Distilled Water

tillymarigold_ wrote:I was in the UK recently visiting my father-in-law, and he said that he finally learned that distilled water is called "deionised" water in the UK, and is sold in litre bottles in the laundry aisle (for ironing, as someone mentioned).

Deionised water is NOT guaranteed to be either potable or biologically inert.

The process for deionisation is different from the process of distilling.

Cheers,

Bill

tillymarigold wrote:I'd never put UK tap water in my humidifier, it's incredibly hard.

Tap water in the land area of the UK is no different to tap water in the land area of the USA, or Canada, or Australia (etc etc) in terms of mineral content..... it varies widely depending on the specific source of the water.

Cheers,

Bill

kopoloff wrote:Using non distilled water will definitely NOT, ever, under any circumstances, result in mineral deposits in the hose.

If it was a passive system creating the water vapor or strictly O2 coming through the hose, I would agree with you. However, it is regular air, in a forced air system, other elements in the air can pick up elements from the water and vaporize them into gaseous form, or even the forced air can pickup particulate matter from the water and carry it for a distance. Ever lived near the beach at the ocean? The salt from the ocean water gets in everything, electronics can have a very short life span.

I think we have just about exhausted this one folks!

Let's just say that for the sake of keeping our tanks clean, use clean, tap, distilled or de-ionized water - whatever is your flavor! Clean your HH as you see feel comfortable.

Water vapor is water vapor, Debjax are you talking about sea air carrying into the water vapor? Particulate matter? How heavy are the particles vs. water vapor that is a gas? I am just wondering about the sea thing, is it salt or is it moisture that is affecting electronics and metals? We live in a world of air pollution so it won't matter what kind of water is used...particulate matter is probably heavier that water vapor.

I use distilled not because of any academic reasoning, rationale or proof. But because I just prefer it...some like their coffee with milk, others cream and then others prefer their coffee black. I think if we are all just prudent at observing what's happening in your HH and doing some cleaning now and again (for some weekly or daily and others never!)

Hey I can be corrected and may well indeed be! But anyways, like I said I think this thread is beaten to death!

hey Fredman, You are absolutely right.

I'm shutting up on this subject now, I've made my point. I will ignore the misinformation and confusion.

Anyway, it's fun being controversial!!

Cheers everyone

K

Debjax wrote:However, it is regular air, in a forced air system, other elements in the air can pick up elements from the water and vaporize them into gaseous form, or even the forced air can pickup particulate matter from the water and carry it for a distance.

The flow rates of the forced air stream, even at maximum treatment flow, are not adequate to do anything you have described above.

Cheers,

Bill

billbolton wrote:

tillymarigold wrote:I'd never put UK tap water in my humidifier, it's incredibly hard.

Tap water in the land area of the UK is no different to tap water in the land area of the USA, or Canada, or Australia (etc etc) in terms of mineral content..... it varies widely depending on the specific source of the water.

Cheers,

Bill

Be that as it may, the tap water everywhere I've washed with it in the UK (London, Nottingham, Glasgow, Dundee, and Edinburgh) has dried out my skin and caused my soap/shampoo not to foam, to an extent far beyond anything I've ever experienced in the US, and the city I live in now has the hardest water of any of the six cities in four states I've lived in (and dozens more I've stayed in for extended period).

Also, I frequent several forums for US/UK couples and can report that "What can I do about the fact that the hard water in the UK is making my skin dry up and flake off and my hair break?" is a common question on all of them and I've never heard any Brit deny that their water is extremely hard (of course it varies in hardness by region). And it took my husband months to learn not to use as much shampoo/soap/toothpaste (years on the toothpaste, actually) as he needed in the UK because it foams so much more in the US.

Debjax,
your equating ocean spray to HH is an apple and oranges thing.

No way is this analagous.

The particles from the ocaen are produced physically by wave and wind action the same way a cold air humidifier provides water PARTICLES to the air.

No way this happens in a HH.

And how does the simple topic of Dist water being discussed an nauseam.

One simple answer.
Use DISTILLED water in your HH.
nothing further needed.

Fredman wrote:...particulate matter is probably heavier that water vapor.

I'm not being clear enough I guess. I agree that the water vapor is just that, water vapor However, the forced air that is being pumped over that water can also pick up other molecules that may be present and deliver them directly to our lungs. For example, chlorinated water, if chlorine is still present, is going to also send chlorine vapor with that air. We're not just talking evaporation, it is the "wind" that is created by our machines to keep that pressurized air coming. That's all I'm trying to say. If you are going to use tap water, make sure you trust the water supply. I'm on well water that I wont' even drink, much less put it in my humidifier.

tomjax wrote:Debjax,

And how does the simple topic of Dist water being discussed an nauseam.

One simple answer.
Use DISTILLED water in your HH.
nothing further needed.

Unfortunately, that is not a simple answer, it is an opinion. And that is why we have a forum, to express opinions, to discuss them, to seek understanding and to enhance our collective wisdom. Opinions masquerading as statements of fact, with no scientific basis, are irrelevant.

What is distilled water? Distilled water is the kind of water nature makes before it gets all the junk in it. The sun heats bodies of water in lakes, rivers and streams. Then that water evaporates, rises, condenses and falls back to the earth as rain. When the water changes states from a liquid to a gas it drops off most of the chemicals and pollutants from the molecule. A water distiller does the same thing. Water is heated in a boiling chamber, it changes to steam and then is condensed back into water. Then a post carbon filter is used to filter anything that is left.

I buy my distilled water from the store when I travel. But be careful of the milk jug type bottles.

Hi all I am new member here and I am here to share my views on distilled water. Actually few months back I fell ill and after my check up the reports showed that it is because of the dirty water which i am continuously drinking. After that I thought that the water coming in my home in the taps was not actually pure. I realized the importance of clean water in our daily life and then i switched to a product names water distiller. This product is really amazing and now I am 100% sure that the water I am drinking is extremely clean. Thanks to this amazing product and I can see the improvement in my health also.