How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

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Nozzelnut
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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by Nozzelnut » Sun Jul 13, 2014 1:06 am

After reading this thread, I poked around on amazon. There's a automatic dispenser called the magic tap. It reminds me of a soda dispenser; they kind you push the lever in and out pours the soda. I don't have one but it's got good reviews. It's less than $10.

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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by spmccord » Sun Jul 13, 2014 2:30 pm

jencat824 wrote:I love the spigot idea. I'm going to look for one this weekend. I think I saw one similar to this at WalMart, but never thought of using it for this. A genuis idea!
Me, too! I'm going to try this..just to stop the spills!

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bwexler
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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by bwexler » Sun Jul 13, 2014 3:12 pm

I have been using RO water since before CPAP. I have the little faucet on the kitchen sink. Just push the lever up wait for the tub to fill, push the lever back to off. Seldom spill a drop, but I do have to hold that heavy humidifier chamber under the faucet for about 30 seconds until it is full. Maybe I can just set it on the edge of the sink while it fills.
Oh wait I am just a kid and don't have arthritis yet, so I can still hold the HH tub myself.

If you guys lived close I could even help you carry the gallon jugs upstairs once in a while.

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msla
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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by msla » Sun Jul 13, 2014 7:38 pm

SleepyStar wrote:
archangle wrote:
SleepyStar wrote: ....You think a brita filter would be good enough while healing?
Yes, You might find that you will want to rinse/wash out any excessive mineral build up. The filter should remove any chlorine smell from your tap water.

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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by SleepyStar » Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:29 pm

msla wrote:
SleepyStar wrote:
archangle wrote:
SleepyStar wrote: ....You think a brita filter would be good enough while healing?
Yes, You might find that you will want to rinse/wash out any excessive mineral build up. The filter should remove any chlorine smell from your tap water.
I was thinking of filtering the bottled water that I have stocked up from my parents.

To wash out the mineral buildup, is just baby shampoo ok or do I want to use vinegar or something like that too? To be honest I haven't really cleaned my chamber out...I figured distilled water getting changed reasonably frequently is fine.

Luckily my humidifier needs lately have been met at 1.5 so it's a pretty slow drain. I think I've used this one jug of distilled for close to 6 weeks now. I bet the filter would get me by until my leg finishes healing. I also have a 2nd chamber so I can always trade off the one that's cleaning/drying with the one in active use.

My dad's been helping with grocery shopping lately, I think I'll ask him how much he thinks he can carry up to my apartment, hopefully I can get 2-3 gallons up and that should last me until I can start carrying heavier things without toppling over again

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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by msla » Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:39 pm

Mineral build up that is crusty is easily removed with white vinegar. If you can move the build-up with a finger a non-scented soap should work fine. I would do it first thing in the morning, rinse well, and residual odors can dissipate. I have been using the same ResMed cleanable humidifier tank for 4 years. I have a spare that I have used several times if the vinegar smell wasn't gone or I was going on a trip and wanted to pack a completely dry humidifier.

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archangle
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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by archangle » Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:52 pm

If you have a PRS1 machine, or the dishwashable S9 tank, it's OK to use tap water. Just dump the water out every morning and rinse it. At worst, you may have to replace the tank a little more often.

The standard S9 tank says distilled water only, but personally, I wouldn't worry about that.

Distilled water is worth the small cost and effort for most of us, but if you have a problem getting distilled water, use tap water.

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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by dkhinz » Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:09 pm

archangle wrote:If you have a PRS1 machine, or the dishwashable S9 tank, it's OK to use tap water. Just dump the water out every morning and rinse it. At worst, you may have to replace the tank a little more often.

The standard S9 tank says distilled water only, but personally, I wouldn't worry about that.

Distilled water is worth the small cost and effort for most of us, but if you have a problem getting distilled water, use tap water.

Glad to hear this reply! I have progressively tried the following:
1. Filled the tank every evening with distilled water and dumped it out the next day.
2. Put in every evening only the distilled water I thought I would use and dumped it out the next day.
3. Filled the tank with distilled water and topped it off when needed.

I do the recommended cleaning each month and have not noticed any build-up either in my tank, hose or mask.

On occasion when traveling, I have used purified bottled water for a few days. I haven't noticed any difference with this. So my question is, is it absolutely necessary to use distilled water? As long as you keep up your maintenance, is there really that big of a difference?

I may be starting a fire-storm over this issue but I would love to hear all the pros and cons.

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archangle
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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by archangle » Wed Jul 23, 2014 2:29 pm

In many parts of the world, distilled water isn't easily available. Most people in those areas simply use tap water with no apparent problem as long as they dump the water every day.

Even if you do get a buildup of minerals in the tank over time, it's not that expensive to replace that tank every so often. $30-40 online.

Unless you're bad about dumping and cleaning the tank, you shouldn't be building up too much germ soup in the tank. Assuming your tap water is safe to drink, you're exposed to it anyway. Even if you use distilled water, it's not sterile to begin with, and germs and dust will get into the water from the airflow anyway. The air filters aren't 100% effective anyway.

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Re: How to handle gallon jugs of distilled water!

Post by Stevoreno_55 » Thu Jul 24, 2014 6:00 pm

I purchased 4 gallons of distilled water at Wally-World today for $0.87 each.

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