- Naomi Stephens | Permaculture Designer
The Best Water Distiller for Plants and Gardening.
A water distiller is a great choice for plants and gardening. If you are looking for a way to provide your plants with the best possible water, a distiller is the answer. Did you know that distilled water is as good as rainwater for plants, if not better? In this blog post, we will discuss what to look for when shopping for a water distiller, as well as the benefits of using one for plants.
1. Why Distilled Water is the Best Choice for Plants
Distilled water is simply water that has been boiled and then condensed back into a liquid. This process removes all impurities from the water, including minerals, bacteria, and other contaminants. This makes it an ideal choice for watering plants, as it ensures that they are getting only pure water. Additionally, distilled water has a neutral pH, which is perfect for plants. It's arguably better than using rainwater for plants because you can be sure that the water is truly pure. Rainwater unfortunately can still contain contaminants, depending on the area it falls in. A study showed that in some cases, rainwater can actually be more contaminated than tap water.
The CDC has advised 'Rain can wash different types of contaminants into the water you collect (for example, bird poop on your roof could end up in your water barrel or tank). Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that could make you sick, and it has been linked to disease outbreaks.'
-Rainwater Collection | Private Water Systems | Drinking Water | Healthy Water | CDC
A distiller is a better version because you can test the water to see what's in it, and you know that it's 99.9% pure. You can use a TDS Meter to measure the Total Dissolved Solids in your water. The total dissolvable solids in distilled water should always be less than 5. To give you a scale, the total dissolvable solids in tap water tend to be in the 300s, I've personally tested this myself.
You may be concerned about not getting minerals or nutrients from pure water however, plants do not get their minerals or nutrients from the water. They actually get it from the soil.
2. The Benefits of Using a Water Distiller for Plants
There are many benefits to using distilled water for plants, including:
No contaminants: As we mentioned before, distilled water is completely free of contaminants. This means that your plants will be getting only pure water, which is essential for their health.
Neutral pH: The neutral pH of distilled water is perfect for plants. It won't disrupt the delicate pH balance of the soil, and your plants will be able to absorb all of the nutrients they need.
Better than rainwater: While rainwater is good for plants, it can still contain contaminants. Distilled water is a much purer option that you can be sure is safe for your plants.
Sustainable: Distilled water is a sustainable option because it can be reused and recycled. This means that you won't have to buy bottled water or use resources like tap water, which can be wasteful.
Cost-effective: Investing in a water distiller upfront will save you money over time since the process of distilling the water is much more
3. What to Look for When Shopping for a Water Distiller
Now that you know why distilled water is the best choice for watering plants, you may be wondering how to choose a quality distiller. There are a few key features to look for:
Stainless steel interior
The interior should be made of stainless steel because this material is durable and will not rust. Rust can contaminate the water and potentially harm your plants.
Glass or BPA-free plastic collection container
The container that collects the distilled water should be made of either glass or BPA-free plastic. This is important because you don't want the water to come into contact with any harmful chemicals.
Automatic shut-off
An automatic shut-off feature is important because it prevents the distiller from overheating and potentially catching fire. This is a safety feature that is well worth the extra cost.
Adjustable steam vent
An adjustable steam vent allows you to control the amount of steam that is released from the unit. This is important because too much steam can damage plants. Too much steam can damage plants by causing them to become waterlogged and suffer from root rot, which can lead to plant death. The overabundance of steam in the air can also cause wilting, yellowing, and leaf drop due to a lack of adequate oxygen for the plant. Additionally, excessive steam can also cause a decrease in photosynthesis rate, leading to stunted growth or nutrient deficiencies that may prove fatal. Having an adjustable steam vent prevents this from happening.
Timer
A timer is helpful if you want to be able to set the distiller to run at specific times of the day or night. This way, you can make sure that the distilled water is always ready when needed without having to keep a constant eye on it.
Size
When choosing a water distiller, it's important to pick one that's the right size for your needs. The distiller should be able to accommodate the amount of water you want to distilled. For example, if you have a large family or garden, you'll need a distiller that can handle a larger volume of water. Home water distillers are normally 4 liters and the larger ones are normally 6 liters. When I moved into my family home upgrading to a 6 litre distiller made a world of difference.
4. Best Water Distillers on the Market
Be sure to buy a high-quality distiller from a reputable brand. I've been using distillers for about 10 years and I've gone through a few. I would recommend avoiding the non-branded cheap distillers on Amazon as they won't last long sometimes the drip section is not fit properly or there are other things wrong with it which will make you need to replace them in less than a year.
Megahome Water distiller
The Megahome water distiller is the market-leading brand of reliable water distillers. The Megahome distiller is pricey but you will buy one that will last. They use the best quality material and they are quality tested every step of the way.
It includes:
Carbon filters
Cleaning Crystals
1 year warranty
Purify Home Distiller
If you're starting out with a distiller then the Purify home distiller is the best complete package distiller. They have put together a package of everything you would need to check and monitor your pure water.
It includes:
TDS Meter- This will check the number of disposable particles in your water. Distilled water should be less than 5. Having the TDS meter will help you check and immediately clean your container to remove excess particles collected in the collection over time. Or it can indicate that your carbon filter needs to be changed.
Timer- This helps you set your distiller on a timer as most distillers do not come with an in-built function.
Cleaner- this is what t you place in the distiller to remove residue.
Carbon filters - This helps to further filter your water. It comes with 6 which will last you at least 6 months.
At the time of writing this costs $139
CO-Z 6 Litre Water Distiller
This is the distiller I'm currently using for my family of 3. We no longer need to run the distiller every day because it makes 6 liters instead of the standard 4.
What I love most about this is that it is reliable, I haven't had any problems after the last 6 months of constant use. It also comes with a 12-month warranty.
I couldn't find a 6L distiller with a glass container so BPA-free plastic is the next best alternative.
I like that it is quiet, with just a gentle hum in the background, I have a 7-month-old baby and so for nap times, a quiet distiller is crucial!
From my experience, these large ones commonly get sold out quickly. I had been looking to buy a larger one for quite some time and finally managed to get my hands on one.
This large CO-Z distiller was surprisingly affordable at $99 at the time of writing.
ECO-WORTHY Water Distiller
This distiller is one of the few that comes with an in-built timing function. This makes it easier to clean by shutting the distiller off before all the water has left the chamber. The distiller produces 1 liter of water per hour.
It comes with a glass container which is the best for storing water and it comes with a one-year warranty and 60-day quality assurance.
Features:
Timing Function
1-liter distillation per hour
1-year warranty
60-day quality assurance
At the time of writing this item costs $159
FAQs
Does a home water distiller get rid of chlorine?
Yes, a home water distiller can get rid of chlorine. The process of distillation works by heating the water to boiling, which causes the water to vaporize and separate from any contaminants. The resulting vapor is then cooled and condensed back into purified liquid form without chlorine or other contaminants.
Does a water distiller get rid of microplastics?
No, a home water distiller does not get rid of microplastics. Microplastics are so small that they can pass through the distillation process without being filtered out. To remove microplastics from drinking water, a specialized filtration system is needed.
Does a water distiller get rid of fluoride?
Yes, using a home water distiller can help to remove fluoride from water. Distillation works by boiling the water and then recondensing it as pure, distilled water. During the process, impurities such as fluoride are left behind as the steam evaporates. By discarding the condensed steam, you are left with safe, pure drinking water free from contaminants like fluoride.
Does a water distiller get rid of vinyl chloride?
No, a home distiller does not get rid of vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride is a toxic chemical that is released into the air by certain industrial processes, and it cannot be removed from the air by distillation. Therefore, in order to reduce exposure to vinyl chloride, other methods such as using personal protective equipment and ventilation systems should be used.
Does a home water distiller get rid of hydrogen chloride?
Hydrogen chloride is the by-product of vinyl chloride that has been burned.
Yes, a home water distiller can get rid of hydrogen chloride. The distillation process works by boiling the water and then collecting the resulting steam, which is free from contaminants such as hydrogen chloride.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! We hope it has been helpful and informative.