distilled water

Thanks to everyone who posted information and advice about cleaning etc. Does anyone out there know if you have to buy distilled water to use in your humidifer? Another cpap user told me that he just boils water and cools it and puts it in a 4 litre jug and uses it in the humidifer. Is this ok?

I was told that you must wash your mask everyday and take your humidifer apart every second day and wash it. Is is ok to top up the humidifer and wash it less often.

I find getting the machine ready at night if you don't get it set up before you get tired a real pain. I have been using cpap for about 2 months now and I still find it a nusicance. Some mornings I feel rested and others tired. Do I still have to give it more time. Thanks again for a great forum and thanks for all the great replies.

Shazzer from N. B. Canada

Yes, you should use distilled water - it's the purest form as you likely know. With that in mind, nothing terrible will happen if you use bottled or filtered water - I would personally recommend cleaning the humidifier more regularly if that's the case.

Do not however boil water, cool it and use it - many think that this process creates distilled water (this would be true if you captured the steam) the water that's left is less pure than tap water!

Hope this helps

GTA

The booklet said to use distilled water so I buy the gallon jugs and they last for quite a while. The humidifier I have Resmed holds about a cup. I top it off and every other night or so I wash it with Ivory soap and my mask I try to wash every night or at least rinse it in warm water. Sometimes I get lazy and want to go right to sleep.

I think by using distilled water, there is less chance of bacteria and/or mold, etc building up in the humidifier. That's my 2 cents worth.

Judy

Buying distilled water is a cheap price to pay to avoid having mold and mildew pumped in your nose under pressure

I agree - use distilled water.

I'm new to CPAP, I've only been using it for about 2 weeks. I was told that you needed to change the water everyday. But I agree that distilled water is the way to go. One day though I had problems finding distilled water and ended up using springwater that night. But the next day I did find another place with it. Changing it everyday, takes me about a week and a half to go through a big gallon jug.

Lynne

JudyAnn wrote:The booklet said to use distilled water so I buy the gallon jugs and they last for quite a while. The humidifier I have Resmed holds about a cup. I top it off and every other night or so I wash it with Ivory soap and my mask I try to wash every night or at least rinse it in warm water. Sometimes I get lazy and want to go right to sleep.

I think by using distilled water, there is less chance of bacteria and/or mold, etc building up in the humidifier. That's my 2 cents worth.

Judy

i use distilled water

i tried tap water and literally almost burned the inside of my nose up

so then i started buying distilled water like 3 gallons at a time until i found out my insurance covers my water so now i have to order water the last week of each month

i am so happy

i fill my humidifier like every other day