillation?
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Equipment Purchase Price
Distillers cost from $400 to $1500 for home use models. Counter top distillers
will range from $400 to $750 and automatic models from $600 to $1500. In addition
to the purchase cost, there are operational costs. These include electricity,
cleaner, and replacement carbon filters. Operational costs, of course, depend
on how much a distiller is used.
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Examples of purchase cost:
For about $400, you can purchase a one gallon home "point-of-use" distillation
unit. The best units in this price range feature stainless steel components
in plastic housings. Units featuring all-stainless steel construction will
cost considerably more.
For about $1200, you can purchase a 10-gallon per day continuous flow unit
with a 4-gallon storage container. These are typically plumbed directly into
the water supply and are filled automatically. When water is removed from
the storage container, the unit refills the boiling chamber and begins distilling.
The unit shuts off when the storage container is filled. Typical dimensions
of this system are about 3 feet high by 2 feet wide by 1.5 feet deep.
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Operational Costs
Operational costs are directly related to the amount of
distilled water you produce. Electricity is the largest
operational cost. The electrical cost is easy to calculate:
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Electrical Cost = (Wattage of distillation unit
in kilowatts) X (hours required to distill one gallon)
X (cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour)
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For Example: 800 watt distiller produces one gallon in 4 hours and electricity costs $0.08/KWH:
- Cost = (0.8 KW) X (4 hr) X ($0.08/KWH) = $0.256 or 25.6 cents per gallon
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Typical electrical cost for a family of four will be about $280 per
year (or $23 per month), because the average family of four
uses 3 gallons/day (1095 gallons/year) of water for drinking
and cooking. This number might be alarming, but is less expensive
than buying bottled water. Also factor in the cost of a ACF
replacement for a particular distiller. Cleaning cost depends
on the cleaning solution used and frequency of cleaning.
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How easy is it to operate a distiller?
Most distillers are mechanically simple, require no assembly or installation, are
easy to maintain, and are as easy to operate as a coffee maker.
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What are the disadvantages of distillation?
Distillers have small capacities and use considerable energy because they boil the
water. Because of the small capacities, home distillers are limited
to point-of-use systems. Distillers without gas vents or carbon filters
will not remove VOC's. There is also heat generated by a distiller
that must be dissipated, so the location must be chosen carefully
to allow proper clearance around the unit.
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What items should I consider when purchasing a water distiller?
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How much distilled water does your household
need? (per day, per week)
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How easy is the distiller to clean and/or repair?
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What level of convenience is desired? (manual or
programmable, timer operation)
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Is it designed to remove VOC's? Both distillers
offered by C. Crane Co. are designed to remove VOC's,
but many are not.
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What is the cost of replacement filters and maintenance?
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Purchase price does not directly indicate a
distiller's performance. A moderately priced
unit might work as well as expensive units.
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Don't buy more equipment than you need.
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Choose a reputable dealer -- Like C. Crane Co.!
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How good are water filters?
It depends on the filter. Filters vary in the treatment methods used. The thing
to remember about water filters is that they are only efficient
when they are new and they can get old quickly. They can develop holes
and will certainly clog up over time. Water quality is only assured
with a fresh filter. Most carbon-containing filters will reduce
organic contaminants and chlorine, both of which contribute significantly
to the water's taste and odor. Some water filters, such as those
designed for back country use, can even remove disease-causing organisms. Most
water filters do not remove dissolved minerals, which also
contribute significantly to the water's taste.
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What are the URL's for the manufacturers of the distillers offered by C. Crane?
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What are the return policies for the distillers offered by C. Crane?
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Water Wise Model 8800 Water Distiller: All C. Crane
products have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If your distiller
has a defect, warranty work is handled by Water Wise. It
is best to contact Water Wise (Phone: 1-800-874-9028 Hours:
9am - 5 pm ET) before returning any unit as there may be
something that can be done without returning the unit to
them.
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Pure Water Mini Classic II Water Distiller: All C. Crane
products have a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If your
distiller has a defect, warranty work is handled by Pure
Water. It is best to contact Pure Water (Phone: 1-800-875-5915
Hours: 9am - 5 pm CST) before returning any unit as there
may be something that can be done without returning the
unit to them
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What are the warranties for the distillers offered by C. Crane?
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Water Wise Model 8800 distiller: 1 yr parts & labor
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Pure Water Mini Classic II distiller: 2 year electrical
/ 15 years on anything that is stainless steel
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