Distilled Water?

[pikov22]

Do you ALWAYS use distilled water in your humidifier?

Do you take it with you when you go away for a weekend?

[imfletch]

Yes, I always use distilled water. I keep a couple of one-gallon jugs in the bottom of my pantry so, if I need to travel, I will grab one of those jugs or...if just for a night, pour some into a smaller empty plastic beverage container. It probably would not hurt to use tap water on a single night here or there, but why when it is so easy to take a little distilled?

[dlanbro]

I always use distilled water. I'd rather not have the possibilities of issues and don't know what those might be with any other type of water.

[LinkC]

No. When I need humidification, I use tap water and rinse it daily to prevent calcium buildup.

[NotLazyJustTired]

I used distilled. If there is a Walmart in the area where you are traveling, just pick up a gallon when you are there. It's like 88 cents for a gallon at Walmart. No brainer really.

[pikov22]

Do you ALWAYS use distilled water in your humidifier?

Do you take it with you when you go away for a weekend?

I perhaps should have mentioned that I am somewhat limited in mobility and it is not a no-brainer to carry extra stuff or pop in to Walmart.

Thanks for the answers.

[pikov22]

No. When I need humidification, I use tap water and rinse it daily to prevent calcium buildup.

Do you rinse with tap water? Or???

[jencat824]

Nope, when traveling I just use tap water. For a few nites, what can it hurt?

Jen

[LSAT]

Nope, when traveling I just use tap water. For a few nites, what can it hurt?

Jen

+1

[pikov22]

Nope, when traveling I just use tap water. For a few nites, what can it hurt?

Jen

I guess it depends on how "hard" the water is.

[Pugsy]

No, I don't bother with tap water when traveling and use tap water at home when I run out of distilled and it isn't convenient to go into town to the store or if I go into town and come home forgetting to get the distilled water...which does happen every now and then.

When I use tap water I do try to remember to dump any remaining water the next morning and let the tank air dry and then fill again at bedtime. Lessens the chance of mineral build up which is the primary reason for using distilled water.
Where I live we have a rather high mineral content to the water. It doesn't take the tank very long to start looking rather yucky if I used tap water all the time. Even so, it's easily cleaned with a bit of vinegar when/if it happens.

[TerBear]

Yes, always distilled. Yes, always when I travel. Previously, I did not worry about it until I heard of a couple of deaths from NOT using distilled water in a Netti pot. Some little microscopic creature travelled to the brain. One death was in the state of Louisiana where I live. On the one hand, it's a mild pain to pack, but now it has become part of the routine and is not a problem at all. I've been using APAP since June of last year and travel approximately one weekend per month. It's well worth it!

Terri

[NotLazyJustTired]

Do you ALWAYS use distilled water in your humidifier?

Do you take it with you when you go away for a weekend?

I perhaps should have mentioned that I am somewhat limited in mobility and it is not a no-brainer to carry extra stuff or pop in to Walmart.

Thanks for the answers.

Sorry, should have said, "No brainer for me." And I was really referring to the 88 cent bit. I will admit it is a hassle to have to lug and extra jug around.

So I wonder, has anyone used bottled water? I know many are mineral springs and probably not such a good idea, but what about purified water? Is that any better/worse than tap? It certainly would be more convenient than lugging a gallon jug, no?

[LinkC]

Not to start the whole "distilled" debate over, but...

1. Let me first say that a neti-pot is vastly different from a humidifier. The two are not comparable.

2. Also, the dissolved solids that eventually build up to "ruin" your humidifier tank STAY in your tank. If they were able to make the jump in vaporous form, they wouldn't trash your tank. It's 5th-grade science.

Distilled is recommended to prevent mineral buildup in the tank. That's all. But if it helps you sleep better at night to use distilled, go ahead. (pun intended )

For a few nights traveling, I wouldn't give it a second thought.

[John from Brookston]

I use distilled water only. We have very hard water that ruins a humidifier pad (for room air) in about 2 weeks. the thought of having THAT stuff pumped into my lungs...

Don't travel, but if i did I'd take it with me or purchase it at my destination.