what is a good water distiller?

Answer 1

Ratings For Water Distillers-
The Objective Answer To See How Various Water Distillers Rate

CAUTION: Don’t be fooled with cheap price, hype, etc.!
Compare Carefully At Least 2-3 Water Distillers, Before Deciding Which Is Best.

Find out how Water Distillers rate on 14 Key Characteristics: Use this as a Check List
Rating: If the Water Distiller has a Favorable Stand circle YES; if Unfavorable- circle NO.
Add the points to those you circled YES, and Rate.
Excellent is 95-100, Good is 85-95, Average is 70-85, Poor is less than 70.

Characteristic Description Rating
Money Back
Guarantee
A minimum of 30-days,
even if the distiller has
been used.




Water Distillers that have at least a 30-day Money Back Guarantee are a good starting point. Some Manufacturers (those that also sell directly to the end user) state their water distillers are so terrific, so then why don’t they provide a legitimate Money Back Guarantee? Do they claim a 30-Day Money Back Guarantee, but only if the distiller is sent back in the condition it was sold? In other words, if you use the distiller, then you really can’t return it; that is not a Money Back Guarantee. A true Money Back Guarantee is when you can return the distiller after you have used it for a reasonable time (of course provided it hasn’t been damaged). A small fee would be reasonable. A good Money Back Guarantee would give 30-Days, to use the distiller. A manufacturer (Mfg.) that states they have a Money Back Guarantee, but doesn’t allow you to return it if you use it, is really giving you a con job, and hoping that you don’t understand what they call a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Before you buy, you really need to see in writing what are the conditions and exclusions of the so-called MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. If they say you can get your money back, but they won’t put it in writing, don’t waste any more of your time. Hang up the phone, before the smooth talker gives you a con job that you may later regret.
YES NO
10 Points


Quality
Is the main characteristic
and everything else
should be related to it.


Cheap price almost never has quality. Good water distillers are constructed to last for years with minimal servicing and expense. A quality distiller will also cool down the condensed steam to 1200F or less, as it goes through the post filter to the reservoir. Therefore, the distiller will have a well designed condensing coil, proper size fan motor and fan blades, and yet be quiet. Cheap water distillers fail in this area. YES NO





Certification
Proves that the distiller
has been tested for
safety and passed by an
and approved certifier.


Some manufacturer’s claim they have a great distiller. If it isn’t Certified by UL/CSA, NRTL/ANSI, then it hasn’t been approved for safety by a recognized and approved firm. If their distiller is so great, then it should have no problem in passing the tests. Any manufacturer who has been making a distiller for years, and hasn’t had it certified, should cause a big concern for a potential customer. The manufacturer could say their distiller is certified, when it really isn’t. If the manufacturer states their distiller is certified by UL/CSA, ask them two questions. “Is the distiller itself certified, or are just certain individual parts certified?” Also, ask, “Is there a decal on the distiller that shows that the distiller is certified?” If there is no decal with the proper certification, then the distiller is not certified. YES NO
10 Points


Temperature of
Distilled Water
For proper post filtration,
the distilled water
temperature should be
1200F or less when it
drips into the reservoir.

Good water distillers will produce distilled water that is less than 1200F or, when it goes into the post filter. Ask to see in writing (unless it’s on-line) the temperature of the distilled water as it enters the post filter. If it is above 1200F, then the ability of the post filter to remove gases (VOC’s- volatile organic compounds) from the condensed steam is diminished. Some distillers produce distilled water that consistently averages in excess of 1400, and therefore there is a significant decrease in the ability to remove gases. Some cities have much higher levels of VOC’s in the water, and if your city does, you certainly don’t want to get a distiller that produces distilled water that is 1300-1400+. Again, if it’s not in writing, you just have hearsay. Usually the cheaper distillers don’t have good cooling. YES NO
10 Points


Price
Water Distillers should
be reasonably and
competitively priced.






If the price sounds too good, and the price is much cheaper than the competition, then most likely the distiller is also much cheaper in quality. Quality water distillers cost more to manufacture than cheap water distillers. Therefore, if someone is saying their distiller, “is as good as,” the more expensive water distiller, but it has a much cheaper price, then most likely that water distiller also has much cheaper parts in it.

Also beware of water distillers that are much more money than other similar water distillers. You need to ask what are you getting for the much higher price? Are you getting a 5-year Warranty- with parts and labor, years of post filters and descaler, etc., or are you getting a lot of hot air? If the person or manufacturer also does not provide a Money Back Guarantee, then you are really getting a double or triple portion of hot air, but you are paying big bucks for it. However, paying a reasonable price (competitive price) for a quality distiller, that comes with a Money Back Guarantee is a good decision.
YES NO
10 Points


Warranty
A Minimum of 1-year
on all parts and labor,
even if operating on very
hard water.



Quality water distillers should have at least a one year warranty on all parts and labor, and have it in writing. Some Mfg’s or Mfg. representatives only warranty certain parts of the distiller. You want all parts and labor covered for at least 1-year. If the exclusion (‘s) include conditions that can normally happen (not due to customer negligence), don’t get the unit. In other words, if the person has hard water, or their water pressure drops below 30 psi. (affects auto-fill units) or stops, this should not void the warranty. The Mfg. should provide you a copy of the warranty, or have it on-line, so that you know what can be expected before purchasing, otherwise, you can expect to have an unpleasant surprise, and be losing money.

Make certain that the warranty (in writing) is perfectly clear. An ethical, honest, and reputable Mfg. will be straight forward. Also, when does the warranty begin? Some Mfg’s actually play games, or have played games in the past by stating the warranty begins either at the date the unit was made, or 6-12 months after the Mfg. date. Sometimes a customer buys a water distiller that was in a dealer’s inventory for a year or longer, and that should not cause the warranty to be less or expire. The Mfg. needs to be honest with the customer who buys their distiller, or buys from one of their dealers. Therefore, the warranty should begin either on the date the distiller was purchased by the customer, or within 30 days after it was purchased. This would cover those cases when the person was in the middle of moving, or bought it for someone else as a gift.

Also, watch out when a Mfg. states a 10-15 year warranty. The stainless steel is what can be for 10-15 years, but no one warrantees the distiller’s mechanical and electrical parts for 10-15 years. Typically, a warranty is 1-year on parts and labor. Make sure that labor is stated or directly implied in the warrantee. If you can’t get it in writing, you may want to look at another water distiller before you purchase that water distiller.
YES NO
10 Points



Product Liability
Insurance
Shows the consumer that
the Mfg. is conscientious
about protecting the
consumer if a problem
occurs. Manufacturers should have “product liability coverage (PLI) on their water distillers, if any damages (a rare occurrence), occur in your home. You want this on products you buy, and normally they have it. However, when buying a cheap distiller, there may not be PLI. If there isn’t, you can be faced with spending a lot of money out of your pocket if a serious problem occurs. Obviously, this would also be a major disappointment, in trying to save a little money, that can cost you a huge expense. YES NO
5 Points


Exaggerated Claims
Are made by some Mfg’s
to sell their units; that is
misrepresentation and
false advertising.


Some manufacturers and dealers make exaggerated claims, in order to get people to buy their water distillers. They claim their water distillers make more gallons than it physically can, or normally would do, unless it all the ideal conditions were present (which are hardly ever present). They also try to say it in a way that conceals their deception, such as makes 1 gallon in as little as 3 hours, or 1 gallon as quick as 3 hours. A manufacturer ought to be reputable, and simply state what can be expected in typical situations. Therefore, if it usually takes 3 hours and 25 minutes, or 3 hours and thirty five minutes, then state that. It would be acceptable to state approximately 3 ½ hours. However, a manufacturer, or a manufacturer rep should not be stating a shorter time that is the exception, and making that shorter time appear to be the norm. When a manufacturer exaggerates in one area, they often exaggerate in other areas. This can create a problem. If a warranty problem were to arise; the Mfg. would not usually be on the customers side. A reputable manufacturer or manufacturer rep will actually make statements that apply in typical cases, and not make statements or claims that rarely apply, or make statements and claims that simply are not true. YES NO
5 Points


Copy-Cat Models
Almost always are
inferior and that's why
those water distillers
cost a lot less.



Some Manufacturers have copied a reputable and proven water distiller. Copy-cat distillers look very similar and usually sell for a lot less, as they are not built as well. The copy-cat models may even make the water faster, by having a heating element with higher wattage. This may sound like an improvement, but it creates a bigger problem. (1) The distilled water condenses at too hot a temperature for adequate post filtration. (2) The water distiller is subjected to higher stress by not having adequate cooling. (3) The water distiller won't last as long. (4) You have to pay for service, or buy another distiller sooner. The reason the original distiller didn’t have the higher watt element in it, is because the manufacturer had already discovered a higher watt element would cause the distiller to prematurely develop problems. The only way to safely compensate for having a higher watt element is to make the distiller larger, have a larger condensing coil, a bigger fan, etc. That also would make the distiller cost more. However, the copy-cat manufacturers are so eager to sell their distillers, that they don’t take the time to simply make a better distiller. They aren’t interested in making a better distiller, but in making a cheaper distiller so that the uninformed will mistakenly buy their distiller, and think they are getting a very similar distiller, with the same quality, but for a cheaper price.

A quality distiller, is designed so that the temperature of the distilled water being made will be less than 1200F. If a distiller has the temperature of the distilled water 40-500 hotter, that is not a quality distiller, and can cause a major problem. The distilled water temperature would be too hot for the post filter to effectively adsorb the VOC’s effectively. Therefore, the consumer is likely to be getting VOC’s in their distilled water. It is very wise to avoid using a distiller in which the distilled water condensing is higher than 1200F. There are other characteristics that make a copy-cat distiller inferior, and they also have to do with lower quality. If a copy cat distiller is really great, then it should have at least as good a warranty, same features, the distilled water should condense at a low temperature, have the same ratings and certifications, and simply be built as well. However, there is no such distiller on the market. Don’t be deceived, but do be informed, and compare the different models, so that you will make a wise choice.
YES NO
5 Points


Track Record
5-10 years minimum, and having established a good reputation.



How many years has the Mfg. been in business, and how many years has the particular water distiller been on the market? Beware of new water distillers that haven't been sufficiently tested and certified. If they haven't been on the market for at least 2 years, and performed well, then they really doesn't have a proven track record. Avoid them, unless those water distillers have a very good warranty. Also, does the Mfg. have a good reputation? 5-10 years gives credibility. However, 20-30 years is excellent. One thing to look for, is how good is their Money Back Guarantee, and how many years have they had it?
YES NO
5 Points

Auto Shut-Off
It’s necessary to keep the
heating element from
burning out if the boiler
becomes dry.


This is a feature that causes the distiller to turn off automatically, so that the distiller or heating element doesn’t continue to stay on if there is no water in the boiling chamber. Also, if this happens, the customer should be able to merely press a reset button. Some counter-top distillers turn off automatically after each cycle by an auto shut-off reset switch, and some use an internal timer. Distillers that are connected to a water line- automatic fill, typically shut off by a float in the reservoir activating the distiller to turn off. They usually also have a reset, so if the float fails, or water drops below the heating element, the distiller turns off. However, if a distiller doesn’t shut off automatically when the boiler doesn’t have any water in it, that can burn-out the heating element, and may result in a fire. If the Mfg. says their distiller doesn’t have a reset, and tells you, “just use a timer,” tell them they are the one who should have a timer or auto shut-off in the unit. A timer won’t shut off power to the distiller if the water drops below the heating element, that may cause a serious problem or fire. YES NO
5 Points

On/Off Switch
Is fundamental, and every distiller should have one.



All water distillers should have an ON/OFF Switch, so that the person doesn’t need to physically unplug the water distiller at the end of the cycle, or to use a timer. A timer merely shuts off the water distiller at a certain time. However, a timer won’t turn off the water distiller, if for some reason the boiling chamber runs dry. (See also Auto Shut-Off). Any Mfg. that does not have an ON/OFF Switch on their water distiller really doesn’t care about the consumer. YES NO
5 Points
Service
Should be available after
the warranty. It should
be reasonable and
prompt.



Does the company offer service on their water distillers beyond the warranty period? Find out what are the two most common problems, and what it would typically cost to repair (parts and labor). They may not have it in writing, but if you could get it in writing- all the better. Occasionally, a repair can cost more, but it should not be twice as much as the average price for the same repair. A good distiller should last for years without servicing. Changing a heating element can be $50-$70 average. Paying $100+ is being ripped-off (shipping charges should be reasonable). Find out how many days it usually takes to repair a distiller. You don’t want to get a non-direct answer. If the sales person is being evasive, you can get an idea that they will be very evasive if you happen to have a warranty problem. A manufacturer (or manufacture representative) should not usually take longer than 1-week to repair a water distiller, before sending it back. YES NO
5 Points

Inventory
A Mfg. or Mfg. rep
should regularly have
units on hand, and not
have to make them on
order.

Does the Manufacturer have water distillers on hand when the customer places their order, or do they say they make them on order? If a manufacturer says they make units when orders are placed, that should cause a big concern for the consumer. The manufacturer could be going out of business, they could be financially strapped, they could be lacking confidence that people want their distiller. There could be other reasons, but that doesn’t excuse a Mfg. for not regularly having inventory to sell.

Answer 2

boil it or freeze it