Which Distillers Are Most Effective at Removing All Types of PFAS from Water?

As a mom on a mission to find PFAS free drinking water from a distiller, I’ve rolled up my sleeves and dived into the science behind keeping those forever chemicals out of my family’s water glass. If you’re like me, worried about what’s lurking in your tap water, distillers are a top contender—especially for tackling those stubborn long-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS.

How Distillation Tackles PFAS (Science, but Simple!)

Here’s the scoop, Mom-to-Mom: PFAS compounds have much higher boiling points than good old H2O. So, when you boil your water in a distiller, the water vaporizes into steam, leaving most PFAS behind in the boiling chamber. The steam then cools back into pure water—free from many contaminants, including most PFAS. That’s why brands like Pure Water and AquaNui proudly report over 99.9% removal of a broad range of PFAS in independent lab tests.

But—and here’s where it gets tricky—no distiller can guarantee 100% removal of every single PFAS molecule. Short-chain PFAS like PFBA or PFBS are sneakier—they’re more volatile and sometimes tag along with the steam in tiny amounts. So while distillation is a superstar at removing most PFAS, it’s not a perfect shield against every last one. If you want all the nitty-gritty details, check out Mayu Water’s take.

Top Distillers for PFAS-Free Drinking Water from a Distiller

• Pure Water Distillers: Third-party labs verify they remove over 99.9% of all tested PFAS—including both the long-chain heavy hitters and several short-chain culprits.
• AquaNui Water Distillers: Also independently tested with similar stellar removal rates exceeding 99.9%.
• General Quality Distillation Units: Most well-built distillers with stainless steel boiling chambers and a post-carbon filter do an excellent job too. Just be sure to look for independent lab test data on PFAS removal before you buy.

Want to geek out on more tested products? The PFAS Free Life database is your friend.

What Every Savvy Mom Should Know

• Distillation is one of the most reliable home methods for broad PFAS removal, beating many other filtration options when it comes to covering a wide spectrum of these pesky chemicals.
• While short-chain PFAS might slip through distillation a bit more than their long-chain cousins, most are still dramatically reduced.
• For the ultimate safety net against any sneaky compounds, pair your distiller with a high-quality activated carbon post-filter. This combo helps catch any volatile organic compounds that might tag along.

Other Options When Distillation Isn’t Enough

If your water is loaded with short-chain PFAS (the more elusive troublemakers), consider alternatives like reverse osmosis (RO) or ion exchange systems. These methods punch above their weight for those tricky short-chain chemicals. For a mom-friendly overview, check out Water Filter Guru’s guide.

In a nutshell: if you want drinking water from a distiller without microplastics and aiming to ditch forever chemicals, brands like Pure Water and AquaNui lead the pack. Just keep in mind—no distiller is a magic wand that zaps every single PFAS molecule, especially the shortest chains. Always choose distillers backed by published, independent PFAS test results to keep your family’s water—and health—as safe as possible.

For more mom-approved info on forever chemicals and protecting your crew, visit Slater & Zurz and the EPA’s guide on reducing PFAS in drinking water.