Am I the only nut who uses bottled water in my humidifier?

[archangle]

The thing with distilled water is the I have only seen gallon jugs of it. As a nurse, it makes me leery to use a jug that has been opened for a week or two even with the cap on. It just seems that it would be a potential breeding ground whereas a small water bottle would only be used for a day or two since both my husband and I use CPAP. OTOH, I am not very religious about washing out the humidifier or equipment

In theory, whatever bacteria fall into pure water can continue to live for a long time, but they can't make more bacteria. Reproducing and creating new bacteria requires raw materials other than H2O and air.

Once you put the cap back on and bacteria stops falling in, the bacteria count shouldn't increase any more. It should be no more nasty in a week than it was when you put the top on.

That assumes the distilled water is close enough to 100% pure that there's not enough of anything the bacteria can feed on. And that you haven't contaminated the water with anything else the bacteria can feed on.

Re: purified or drinking water.

Distilling removes most minerals from the water. Water tastes better with some minerals in it. Purified water for drinking may deliberately leave the "good" minerals in the water. Some purified water has minerals deliberately added back to make it taste better. Good to drink, not so good for humidifier tanks.

The level of minerals in purified drinking water may well be lower than the levels in tap water, so it may still be better.

[Janknitz]

My gallon of distilled water lasts a long time because the PRS1 uses vey little in default mode. I worry more about the plastic leeching chemicals into my water than about bacteria. If I was less lazy I'd sterilize my glass mason jars and store the water in those.

I believe that in most cases when I get asthmatic bronchitis it's set off by one of my allergy triggers and if I have an underlying URI at all (not always) it's usually a virus I've picked up far away from my distilled water bottle ( having a kid in elementary school is probably the biggest risk for me--but I think I'll keep her, anyway!).

[HoseCrusher]

The issue with an opened bottle of distilled water is that it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and this forms carbonic acid in the water. This adjusts the PH of the distilled water down a little and the purity of the water is altered.

When the purity of distilled water is important, such as in chemical experiments or in medical use, the water should be used immediately then the remains discarded. On the other hand I don't believe a little carbonic acid effects your steam iron.

[kempo]

Cheap one: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Distiller-C ... 683&sr=8-1

I use around a gallon a month and it cost me .89 cents a gallon at Wally World. I can buy over 15 years worth of distilled water for the cost of that counter top distiller. I'll just keep buy it at Wally World.

[Alshain]

I use only bottled distilled water, unless I'm just in a real pinch. Then I try to use something at least filtered.

[chunkyfrog]

Our distiller was found for $20 at an outlet store that sells returns.
DH bought it to make Ukrainian 'sorokh'--didn't work!
The temperatures were specific to water and alcohol went all over the place.
Upside: The mess pretty much sterilized the machine and pitcher.
For the 'punch', he had to go with his late dad's setup --trash can, copper tubing, and ice.
Good stuff, though

[Cuda]

Kempo, I agree I was just pointing out a resource is someone has a real issue with using bottled distilled water. I only know about them as our water supply is terrible and we almost had to go with a whole home distiller before we decided to drop the money on a new well and purification system. I am using RO right now but plan to switch back to distilled (gallon jugs).

[archangle]

I worry more about the plastic leeching chemicals into my water than about bacteria.

I suspect the water is pretty thoroughly "leached" in the process of filling a new bottle with hot water (for pasteurization) at the bottler, shaking around on the manufacturing line, handling, shipping, storage, etc. before you get it.

I think water goes into bottles at a "pasteurization" temperature, but am not 100% sure.

[rhuszar]

I found out I had COPD and sleep apnea almost 3 years while in the hospital for a sever case of pneumonia that landed me in the respiratory care unit for 12 days. I left the hospital on oxygen 24/7 and with a BiPAP ST machine. I also suffer from allergy induced asthma.

I've been using distilled water in both my oxygen concentrator and BiPAP humidifier since I left the hospital. I use a gallon every 2 weeks. I've had no infections of which I usually had at least 3 a year. Only 1 minor cold in that same time. My allergy induced asthma and sinus infections have not been a problem.

I clean my mask daily but other than that unless my humidifier is empty i just top them off daily. I'm on high pressure so I do go through almost 2 cups a night.

So I haven't had any problems using open distilled water till it's gone. I had more problems before I started with oxygen and BiPAP treatment.

I'd be more worried about not cleaning the mask then problems from a bottle of opened distilled water.

[Samba]

I use Volvic mineral water but change it everyday. There's more deposits than distilled
but if I can drink it, I can breath it...

[Cuda]

Samba, my understanding is the distilled water is to protect the machine, not you. Anything else can leave behind residue in your tank.

[archangle]

The issue with an opened bottle of distilled water is that it absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and this forms carbonic acid in the water. This adjusts the PH of the distilled water down a little and the purity of the water is altered.

When the purity of distilled water is important, such as in chemical experiments or in medical use, the water should be used immediately then the remains discarded. On the other hand I don't believe a little carbonic acid effects your steam iron.

Just to be clear, these effects are not important for humidifier use, only for hospital or lab use. That's part of why they worry about opened distilled water bottles in hospitals and labs.

I presume HoseCrusher would agree with me, but it might not be as clear to normal people as it is to us science geeks.

It's also important to realize that hospital usage needs a lot cleaner water than a humidifier. You'd never use tap water in an IV, for instance.

[ozze_dollar]

As I have stated before,I use filtered water in my humidifyer. I was cleaning the tank today and noticed a layer of clear sludge on the bottom of the tank. Well i decided to buy some distilled water and see what difference it makes. Well I looked at all the water on the supermarket shelves and there is spring water,pure water but no distilled water. Anyway i just got some pure water. Perhaps "distilled" is not a great marketing word for water here.

[chunkyfrog]

They were probably sold out.
Likely, their competitors had it.
It is essential in lead acid batteries; and very much advisable if you don't want to buy a new steam iron every year.
It is also recommended for hydration of supplemental oxygen.

[archangle]

As I have stated before,I use filtered water in my humidifyer. I was cleaning the tank today and noticed a layer of clear sludge on the bottom of the tank. Well i decided to buy some distilled water and see what difference it makes. Well I looked at all the water on the supermarket shelves and there is spring water,pure water but no distilled water. Anyway i just got some pure water. Perhaps "distilled" is not a great marketing word for water here.

"Pure" water for drinking may have minerals added or left in because distilled water doesn't take good without the minerals.

Check the label and see if it describes where it comes from, how it's treated, and what is added into it. Sometimes that's listed on the label.

It's been reported before that some countries don't have distilled water readily available like here in the USA.