undistilled water and humidifier

[sleepyinmississippi]

Hi.
I'm traveling and though I brought my CPAP with me, I won't be able to use distilled water for my CPAP/humidifier tonight or tomorrow.
Should I not use my CPAP or can the non-distilled water work for 2 nights without doing major damage to the machine?

Thanks!

[chunkyfrog]

I would use bottled drinking water in a pinch--just as long as it is not mineral water.
Tap water is too unpredictable, as it relies on the entire delivery system to be potable.
If you have to use tap water, boil it at least 5 minutes beforehand.

[LSAT]

Of course you can use non-distilled water. It will like any other water. Non-distilled water may cause film or crud to accumulate in your humidifier if it is not cleaned regularly.

[billbolton]

Should I not use my CPAP or can the non-distilled water work for 2 nights without doing major damage to the machine?

The damage to your well-being from not using CPAP will be much greater than any possible impact on your humidifier (as long as you are using potable water)

Even if the water is very hard, there's nothing that you wont be able to clean up, by washing out your humidifer with a white vinegar solution when you return home.

Cheers,

Bill

[Guest]

Hi.
I'm traveling and though I brought my CPAP with me, I won't be able to use distilled water for my CPAP/humidifier tonight or tomorrow.
Should I not use my CPAP or can the non-distilled water work for 2 nights without doing major damage to the machine?

Thanks!

do use the cpap depending where you travel to you may not need a humidifier

[archangle]

Hi.
I'm traveling and though I brought my CPAP with me, I won't be able to use distilled water for my CPAP/humidifier tonight or tomorrow.
Should I not use my CPAP or can the non-distilled water work for 2 nights without doing major damage to the machine?

Thanks!

Assuming the water is safe to drink, nothing major should happen. If the water smells of chlorine or other stuff, you may smell it.

Dump the water in the morning, and refill the tank fully in the evening, clean the tank when you get back home.

Be sure to empty the tank before moving the machine. Taking the tank out is a good idea in a hotel in case the staff moves your machine. You don't want to get water into the blower unit.

[ozze_dollar]

I always use filtered water from the kitchen and clean the tank once a week. No problem.

[sleepyinmississippi]

Thank you all for your responses!
I vaguely remember my DME saying there'd be some damage done to my CPAP machine if I used anything but distilled water. But I guess I remembered incorrectly, which is why I'm glad I double checked my info with you.

With Best wishes and gratitude,

Pete

[maddyn]

All Distilled water really is, is water that has had the minerals stripped out of it. Its more sterile and makes it harder for algea to grow. Even though algea can grow from it, its much harder.

As long as you clean your machine tubing and mask on a regular basis and change the water out every night, you should be fine.

[JohnO]

Hi.
I'm traveling and though I brought my CPAP with me, I won't be able to use distilled water for my CPAP/humidifier tonight or tomorrow.

I just took my first trip with my machine and used bottled drinking water. My hotel even had a complementary bottle in the room!

[archangle]

Thank you all for your responses!
I vaguely remember my DME saying there'd be some damage done to my CPAP machine if I used anything but distilled water. But

At worst, you might "damage" your $30 water tank and have to replace it more often. The airflow goes the other way, so it water shouldn't get into the blower unit.

Or damage the patient if there's something sufficiently nasty in the water, but that's pretty unlikely.