Humidifier Water Poll

I was just wondering what everyone uses. ResMed only specifies "fresh clean water."

I've only used distilled water and have never had to clean the tanks on either of my two machines. They both remain crystal clear. I top off every other day. The only one that ever gets drained and dried is my travel machine. I've never washed my hose and it remains perfectly clean. I wash my mask cushion daily.

Thanks to the good folks here who gave me the heads up on cleaning.

Bev

Grey Goose should only be used with distilled water ice cubes

jdm2857 wrote:...... ResMed only specifies "fresh clean water."

That surprises me. My Respironics manual says, "distilled water only". The idea is to prevent mineral scale buildup in the tank.

jdm2857 wrote:I was just wondering what everyone uses. ResMed only specifies "fresh clean water."

I could have sworn the manual for my H4i said "distilled water only." In any case, that's what the DME told me, so that's what I use.

OOOh Grey Goose - that might solve the insomnia problem

I use distilled water. The tap water where I live is very hard and has a high lime level... even after going through the water softener. I would guess I would be cleaning the tank weekly and replacing it every few months if I used tap water.

Bret

I use distilled water in mine.

Distilled water only here, topped off as needed.

Distilled water, same routine as Bev's.

In the 17 minutes of training that I got from my DME when I first got my CPAP, she said that home DI filtered water would be "just fine". Not much else that she told me turned out to be true so I don't know why I believed that. My tank is a bit cloudy after eight months of use but I have a brand new one stashed away that will only see distilled water when put into service.

I use distilled at home, but I'll use bottled water or even tap water for a night or two when traveling.

OutaSync wrote:I've never washed my hose and it remains perfectly clean.

Which illustrates a good point. No matter WHAT water you put in the tank, the moisture going thru the hose and into your lungs IS "distilled". Any solids or dissolved minerals in the water stay in the tank...that's why you have to clean it when you use crappy water.

I used distilled water only -- except when traveling -- so as not to get a build up of minerals in the tank.

I try to find distilled water near the hotel, but if I can't, I don't mind a limited period of time of using regular tap water.

And then washing well after I get back home.

If I were on an extended trip, I might bring along a filtration pump that I use for camping.

Snorebert wrote:she said that home DI filtered water would be "just fine".

Well, it IS just fine for someone who would love to sell you a replacement tank at a ridiculous price...

araminta wrote:If I were on an extended trip, I might bring along a filtration pump that I use for camping.

Not sure I'd bother with simple filtration. Any suspended particulates (that a filter would get) will stay in the tank, but are easily rinsed out. It's the dissolved minerals (mostly calcium) that will trash your tank. A filter won't take that out, only distillation (or a water softener).