The Complete Guide to Water Distillers in Australia

Water distillation is one of the oldest purification methods known to humans — and one of the most thorough. If you want water that's as close to pure H₂O as you can get at home, a water distiller is hard to beat. Here's everything you need to know before buying one.

What Is a Water Distiller?

A water distiller works by heating water to boiling point, collecting the steam, and condensing it back into liquid in a separate chamber. Because most contaminants — heavy metals, bacteria, chemicals, dissolved solids — don't evaporate with the water, they're left behind in the boiling chamber. What you end up with is exceptionally pure water.

Browse our full range of water distillers and steam purifiers.

What Does a Water Distiller Remove?

Distillation is one of the most comprehensive purification methods available. A quality distiller will remove or significantly reduce:

• Heavy metals — lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium
• Bacteria, viruses, and cysts
• Nitrates and nitrites
• Fluoride
• Chlorine and chloramines
• Dissolved solids (TDS)
• Pesticides and herbicides
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — though some VOCs with a lower boiling point than water can carry over, which is why most distillers include a post-carbon filter

The result is water with a very low TDS reading — typically under 10 ppm, compared to 100–500 ppm for most Australian tap water.

How Does a Water Distiller Work?

1. Water is poured into the boiling chamber and heated to 100°C
2. Steam rises and passes through a vent into a cooling coil or condenser
3. The steam cools and condenses back into liquid water
4. The purified water drips into a collection jug (usually glass)
5. Contaminants remain in the boiling chamber as residue

Most countertop distillers produce around 4 litres per cycle, which takes approximately 4–5 hours. It's not instant — distillation is a slower process than filtration — but the purity level is exceptional.

Distilled Water vs Filtered Water — What's the Difference?

Filtered water passes through a physical or chemical medium that removes specific contaminants. Distilled water goes through a phase change (liquid to steam and back), which removes virtually everything. Distilled water is generally purer, but the process takes longer and uses electricity.

For most households, a quality filter like a reverse osmosis system or benchtop filter is sufficient. Distillers are particularly suited to people with specific health needs, those on tank or bore water with high contamination, or anyone who wants the highest possible purity level.

Is Distilled Water Safe to Drink?

Yes — distilled water is safe to drink. The main consideration is that distillation removes minerals like calcium and magnesium along with the contaminants. Some people prefer to remineralise their distilled water by adding a small amount of mineral drops or using a remineralisation filter. Others drink it as-is and get their minerals from food, which is where most of us get them anyway.

Distilled water is also widely used in medical equipment, CPAP machines, steam irons, and car batteries — anywhere that mineral buildup would cause problems.

What to Look for in a Water Distiller

• Capacity: most countertop units produce 4L per cycle. If you have a larger household, consider how many cycles per day you'd need to run.
• Collection jug material: glass is preferable to plastic for the collection jug, as distilled water is slightly more reactive than tap water and can leach compounds from low-quality plastics over time.
• Post-carbon filter: a good distiller includes a carbon post-filter to catch any VOCs that may have carried over in the steam.
• Auto-shutoff: most modern units shut off automatically when the cycle is complete — a useful safety feature.

Maintaining Your Water Distiller

The boiling chamber will accumulate scale and residue over time — this is normal and actually a visible sign the distiller is working. Clean it regularly with a descaling solution or citric acid. The post-carbon filter needs replacing periodically (typically every 1–3 months depending on usage).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to distil water?

A standard 4-litre cycle takes approximately 4–5 hours. Most people run a cycle overnight or while they're out so there's always distilled water ready when they need it.

Does distilled water taste different?

Yes — distilled water has a very clean, flat taste because it lacks the minerals that give tap water its characteristic flavour. Some people love it; others prefer to add a small amount of mineral drops. It's entirely a matter of preference.

Can I use a water distiller for my CPAP machine?

Absolutely — distilled water is actually the recommended water type for CPAP humidifiers. Using tap water causes mineral buildup in the chamber over time, which distilled water prevents entirely.

How much electricity does a water distiller use?

A typical countertop distiller uses around 580–750 watts and runs for 4–5 hours per cycle, so roughly 2.5–3.5 kWh per 4-litre batch. At average Australian electricity rates, that's approximately 75 cents to $1.05 per batch — still significantly cheaper than buying bottled water.

Ready to Find Your Distiller?

Browse our full range of water distillers and steam purifiers, or visit our FAQ page for more information. Happy to help — just get in touch.