Every now and then, we have a customer call in, worried because there is a reddish discoloration in the seams of their boiling tank. They think it’s rust.
But have no fear: it’s NOT rust and your distiller is perfectly safe. Here are the facts.
What causes a discoloration that looks like rust in my boiling tank?
For our water distillers, we pride ourselves on using high quality T-304 stainless steel, and we are so confident in the quality that we offer a 15-year warranty on the stainless steel components. When we weld this stainless steel, we do not use a buffer metal because we do not want to corrupt the purity of the metal or damage the integrity of the boiling tank. It’s pure stainless steel.
304 stainless steel has a minimum of 18% chromium. (Note: this is not hexavalent chromium.) During the welding process, this chromium is drawn to the surface of the metal, creating the colors.
This reddish color isn’t iron oxide; it’s chromium oxide. And this chromium oxide patina actually further protects your boiling tank from rust.
Does this discoloration affect my water?
No. Neither the water in the boiling tank or the distilled water will be affected by this discoloration.
How can we be sure? If it did, it would show up as dissolved solids on water conductivity tests, and countless tests have shown that no additional dissolved solids show up in the distilled water.
You can read more about our 3rd Party Lab Test Results here.
Why don’t you remove the discoloration?
There are a few reasons we don’t remove the discoloration. First, the layer of chromium oxide actually reduces the risk of rust. It forms a protective patina that makes the seams even safer.
Second, while we could use harsh chemicals to remove the discoloration, we don’t want to risk our customers coming into contact with any residue, nor do we want to have to increase prices to cover the expense of the chemicals.
Is my boiling tank going to rust through or damage more easily?
No. In fact, just the opposite occurs. The chromium creates a protective patina that reduces the risk of rust.
The distiller worked the first time and now it is not working any more
Please reach out to our service center by calling or e-mailing the contact information printed on the rear of your distiller. You will want to include the model of distiller you are inquiring about as well.
I purchased your unit to use for my husband’s CPAP machine. I was buying plastic containers of distilled water at the grocery store and felt that the plastic containers were not safe. I have no idea how much money I saved (although that was not a consideration when I made my decision in purchasing your machine) over the years. I can now rest easy that my husband’s lungs are protected by the purest water available.
Had your unite for 2 weeks and the household is rockin it!! Look forward to years of drinking the best gift Mother Nature ever gave us.
Do you add and minerals back to the water after its distilled or do you just drink distilled water after it comes out of the machine ??