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+--- Thread: What water for the humidifier? (/Thread-What-water-for-the-humidifier)
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What water for the humidifier? - Benzi - 11-27-2020
Hi
I've been using the Resmed S9 humidifier for the last few months.
When I bought it from the technician, she suggested using boiled water.
Then I read a recommendation to use distilled water.
Since we use a Brita water filter, I am now boiling the filtered water and letting it cool down before use.
Is there a down side to what I'm doing? I don't see myself buying gallons of distilled water. (As it is, after a whole night of use, the water level has hardly dropped.)
What water are people using in their humidifiers?
Thanks!
RE: What water for the humidifier? - ddefendi - 11-27-2020
Here a just a few of my observations about the water you put in your humidity tub...
The reason you want to use distilled water is it's lack of mineral content, the minerals in regular and most bottled water can after a time build up in your tub...
The humidity given off by any water you use will be pure h20, just like the steam condensate in a distiller.
Boiling water will kill germs and other organisms but it will not lower the content of minerals, in fact it increases the mineral content by the amount of steam released (probably very minimal).
Again it is the minerals you do not want to have build up in your tub.
I have been on a Resmed S10 Elite and now autopap for over six years, wife has been on one for about 3... Four years ago I invested in a one gallon distiller (takes about 5 hours to make a gallon).. I make 8 gallons at a time, keep six in the back room and two by the machines. Only investment is the original 8 bottles of distilled water and a couple replacements over the years due to leaks. The distiller has paid for itself and I have never had any mineral build up in any of my tubs...
RE: What water for the humidifier? - Sleeprider - 11-27-2020
Boiling water has no benefit in CPAP use, and is really only done to disinfect contaminated water for drinking. Most manufacturers recommend distilled water to reduce mineral content. I have always used tap water and it works fine as long as the container is emptied and allowed to dry or wiped out. Your Brita filter water can be used the same way as tap water and will have slightly less minerals. There is a Zero Water pitcher that actually produces nearly mineral free water.
Stop boiling, and use the time and energy saved for something you enjoy.
RE: What water for the humidifier? - cpaper101 - 11-27-2020
I use filtered water from my sink (have an under sink filter). I give my humidifier a quick clean every day and a good clean once a week. I am guessing the cleaning/drying side is the main part that keeps everything good.
RE: What water for the humidifier? - Big Guy - 11-27-2020
Skip the boiled water and / or distilled water. Way too much work!
Just use tap water and be sure to empty the water reservoir each morning. Dump the water out and dry with some tissue. Every now and then, I use some white vinegar to rid the mineral build-up that occurs occasionally. I pour some in, let it soak for 15 min. or so, dump it out, rinse with water, then dry with tissue.
My reservoir is over two years old and still looks like new.
RE: What water for the humidifier? - Homerec130 - 11-27-2020
Never used boiled water and now use tap water. Like everyone has said, just empty the tank in the morning and dry it out. It will also give you an idea of how much you actually use. I only fill my tank half way my humidifier is set at 0. Even with the hard water in AZ, I don't start to see any buildups until after about 4 months.
RE: What water for the humidifier? - SarcasticDave94 - 11-27-2020
Distilled or boiled water is not needed. If you rinse out the tub every few days or even daily, it will be fine.
RE: What water for the humidifier? - Canuck 2 - 11-27-2020
I'm going to be a minority and I use distilled water and haven't any problems for over 10+yrs. If you are on a tight budget using ordinary bottled drinking water would be next alternative for myself. What I found using town and city water in the spring time when run off from melting snow the folks who treat the water put a lot more chemical in for a month or two to make sure it is safe to drink. You are going to spend about $20-25 a year for distilled water is what I figure.
RE: What water for the humidifier? - Zorki1c - 11-27-2020
Distilled water costs 88 cents a gallon at our grocery. At worst our two cpaps can go two weeks on a gallon. We don’t empty tanks every day. Just add water when needed and wash with soap and water weekly. Not exactly a budget buster
RE: What water for the humidifier? - DaveL - 11-27-2020
I've learned a lot from this post!
I'm using City Water now. I believe that my DME mislead me. They blamed my use of city water as the cause of a leak in the floor of the pan for my S9 humidifier. After reading answers in your post and others I think I was mislead.