Distillers allow us to purify drinking water, through consecutive and controlled processes of vaporization and cooling. These events enable the separation of water molecules, other molecules or elements that are diluted.

The maintenance operations of a distiller will depend on the design and capacity of the equipment. Furthermore, the design will vary according to the volumes of distilled water required in each establishment. Regular maintenance of the distiller will allow us to have a clean, properly functioning equipment and increase the lifetime of the device.

When a distiller is installed in places with a hard water supply, it can accumulate fouling in the boiling tank. If these inlays reach a considerable thickness, they promote overheating of the equipment. Regular maintenance of the distiller, including cleaning, prevents the accumulation of fouling. For equipment whose design allows, it is recommended to clean the boiling tank, after each distillation.

Parts of a water distiller

Generally speaking, it consists of a steam generator or boiling tank, immersion resistors, cooling water outlet, condenser, filter and distilled water tank. The boiling tank is the reservoir where the water that will be distilled is stored. It has the device that supplies the water to the tank, in addition to controls of level, flow and quality of the feed water.

Immersion resistors are devices that generate heat through electricity. They are covered by a ceramic coating and protected by a metal coating. The cooling water outlet is the component of the distiller, which moves the water used to condense the water vapor. The condenser is the device that allows the vapor to cool and return to the liquid phase.

The filter is located at the outlet of the condenser or collector and serves to remove flavors or particles, present in condensed water. The distilled water tank is where water is collected after distillation.

Maintenance of the water distiller

As mentioned above, the maintenance routine depends on the design and capacity of the equipment. In general, we can say that there are different maintenance operations, which vary according to the frequency with which they are performed and the component of the equipment where they are performed. For example, it is recommended that the inspection and cleaning of the steam generator tank be done at a monthly frequency. While the operation for the change of the activated carbon filter is recommended to be performed on a quarterly frequency. Furthermore, the routine for cleaning the condenser will be performed at an annual frequency. As for sterilization of the distilled water storage tank, it is occasional. The following are the two maintenance routines that should be performed more frequently.

Maintenance of the steam generator or boiling tank

• We must carry out visual verification of the interior walls and immersion resistances, in search of solid deposits. The quality of the water fed by the distiller will affect the amount of deposits present. If deposits accumulate, we must clean to prevent damage to the immersion resistors.

The cleaning of accumulated deposits requires the use of a chemical, designed for this purpose. Then, drain the water contained in the boiling tank, until the level is 10 cm above the level probe or immersion resistance, to ensure that all elements of the boiling tank, are submerged in the water.

• Add the recommended chemical and mix thoroughly.
• Let the chemical work overnight or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Remove the sediments within the time recommended by the chemical manufacturer.
• Drain the contents of the tank, add clean water, wash and drain again ensuring the total elimination of removed mineral and chemical residues.
• Operate the equipment normally.

Activated carbon filter replacement

It is usually an easy-to-replace component. The process is as follows:

• Unscrew the filter cap and remove the used filter element.
• Install a new filter element, with the same features as the original.
• Reinstall the filter cover.

Kalstein distillers

At Kalstein we offer a wide variety of water distillers, from the YR series. You can choose the one that best suits your needs. Kalstein water distillation equipment works in an automated way, therefore, it is easy to use. They are designed with a glass bucket at the top, which allows the observation of the distillation process. They promote water and energy saving and have a protection system for electric loads and also a protection function in cases where the water supply is reduced or interrupted. For more information about Kalstein distillers, visit the link HERE