How to Distill Water at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for Any Emergency Situation

You probably have a few water bottles stashed for an emergency, but if you rely on sensitive medical gear such as a CPAP machine, that isn't going to work. In a disaster scenario, finding a gallon of distilled water can be about as easy as finding a working power outlet in a blizzard. Distilled water isn't just "cleaner" drinking water -- it's absolutely necessary for medical devices that can seize up if you try to use mineral-laden tap water.

The problem with standard "emergency" fixes like boiling or bleach tablets is that they only kill the things that make you sick. If you run your CPAP on boiled tap water for a week, you could do real damage. Distillation is the only process that leaves those impurities behind, giving you a pure vapor that won ...