Distilled Water Question

Crazy · Post by **Crazy** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:53 am

This is a crazy question and might be stemming from an old wives tale -

One has a dehumidifier that draws moisture out of the air. Typically a dehumidifier has a collection tank. I have heard people refer to the water in the collection tank as "pure" or "distilled".

Would anyone use this collected water in their cpap humidifier over tap water or buying distilled water?

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:59 am

Crazy,

That's crazy!

But seriously folks, the water collected in your dehumidifier is full of gunk. I personally would not consider using it in my cpap humidifier.

(That being said, sure as the day is long, someone will probably come along here and say they've been doing it for years.....)
______________________________________________________________

EEEEEW! I just looked up dehumidification. Here's what's in that water:

Moisture can come into your home from many places. Outside sources include the soil around your house, surface water drainage and damp outdoor air. Breathing and perspiration by you, your family and your pets is a major source of indoor moisture. So are showering, bathing, drying clothes indoors, venting clothes dryers indoors, washing dishes and floors and humidifiers.

Doesn't sound like something I want mainlining directly into my lungs!

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 10:50 am

The water collected in a dehumidifier is (cold) condensed water. Distilled water is (hot) steam distilled. Heating the water to distill it kills all the little nasty stuff that is in the (cold) condensed water in your dehumidifier.

WAFlowers · Post by **WAFlowers** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:15 am

About the only thing I'd use dehumidifier water for is watering plants, if that.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:36 pm

I used our dehumidifier's water to water my potted plants this summer and they all died!

qrlylox · Post by **qrlylox** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:38 pm

sorry that was me in the above post - why does this site not automatically log me in anymore?

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:58 pm

Use distilled water in your humidifier if you must but stay away from it otherwise. I just use filtered water in mine .

Distilled water and the water produced by a humidifier are likely the same. They are both produced by condensing moisture from the air. Yes a distiller heats the water to produce vapor in large amounts . After this the process is the same. Cool the moistened air below its dew point and it condenses . Its all the junk in the air in your house that makes the humidifier water nasty .

Oh yea, don't drink distilled water . It wrecks havoc on your body .
Heck, I don't even breathe it.

:twis ted:

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:52 pm

Chrisp,

You're suppose to leave the water in the humidifier...not drink it. <wink>

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 9:54 pm

I use the dehumidifier water to mix a mean martini. I think the alcohol kills all the bad stuff.