At Pure & Secure, we’re proud of how reliable and durable our water distillers are. With proper care and maintenance, our water distillers have been known to last for decades!
If you’re noticing that your Mini Classic CT Water distiller isn’t producing as much water as it used to, that could be a sign that it’s time to give your machine a little tune up. You may need a part or two, but we can get you back to running at peak performance in no time.
How much distilled water should my Mini Classic CT be producing?
On average, your Mini Classic CT Pure Water Distiller should be producing about 0.8 gallons every 3.5 hour cycle. When we test every distiller at our factory in Lincoln, Nebraska, we are looking for this output.
Please note: the jars we include with the distillers are gallon jars. One batch will NOT completely fill the jar. It should be about 3/4ths full. We intentionally engineered it this way to leave your heating element submerged in water.
However, some things can affect the water output of your distiller without indicating a problem with the machine itself. These include:
- Elevation (see chart below – because the machine runs on a timer, changes in boiling point change how quickly it boils and how much it produces)
- Amount of water in the boiling tank (is it filled exactly to the bottom of the peg, slightly more, slightly less, etc.)
- Temperature of water before running the cycle
- Voltage of the outlet (some outlets run slightly lower than the 120 rating, which results in the heating element running at a slightly lower wattage)
How do I know if my water production has dropped?
While all of this is great to know, it doesn’t really solve the question of when you should actually be concerned if your production has dropped.
Generally, you should be concerned if your production is a few cups low. If you are measuring based on how high the water is in the jar, this graphic can help:
So what should I do if my machine isn’t producing enough distilled water?
First, don’t worry! We build these machines to be durable, tough, AND easy to maintain or fix.
We can take you step by step through the process of how to get up and running again. Work your way through this simple checklist, and we can narrow down what the issue is:
Production Issues Checklist
1. Is the power cord is securely attached to the back of the distiller?
If power is spotty or inconsistent, it can affect production.
2. Is the boiling tank filled to the proper level (bottom of water level stud)?
Putting too much or too little water in the machine can alter both the quantity and quality of water that comes through.
3. Is the lid is properly centered and tight on the boiling tank?
If there isn’t a good seal, steam could be escaping from the lid.
4. Is the boiling tank firmly inserted into the distiller?
If there isn’t a good seal, steam could be escaping into the air.
5. Is the fan running?
If the fan isn’t running, the distilled water won’t condense properly and not as much will make it into the jar.
6. How long is the length of time the unit runs?
Time a cycle – your Mini Classic CT should run for a little under 3.5 hours. If it’s running too long or too short, it will affect how much distilled water is made.
7. Is the O-ring still in place?
Check to ensure that the black O-ring is seated properly in the steam outlet hole on the back of the boiling tank and that it’s creating a good seal. If there isn’t a good seal, steam could be escaping.
8. Is the outlet of the steam tube from the condensing coil visible above the filter tray?
We need to make sure the water can actually get through the condensing coil.
9. Has the filter has been rinsed out before use? And is water able to flow through the filter?
We don’t want the carbon in the filter getting clumped up; this can result in water spilling over the sides instead of flowing through the carbon.
10. How much water is left in the boiling tank after a cycle?
When cycle is complete there should be approximately 5 cups of water left in the boiling tank. Unit should produce approximately 3 liters (12 cups) of distilled water.
11. Is the issue consistent when the water distiller is run on a different outlet?
Sometimes, the issue is with an outlet, not the distiller itself.
12. Are the condensing coil fins in the fan area clean from debris?
If not, we recommend cleaning them using a can of compressed air.
If you’ve tried everything above and haven’t found an issue, then it’s time to run a boiling tank test to make sure that the heating element is working properly.
Boiling Tank Test
To ensure that the heating element is maintaining a boil you can proceed with the following test.
- Remove the boiling tank from the distiller, remove the lid and fill with water.
- Leave tank on countertop out of the distiller, remove the power cord from the back of the distiller and plug it directly onto the back of the boiling tank.
- With the lid removed you can monitor the water action to see if the water comes to and maintains a boil when it gets hot. This should take approximately 30-45 minutes.
If the water does NOT come to a full, rolling boil during your test, you likely need a new heating element. Order Here.
If the water does come to a full, rolling boil, please contact our customer service department for next steps in trouble shooting.
You can also watch our video on troubleshooting the Mini Classic CT water distiller here.
Questions?
Please contact us at info@mypurewater.com or 1.800.875.5915. Thanks!
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