distilled water and humidifiers

[sleepytime]

I am looking for a litte advice. I was advised to use distilled water with the humidifier to avoid scaling problems, and was told that some people re-use the water to keep the costs down.

I was a little sceptical about re-using the water, but decided to give it a go. The night before last when I put on my mask there was a smell of 'stale' water, a dank smell. It wasn't too strong, but not very nice either. The water in the humidifier was on its 2nd use.

Yesterday I thoroughly cleaned the mask, hose and water vessel (which I do regularly anyway), added fresh water last night and everything was ok.

What I am asking is 'do any of you re-use your water?', if so, how many times do you use it? and have you had any problems?

For the time being I am using fresh (distilled) water each night.

[ElleCee]

Hi,
I use fresh water every day. I empty the chamber each morning and fill it with fresh cold water from the tap. I live in an area where we don't suffer from limescale so I am lucky that I have not had to buy water. I have had my humidifier for 9 months and only had to use vinegar to clean it once because there was a slight film on the metal base. That was probably due to me leaving the water in the chamber till I went to bed every night rather than emptying it in the morning as I do now. My technician told me to use tap water as it served no purpose in buying any.
I think it depends on what area you live in as to whether you buy water or not but it is essential that you use fresh every day because the air you are exhaling would contaminate the water in the chamber and make it smell.
I hope I made sense!
Lorraine

[sleepytime]

Thank you for your quick reply. We live in a hard water area, and after just 3 weeks a limescale build up had started which is why I went to the distilled water. I understand what you are saying about exhaled air, and must admit I thought about that when I was given the advice - it makes sense, especially when the water is heated that germs can grow

My (plumber) husband has now informed me that he can fit a filter to the house which will soften the water so that's another job for him then

I wash the chamber every morning and leave it to dry, and will revert back to using fresh water every night

It's interesting how we are all given differing advice

[Berneta]

Breathe Clean

HI Sleepytime,
Lorraine is absolutely right-- the humidifier is a great place for germs to grow! I have heard that some people do just top off the water and reuse it---but I think they would eventually get sick. Like Lorraine-- I wash everything every day and don't reuse water--but I also add a couple tablespoons of Vinegar to my washing water every day because I live in a very hard water area. I also soak all the hoses and mask in 2 qts of water that contains 1/2 cup of vinegar once a week for a half hour--as per my instruction book. Always rinse well or you may end up smelling vinegar. So far I have not had any deposits of scale in the hoses and humidifer-- and no health problems. I always use distilled water--as it is cheap and plentiful here in the states--but purified water probably would be a good second choice. Its turning cold here and leaves are changing and some falling. I found out last night that the air hose can get pretty cold even though the air in it is heated, so I am going to make a sheath for my Python. Burrrr--Good Luck, Berneta

[sleepytime]

Thanks Berneta, is it ordinary vinegar, or white vinegar that you use?

[Tigers Fan]

Hi Berneta

As rainout season approaches here and where you are, you may find a hose sheath inadequate to prevent condenstion/rainout. The best solution is a heated hose - made in Australia but available in the US. They keep the air in your Python warm and moist without showering ypour face all night.

TF

[Berneta]

Cold and Wet? BURRRRR!

Hi TF, I will try the sheath first, and see how that goes. I use an nose pillows mask (hardly can be called a mask at all) And my bed sits high (The Princess and the pea high) So far the condensation drains back down to the humidifier--My Supply shop has the heated hoses though, so I may need one of those eventually. Thanks for the advice,
Sleepytime, I use the regular Apple Cider Vinegar--but I suppose the white vinegar would work too. Just don't use a harsh chemical scale remover like coffee pots or tea kettles are cleaned with. Those would be too harsh for the silicon in the mask. And rinse, rinse, rinse! Berneta

[jackyk]

I was told to use "cooled, boiled" water in my humidifier. i justy boil the kettle, let it cool, fill a jug and keep it in the fridge. I live in a soft water area so no problem with lime. I change the water every night and strip and clan the chamber every week.

[shuckie]

Hi sleepytime!

As you'll see from my posts on the subject, I wasn't able to buy distilled water locally for love nor money despite my best efforts. There are companies from whom you can buy distilled water online, however once the postage charges are added it works out to be quite expensive.

In the end I decided to buy a fridge filter jug and use filtered water instead. I take the humidifier water container apart each morning to wash the components and leave them to dry naturally during the day, then reassemble them and fill the container with filtered water after I get home from work in the evening. The previously chilled water has warmed up enough by bed time so as not to give me an icy blast!


Cheers

shuckie

[symmit]

My provider told me to use cooled boiled water, the humidifier on my machine opens out fully so I empty and dry it with paper towel every morning, then refill it from the kettle every night.

[silvercarper]

I have found the "belt and braces" method best.
I use boiled filtered water.

[Tigers Fan]

Sniffs the bait , blows a bubble and swims on by.

[ohcrob]

First 'swapping masks' now 're using water' eeeeewwwww. There really are some revolting people out there!

[silvercarper]

Sniffs the bait , blows a bubble and swims on by.

Thats why its called "fishing" not "catching"

[BobMcL]

Whats the fuss?

Tap water plain and simple with a tiny menthol crystal if I am bunged up ... works for ... glad we are all different though cos the world would be boring if we were all the same