NOT using distilled water

I'm going on an overnight trip tomorrow evening and will be bringing my bipap. Since I'm a lazy bum, I was wondering if it would hurt to use tap water for one night in my humidifier while I'm away. If I have to use distilled, I'll use it, but it would just be kind of a pain in the behind to go track some down on my trip!

Grace

I have used bottled water from vending machines at motels and I did notice a differance in odor it was bareable . The main think I noticed was after a few days of bottled drinking water I did have a fine film on the bottom of my humidifier tank this did clean with vinegar once I returned home. I would never use just tape water as I would notice the chlorine and this would cause my asthma to flare up with an attack . Good luck with whatever you try have a great trip[. I travel frequently in the car and in summer on the motorcycle as long as 3 weeks my CPAP goes right along with us.

Doesn't hurt. I do this every weekend now at the BF's. I routinely do this when travelling.

I used to be anal and religiously clean my humidifier chamber when I got home, but I don't anymore. I replace the chamber fairly frequently, and don't find that I'm getting any scale build up.

If you worry about scale, then when you get home, clean it thoroughly, including soaking in a vinegar & water solution, to thoroughly eliminate any scale deposits.

Cheers,
Barbara

I started out using tap water and I am on a well. My water runs through what is called an iron curtain to bring the iron content down then a water softner. I used it like this for about 6 weeks and then used some vinegar to clean a barely noticeable film off the bottom and tried distilled water. What a pain, I used up the gallon and went back to tap water.

Thanks!

Out of curiosity, where would I go to get a replacement chamber? I took a quick look on cpap.com and didn't see anything.

Grace

You have to look up your machine, then look up the parts that they sell to go with it. I'm not familiar with your machine, but I'll bet someone else here can answer for it. My machine has a tiny chamber that I have to refill every night, so I think that cuts down on scaling issues.

Cheers,
B.

Don't say I never do nuthin' for ya':

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/respir ... ifier.html

LOL,
B.

Failure to use the prescribed water could result in unintended consequences . . . like pregnancy.

See Pregnancy Thread.

Actually distilled water is way over-rated in my opinion. I have a disposable water chamber so a little mineral buildup really doesn't matter much to me. Some people object to chlorine smells. Actually I use RO water from my kitchen. No minerals. And it's free. Works great.

SleepGuy wrote:Failure to use the prescribed water could result in unintended consequences . . . like pregnancy.

See Pregnancy Thread.

ROTFL!! Good one, SleepGuy!

When traveling I bring a bottle with some in it to get me started.

Mark it distilled water and you can take it right thru TSA at the airport. They won't let you bring bottled water tho, go figure.

GumbyCT wrote:When traveling I bring a bottle with some in it to get me started.

Mark it distilled water and you can take it right thru TSA at the airport. They won't let you bring bottled water tho, go figure.

They will? What kind of bottle do you carry it in? I'm flying to Mich in a couple of weeks and don't want to bother with buying it when I'm up there.

Just proof of the Old Saying, You can lead a Horse to Water, but you can't make him Drink! Jim

Mine was in a Propel bottle. They did ask why I had distilled water, clearly marked in my handwriting
even tho it was packed with my machine. Then asked me to open it (for testing with litmus paper) while taking the bottle I was drinking out of, no one asked me to open that. Go figure.

So on the return trip guess what was in those bottles
It's ALL a BIG game.

I have been using tap water in my humidifier for 5+ years. Depending on the area's water supply I occasionally get some hard water deposits on the walls of the chamber, but those are easily removed with a soak in a vinegar and water solution. At home we have a water softener and I never get any kind of buildup. I do occasionally give the chamber a soad in the vinegar just to keep it clean.

My understanding is that distilled water is encouraged to prevent hard water buildup. As long as the water is clean and drinkable you should be fine - especially for a short trip.

SleepGuy wrote:Failure to use the prescribed water could result in unintended consequences . . . like pregnancy.

Oh dear.... And this from the man with five kids.... I'd listen to him, if I were you!!!!

LOL,
B.