Distilled water is just broke(help pls...)

[chunkyfrog]

A relative claims he puts a teaspoon of the really good stuff in the tank along with the distilled water.
He says the smell is so soothing, and puts him right to sleep.

[archangle]

There are several ways of processing demineralized water, with distillation being one of them. I'm not aware of flocculation and chemical separation being widely used, but am familiar with DI, RO and membrane filtration. The reason it's not used for drinking is that it's so corrosive, and actually can cause serious health effects source. Demineralized water dissolves any available minerals to reach a stable state, so that's not good for you to have to compete with your water for basic nutritional (mineral) needs. Based on taste, I doubt you'd want to drink it anyway.

Demineralization is sometimes done by using chemicals. In one process, the water is percolated through beads of solid materials and some of the minerals "stick" to the chemical beads. In some processes, lye is used. If it's not intended to produce drinking safe water, there might be some of the treatment chemicals left in the water. Also, remember that demineralized water is intended to remove ions and minerals such as those that clog up pipes, not to remove all chemicals. For instance, "demineralization" wouldn't necessarily remove contaminants like gasoline or pesticides.

i.e. just because it's "demineralized" for use in car batteries, steam irons, and or other devices doesn't mean it doesn't have chemicals that are harmful to drink.

As for the corrosiveness and health problems, all of those concerns apply to distilled water as much as "demineralized" water. I think the health concerns are overblown unless you are using demineralized water exclusively as your drinking water source. The corrosiveness concerns are for things like industrial equipment where metal is in constant contact with water.

[adin67]

Good morning.
You scared me guys.
I think the best thing i'll switch on bottled and boiled drinking water(tap water).
No distilled, no demineralized

[archangle]

Distilled is the best choice for CPAP use if you can get it easily enough. The concerns about distilled water are only for drinking, and only if you drink it most of the time. It won't corrode your CPAP machine because the machine is designed for distilled water.

You generally shouldn't drink ANY liquid not intended for human consumption. Even if the liquid is safe to begin with, if it isn't intended for drinking purposes, it may get contaminated in the bottling and shipping process. If someone makes ultra pure water intended for use in steam irons or car batteries, they may not worry about it if they get a few typhoid germs or some lead in the water in the bottling process.

[chunkyfrog]

If mixing a solution for a Neti pot or other nasal rinse, sterile (medical) water is your best bet.
You don't even want to know what could be in well water!

[pbriggs]

Hello - I travel to Germany a few times a year and always use tap water as I have never found distilled water there. I can tell you that by the end of the week there is a lot of crud in bottom of the chamber especially on the aluminum heat disc. It cleans off pretty easy typically with some warm water and baby wash.

[jacobsbd]

Whatever water you put in your tank is distilled by the time you breathe it. Note: some volatile liquids are not separated out by distillation. that is why some alcoholic beverages are careful about what base grain (or other sugar supply) they ferment when starting the process. if you start with a mixture that does not contain gasoline or something similar you should be ok.

Now what gets left and concentrated in the tank as the water evaporates to humidify the air will help feed the little beasties who like to make film in your tank. these same beasties can produce spores that can float loose when the tank is close to empty and cause problems in your body.

[palerider]

these same beasties can produce spores that can float loose when the tank is close to empty and cause problems in your body.

please cite your references for that.