A humidifier lesson I learned while in a hotel

[JimW159]

My wife and I went away for a few day to attend a concert. The first night in the hotel I was filling my humidifier tank at the sink in the bathroom. For some reason I did not hold the tank the way I would ordinarily - typically, at home I would set the tank on the counter and pour water into the tank from a jug of distilled water. This time, I was holding the tank by the lid under the faucet. Suddenly, SNAP! One of the pivot points of the lid hinge breaks off. Fortunately, the seal inside the lid was not compromised and the tank continued to work OK as long as I was careful in snapping the lid in place after filling it. However, the lesson I learned (at the cost of a replacement tank) is "the lid is not a handle."

[chunkyfrog]

Tap water? Ugh!

[Okie bipap]

When we travel, I always pick up a bottle of distilled water. If I don't want to try carrying it back home, I just dump it out before we leave the hotel. I can normally find it for $1 or less, so it's no big expense and I don't have to worry about crud build up in my humidifier.

[klv329]

I wondered how fragile those awkwardly shaped "HumidAir S" water tubs are....apparently "handle with care" is required. And the dishwasher safe water tubs probably break, too.

And the HumidAire water tubs have that warning about "distilled water only"....nah, spring water, occasional tap water, once in a Blue Moon 'distilled water'. My local 'distilled water is "Purified by steam distillation, filtered and ozonated to enure quality." Ozone, must be yummy!

[chunkyfrog]

Design requirements are simple: hold water, take some heat.
Durability is not in the specs.

[MJKelleher]

When we travel, I always pick up a bottle of distilled water. If I don't want to try carrying it back home, I just dump it out before we leave the hotel. I can normally find it for $1 or less, so it's no big expense and I don't have to worry about crud build up in my humidifier.

I have a flip-top sports bottle that I've always and only used for distilled water. It fits in the travel case, holds about 20oz, and generally lasts me as long as my infrequent travels take me away. Now I'm developing arthritis in my hands, at home it's easier to decant from the gallon jug to the bottle in the bathroom sink every few days and use the small bottle to fill the humidifier.

[SewTired]

Thanks JimW. Good tip!

Okie bipap, another option is simply to have a 'travel' humidifier. One that you don't care if it gets gunky while you are traveling. Not everybody stays in hotels. Maybe you are caring for a family member and getting out to get more distilled isn't practical (closest gas station or store was 28 miles round trip). Just use the 'travel' humidifier and clean the gunk when you get to it and put it back in your travel stuff.

[JimW159]

... another option is simply to have a 'travel' humidifier.

You are so right - the irony is this was my travel tank. I have already ordered another tank to replace it.

[zoocrewphoto]

Most of my trips are 1-4 nights, so I usually take 1 or 2 reusable water bottles that I only use for distilled water. If I don't take enough, I use a bottle of regular water. I do NOT use tap water, ever.

[D.H.]

Good for travel with the US or Canada. Also, in the US and Canada, you can get distilled water in Walmart, Target, and many other stores.

However, for overseas travel, it's not feasible to pack water. You cannot put it in your carry-on bags, and it counts against your baggage weight limits.

Best bet is to use any potable water (except colored, flavored, or carbonated), and just wash the tank out well when you get home.