why do I need distilled water?

I know almost all medical devices "require" distilled water and that might even make sense if the water was blown INTO the machine, where the oxides can accumulate and damage the machine, however, we have good water where I live, my S9 humidifer comes apart so its easy to clean it, and frankly, I have no problems in spending 30 bucks or so every year or 2 to replace the water container if there is any oxidation. What am I missing?

I do know that there are places in the country (world) where you would not even drink the tap water, but how is this different from when I take a hot shower (with soap and other chemicals) all spraying around that I inhale?

Thanks
Bruce

Apart from the whitish mineral scale that will quickly (depending on the hardness of your water) build up on the inside of the tank if you use tap water daily, distilled water is also recommended because it is a less hospitable environment for bacterial growth. Many of us top off our humidifier tanks for 3 or 4 days before dumping and cleaning, and this practice is safer with distilled water. No one wants to get ill by breathing into his lungs the bacteria and mold that can grow quickly in heated tap water.

Also, once you have some scale on the inside of your tank, it is harder to see if you are cleaning it well.

If you search this topic on the forum, you will find MANY threads (almost one a week) on this topic.

thanks for the response. I do empty and clean my tank each morning and fill it before bed so not much time for anything to grow. I do understand there might be deposits that will be tough to remove from the tank and will be happy to replace the tank every year or two. I am not sure what, if any, health issues there are.

Bruce

RandyJ wrote:<snip> Many of us top off our humidifier tanks for 3 or 4 days before dumping and cleaning, and this practice is safer with distilled water. No one wants to get ill by breathing into his lungs the bacteria and mold that can grow quickly in heated tap water.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one topping off! Otherwise, I'd be using about a gallon a week.

blomasky wrote: I do empty and clean my tank each morning and fill it before bed so not much time for anything to grow. I do understand there might be deposits that will be tough to remove from the tank and will be happy to replace the tank every year or two. I am not sure what, if any, health issues there are.

Probably not any health issues with the way you are doing things (the clean each AM, let dry and add water at bedtime). If it makes you happy then go for it.
If the water in my area wasn't so hard then I might try what you are doing.
If the mineral deposits get too noticeable or annoying you can also do a vinegar and water solution soak to clean out the mineral build up. I have had to do it when I have used tap water just for a few days.
Since I am a known lazy sot (I likely wouldn't be doing the cleaning every day that you do) and I have tap water with very high mineral content...I choose to use distilled water because if I didn't I would be doing vinegar soaks at least once a week and I just don't like to smell vinegar unless I just have to. Much less work with it.

I have no choice.
Our water is so hard that a five year old toilet tank begins to resemble a limestone cave.
We had a Bunn coffeemake that only made it to 3 months before: ---pffft!
So, distilled it is; and hubby knows how to change a water heater; he's done it enough.

chunkyfrog wrote:I have no choice.
Our water is so hard that a five year old toilet tank begins to resemble a limestone cave.
We had a Bunn coffeemake that only made it to 3 months before: ---pffft!
So, distilled it is; and hubby knows how to change a water heater; he's done it enough.

There are water softeners on the market. The house I used to own in Nova Scotia had water so hard that the toilet was stained inside 24 hours. Carrying those bags of salt was a pain but dark brown tubs, toilets and stained clothes was worse. Think about it because your pipes will have the same problem as you tank.

Brain eating amoebas are why.

People have died from rinsing their noses with their tap. With our setups, you'll be blowing them even further down

http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalv ... -neti-pot/

"Tap water contains trace amounts of bacteria and protozoa, which is usually not a problem when you drink the water because your stomach acid does its job. But, when you are mainlining those organisms into your nasal passages, exceptionally bad outcomes can result."

cosmo wrote:Brain eating amoebas are why.

People have died from rinsing their noses with their tap. With our setups, you'll be blowing them even further down

http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalv ... -neti-pot/

"Tap water contains trace amounts of bacteria and protozoa, which is usually not a problem when you drink the water because your stomach acid does its job. But, when you are mainlining those organisms into your nasal passages, exceptionally bad outcomes can result."

We are not snorting the water. The humidifier evaporates water. If you could get it from just sniffing the water above the river..... Of course that could explain a lot about politics in the American south.

WOW, I dont know about you guys, but I generally take showers at least 2-3 times a month Besides the water that is splashing around with tiny droplets I am inhaling, there is soap, shampoo and other yuckky stuff and I am still alive! I might have to tell the wife that just for safetys sake I will have to stop showering (or at least hold my breath during the entire shower!)

(btw, what does that chlorine that they add to the public water supply do? I was under the impression it killed off some of those nasty germs!

bruce

blomasky wrote:WOW, I dont know about you guys, but I generally take showers at least 2-3 times a month Besides the water that is splashing around with tiny droplets I am inhaling, there is soap, shampoo and other yuckky stuff and I am still alive! I might have to tell the wife that just for safetys sake I will have to stop showering (or at least hold my breath during the entire shower!)

(btw, what does that chlorine that they add to the public water supply do? I was under the impression it killed off some of those nasty germs!

I couldn't agree more. In the shower, you are breathing a mist of water, which is to say small droplets suspended in air that could, in theory, have viruses or bacteria in them. Evaporation from the humidifier tank should only pick up molecules of water, not droplets. I think the only logical reason to use distilled water is to avoid deposits in the tank, and that depends largely on how hard the local water is.

Most of the world can't get distilled water as easily as we can in the US, and they use tap water in the humidifier with no apparent problems.

I use distilled because I don't empty the tank every day and I like the idea that there's somewhat less chance of germs growing in it.

If I couldn't get distilled easily during my regular shopping trips, I'd use tap water empty and rinse the tank daily.

You guys can do as you wish but I'm not going to put a tray of tap water through my nose and lungs each night, I already have enough heath problems as it is and don't need to introduce anymore

[quote][/quote]You guys can do as you wish but I'm not going to put a tray of tap water through my nose and lungs each night, I already have enough heath problems as it is and don't need to introduce anymore


It was explained to me that the water is turned into vapor and entering the mask it is like it has been distilled.

But I still use the gallon jugs of distilled water. They are cheap and I use a low humidifier setting.

I think it depends on your local water supply. When I tried tap water here in Los Angeles, I had what I'd call a mineral stench in my nostrils afterward. I used tap water for a one night stay in Florida, and didn't have any problems.