Distilled Water Machine: DIY Care & Clean

Editor: Kirandeep Kaur on Nov 05,2024

When using a distilled water machine as the source for pure and contaminant-free water, maintenance is quite essential. Just like with any other appliance, eventually, there may be depositing mineralization, or even molds and bacteria formation in it. These may affect the quality of water produced from this system and can create malfunctions if not eliminated. This DIY guide details the step-by-step process of maintaining this equipment. The steps include de-scaling, filter care, and sanitizing. It ensures that the equipment will last for longer periods with pure quality water.

Why Distilled Water Machines Require Maintenance?

Distilled water machines boil water, which then turns into steam; this steam is condensed and used to remove impurities. While this treatment removes almost all contaminants, mineral deposits and other residue tend to collect on the heating elements and inner surfaces of the machine. Over time, these can reduce its efficiency, alter the flavor of the water, or even damage the machine. Proper maintenance in the form of descaling and sanitizing makes your distilled water machine perform optimally at all times and continues delivering clean water.

Step by Step DIY Maintenance for Distilled Water Machines

For a machine to continuously maintain the best state that it should, you ought to maintain a cleaning habit. Some fundamental maintenance techniques include: basic cleaning, descaling, filter care, and sanitizing.

 1. Basic Cleaning of Your Distilled Water Machine

Clean after use to prevent residues from building up as you keep on using, so that your machine will perform well.

Materials needed:

  • Mild dish soap
  • Cleaning sponge or cloth
  • Distilled or filtered water

How to do it

  • Turn off the Machine and let it cool completely before cleaning.
  • Clean Water Collection Tank: Use mild dish soap along with sponge to clean the distilled water collection tank gently.
  • Rinse Well: This is done by using distilled water to rinse out all soap residue from the tank. Tap water must never be used as this means introducing new minerals to the tank.
  • Clean Outside: Using a damp cloth, you should clean the dust and residue that accumulates outside the machine.

Regular cleaning after use means keeping the surfaces clean of the machine, without smell, and less forming of minerals at the container and outside parts.

2. How to Descaling Your Distilled Water Machine

One of the most fundamental steps in maintaining a distilled water machine is to descale it. The term descale refers to removing all mineral deposits that have gathered inside the machine, which can especially collect around the heating element and on any interior surfaces. Too much of this buildup or "scale" can weaken performance, potentially leading to the complete breakdown of the machine if care is not taken when approaching it.

Materials: White vinegar or commercial descaling solution, water, soft cloth

Steps: 

  • Prepare Descaling Solution: Water to which white vinegar has been mixed in equal quantities. Commercial descaling solutions must always be diluted in proportionate quantities according to the prescription of the manufacturer
  • Pour the Solution into the Reservoir: Pour the white vinegar or the descaling solution into the water reservoir.
  • Run a Distillation Cycle: Switch on the appliance and allow it to run a full distillation cycle with the descaling solution. It will dissolve mineral deposits in the appliance.
  • Empty and Rinse: Empty the descaling solution, then rinse the reservoir with distilled water.
  • Run a Final Cycle: Run a final cycle with only distilled water to remove any remaining traces of vinegar or descaling solution.

You will have to descale once every month for machines you use daily. If the machine begins with scaling or becomes less efficient earlier, you should descale more often.

3. Sieve Cleaning and Renewal

Carbon filters are installed with distilled water machines. Some volatile organic compounds removed from the water are not removed when the carbon filter hasn't been in use. To purify your water ensure you check on your carbon filter and clean or change it if need be.

Materials Needed: Filter replacement cartridges-if they are needed.

Steps:

Check the Filter: Inspect the filter after use for any indication of aging or other deterioration. Check it also for any discoloration or a strange smell.

When the Filter Should Be Replaced: The carbon filters may need to be replaced from every three to six months. Its usage may determine how often the filters should be changed.

Always adhere to the requirements of the manufacturer: Different machines require different filters and, for this reason, always read the user guide of the appliance for instructions regarding the changing of the filters to prevent the unit from suffering damage.

Repairman installing water filter cartridges in a kitchen.

4. Maintenance of Filters

A clean filter serves to make the water not only good tasting but also rids any other impurities within the water. This keeps the distilled water as pure and clean as it could possibly be.

It sanitizes the removal of bacteria, mold, or any other microorganisms that could accumulate in the reservoir and the collection container. It is very important to sanitize especially if the machine has not been used for a long period, or if you detect odd smells or film in the reservoir.

Materials Needed: Food-grade hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach, water

Process:

  • Sanitizer Solution: Take one teaspoon of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water, or any small amount of food-grade hydrogen peroxide.
  • Sanitizer solution in Reservoir: This sanitizing solution needs to be added in the machine's reservoir
  • Residues: Let this solution be there in the reservoir for 15 to 30 minutes. So, this way, the bacteria or mold will completely be killed.
  • Thorough Rinse: Drain the solution from the tank and fill with distilled water. Repeat two more cycles of distillation to remove all traces of sanitizer from equipment.

Keeping your machine clean every three months prevents bacterial buildup, thus ensuring that your distilled water stays clean and pure.

Troubleshooting Common Issues in Distilled Water Machines

Though well-maintained, you are still going to run into a few problems sometimes. These are some common problems and DIY simple troubleshooting tips for your distilled water machine.

1. Machine Will Not Heat or Operate.

  • Check the power supply: Ensure the machine is properly plugged in; does that outlet work?
  • Mineral buildup: If mineral coating exists on the heating element, then it will not heat. You have to descale.

2. Unpleasant Taste or Odor in the Water:

  • Reservoir and Collection Container: It might be due to residues left over in the reservoir or collection container. Sanitize by the following steps.
  • Change Filter: The water tastes bad and has a foul smell if you have an old filter. Replace it, if beyond its usage life period.

3. Slow Water Production:

  • Descaling of the Machine: The mineral deposits inside the machine delay distillation. Make descaling to have the machine return to normal condition.
  • Good Ventilation: Distillation requires good air circulation. Ensure the machine is installed in a well-ventilated room to avoid overheating and maximize performance.

Bonus Tips to Extend the Lifespan of Your Distilled Water Machine

To maintain your machine in the long run, here are some bonus tips to keep your machine in good shape:

  • Use filtered or pre-treated water: You are likely to descale your machine less often because fewer minerals will be there in the water.
  • Don't overfill: Overfilling the reservoir may make your machine overheat or break. Observe the capacity guidelines found on the user manual of your machine.

If, however, you are infrequently using the equipment, you clean it up, let it dry, then cover it up with a clean cloth to prevent the formation of piles of dust over it.

Conclusion

A distilled water machine is one of the most treasured appliances of a person who believes in pure and contaminant-free water. Cleaning, descaling, filter care, and sanitizing should be carried out to ensure longer machine life and excellent quality of water from it. With due care and time taken for its maintenance, your machine will stay as an efficient and reliable distiller for many years ahead.


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