Is distilled water really necessary for CPAP machines?

I am on the Medicare replacement schedule, and get a new water tray every 6 months. I also get a new hose every 3 months. I clean both regularly. Why do I need to spend more for distilled water?

You don't but...you do need to use potable water. I personally would not use well water (although I am sure some do) but would be fine with city tap water.

If you don't use distilled, you will likely need to clean mineral deposits off of the humidifier tray -- vinegar will help with that.

There is some cost to distilled but it is not huge -- a max of about $40 a year.

Ok, thanks for your help! I guess I am cheap, but it's also a pain to carry the gallons of distilled water up to the second story each time.

You can use any water that you can drink.
The worst that will happen is some mineral build up on the walls of the water chamber and how much will depend on how hard (mineral content) of your water.
If you experience much build up....easily removed with a vinegar or lemon juice soak.
You can limit any build up by dumping the chamber each morning and letting it air dry and then filling again at bedtime.
Limit the time the water is just sitting in the chamber.

I do occasionally use well water since I live out in the country. I will use it when I run out of distilled. I do use distilled primarily but that's because where I live the water has a very high mineral content and I would get a lot of build up fairly quickly.
I am lazy and I hate the smell of vinegar....so I don't want to clean the chamber very often.

But you don't just HAVE to use distilled if you don't want to.
Other parts of the world where distilled isn't so readily available you won't find "distilled" mentioned in the manuals.

You don't need to pay for distilled water...and...If you clean your supplies regularly you don't have to follow the replacement schedule. A humidifier tub will last for years..as will a air hose. I am on Medicare and could follow that schedule, but it would be a waste. I have been using my current humidifier tub for 4+ years and the hose has been replaces once during that period. Distilled water is less than $1 gallon and a gallon will last up to a month for some people.

TropicalDiver wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2019 7:14 pm

I personally would not use well water

You may not want to use well water for whatever reason, but there is *absolutely* no reason not to use well water.

I don't know if it's necessary but when I use tap water I try to fill my reservoir ahead of time and not right before bed. My thought is that if I let it sit for some time the chlorine will offgas out of the water.

USMCVet wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2019 10:08 pm

I don't know if it's necessary but when I use tap water I try to fill my reservoir ahead of time and not right before bed. My thought is that if I let it sit for some time the chlorine will offgas out of the water.

Considering that you're breathing in actual *water droplets* fresh out of the tap when showering, and far more of it than the cup and half of water in the humidifier... probably not necessary.

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:58 pm

Considering that you're breathing in actual *water droplets* fresh out of the tap when showering, and far more of it than then cup and half of water in the humidifier... probably not necessary.

That's true . I did a quick search and found this https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-n ... er-3015017 . In what to avoid it says the chlorine could be bad for your lungs. I haven't seen any actual studies so they may just be making assumptions as well.

I have used well water since April 2018. Works fine, just rinse each morning.

You don't need to use distilled water, but it's preferable. You can use any potable water except for carbonated, colored, or flavored.

However, it's preferable to use distilled water if possible, since other water will leave a residue on the water tank. You can clean that residue out, so it's not big deal if you don't use distilled water (I use regular water when traveling).

I prefer bottled water over tap water, since tap water is usually delivered through metal pipes and can leave a "rusty" residue (that can also be cleaned).

USMCVet wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:11 am

palerider wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:58 pm

Considering that you're breathing in actual *water droplets* fresh out of the tap when showering, and far more of it than then cup and half of water in the humidifier... probably not necessary.

That's true . I did a quick search and found this https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-n ... er-3015017 . In what to avoid it says the chlorine could be bad for your lungs. I haven't seen any actual studies so they may just be making assumptions as well.

Chlorine is definitely bad for your lungs, but there's very little chlorine in *most* treated tap water by the time it gets to you, or it would smell like a heavily chlorinated swimming pool... where you're breathing in WAY more chlorine.

But nobody writes scare blogs about THAT chlorine... do they?

The piece you reference seems to be full of CYA. And, you have to note that in other countries, many of which also have chlorinated water... the cpap manuals don't specify distilled water. One must ask oneself "why?"

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

You don't need to use distilled water, but it's preferable.

Only in north america.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

You can use any potable water except for carbonated, colored, or flavored.

And why can't you use one of those? you got something against colors?

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

However, it's preferable to use distilled water if possible,

Only in north america.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

so it's not big deal if you don't use distilled water

The only true thing you've said so far.

palerider wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 12:01 pm

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

You don't need to use distilled water, but it's preferable.

Only in north america.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

You can use any potable water except for carbonated, colored, or flavored.

And why can't you use one of those? you got something against colors?

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

However, it's preferable to use distilled water if possible,

Only in north america.

D.H. wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 02, 2019 10:19 am

so it's not big deal if you don't use distilled water

The only true thing you've said so far.

Hats Off, to those decadent Americans. Not only they buy Distilled Water for $ .80 cents a gallon (and pay $1.25 for 12 oz of Pure? Bottled Water if they have went past H.S.), but the also will not share the process of distilling water with the rest of the World.

I suppect it's to insure the high price for the product. Jim

I use vodka. It's distilled and also helps with hangover haha