What's wrong with using tap water?

[summer]

Hi

Whats wrong with using tap water if the water is of good quality? other than there might be some mineral deposits in the water container.

Thanks

[Sheriff Buford]

As you stated, the deposits will build up in your water tub and possibly your hose. Besides that.... nothing is wrong with it. Some folks here use tap water in their humidifier.

Sheriff

[Bert_Mathews]

You ask the RIGHT Question:
The LIME/CALCIUM build up in the tank < Not in the hose or any other place! > - - - I have been using well water < high in Michigan Lime & Iron > for over six years, cleaning the tank about once a month with Vinegar is all that is required.
In all that time the tank has been replaced maybe 3-4 times an all due to my mistreatment of seals or doping it!

Yes I'm a cheap OldFart!

and have to pay for all my equipment out of pocket. . .

I now have a new system and will treat it the same as the old M-series - We travel about 5-6 months out of the year so the equipment get some rough use!

[snardo]

My one foray into using tap water resulted in speedy growth of fuzzy things in the tank (and presumably the hose as well). It's the only time I've ever had anything like that happen, even though I rarely wash my tank and hose (every few months-ish). Distilled water does the job quite nicely. It costs about a dollar a gallon and lasts most of a month. In my mind $12-13 a year is a small price to pay for no fuzzies in my tank.

[summer]

Hi thanks for your replies,

To stop any growth, I use boiled water from the kettle, once its cooled down!. Does the type of water affect nasal congestion?

Summer

[Drowsy Dancer]

Hi thanks for your replies,

To stop any growth, I use boiled water from the kettle, once its cooled down!. Does the type of water affect nasal congestion?

Summer

No, the type of water won't affect nasal congestion. The mineral content of any one batch of water isn't that high. The buildup occurs only if you fill the tank and then evaporate all the water out repeatedly, and as noted above a little vinegar will take care of that. You can also dump out the tank daily and refill it to reduce the amount of buildup.

I use distilled water most of the time, but if I'm traveling, or lazy, I'll use tap water.

[JohnBFisher]

As you stated, the deposits will build up in your water tub and possibly your hose...

And on the inside of you!! Yuck! Distilled water is really cheap. I have no problem using it. Of course, I live in a very humid area so only need humidification during the winter months.

[summer]

I might start using the filter we have, arh filtered water

[Heavylids]

I use only steam distilled water. I don't want to breath in all the things that evaporate off of tap water. I'm not sure that all the minerals stay in th tank as deposits. Why risk long term breathing of the chlorine, flouride and whatever else is put into tap water at the treatment plants? Let alone whatever it picks up along the way traveling through old underground pipes.

No thanks ....I'll breath distilled.

[locust78]

I agree with the advice to steer clear of using tap water in CPAP equipment. Last year, two deaths were attributed to the use of tap water in neti pots. This particular tap water contained amoebas that attacked the victims' brains. Apparently, the water was safe for drinking, but the mucous membranes of the sinuses were like an open door for them to do their dirty work. Of course, using a neti pot is somewhat different than getting humidified air from a CPAP machine, (unless you have bad rainout!) but I value what little brain I have, and would rather not chance it. At the very least, tap water should be boiled before using it in such a capacity. That should kill the nasties, but it won't remove the minerals.

[BlackSpinner]

I agree with the advice to steer clear of using tap water in CPAP equipment. Last year, two deaths were attributed to the use of tap water in neti pots. This particular tap water contained amoebas that attacked the victims' brains. Apparently, the water was safe for drinking, but the mucous membranes of the sinuses were like an open door for them to do their dirty work. Of course, using a neti pot is somewhat different than getting humidified air from a CPAP machine, (unless you have bad rainout!) but I value what little brain I have, and would rather not chance it. At the very least, tap water should be boiled before using it in such a capacity. That should kill the nasties, but it won't remove the minerals.

You forgot to mention that was in the Southern states. There is a big difference between shooting water up your nose and breathing humid air. If there wasn't, everyone who walked near the river or swamp would be brain dead .... ok not making comments about politics here....zipping mouth....

[locust78]

I don't know...I've had some pretty bad rainout in times past. It felt like someone threw a glass of water in my face. (Then again, my wife was a little agitated with me that night...)

[summer]

Don't forget that you can boil the water first and let it cool down, the water is of the highest quality, plus I now starting use our water filter to remove the chlorine.

[msla]

Short answer, NOTHING. You will need to clean the tank more often. Rainout is from condensed water vapor in the tube, otherwise known as distilled water. If there is some dust on the walls of the tube, some organism may sprout, again wash the tube. If water gets directly from the tank into the hose, the most likely cause is tipping the unit over. I find the chlorine used by the city water to be anoying when trying to sleep.

[gasp]

Boiling water does not purify water. Heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals among other things may still remain. I'm with those who endorse erring on the side of being safe and using distilled - plus I don't like to deal with deposits in my humidification chamber.