Can I Use Tap Water In My Cpap Humidifier

The respiratory therapist at the dme that i use who did my set up instruction for cpap encouraged me to be sure that i boiled tap water first if i was going to use it in my cpap machine.

Can i use tap water in my cpap humidifier. The best answer is to use distilled water. Therefore since its mineral content is minimal or non existent you can safely use distilled water in humidifiers. When it comes to filling your humidifier chamber remember that even if you boil tap water you can t fully remove minerals or chemical contaminants even though it will kill microbes. Distilled water is the best water to use in your humidifier.

While manufacturers recommend distilled water for use in your continuous positive airway pressure cpap device many people still use tap water as their hydration of choice. According to resmed s product website the use of distilled water will maximize the life of the water tub and reduce mineral deposits. You cannot put tap water in a humidifier even if the water is safe to drink. Special distillation processes ensure that all residue of minerals like calcium potassium and sodium is removed from the water.

Lets take a look at why you shouldn t use tap water in your cpap device. Find out below whether standard tap water could be a substitute. Tap water spring water and drinking water all minerals in it that are safe to drink however they for cpap use they bring some problems. Then you might be wondering why it is advisable to use distilled water to fill up the water chamber of your humidification system.

Tap water should not be used as it will leave hard white mineral deposits in the chamber as the water evaporates or it may lead to mold growth. Tap water is both harmful to your device and it can be harmful to you if used consistently. As for whether you re required to use distilled water in the cpap humidifier most manufacturers do recommend the use of distilled water. While it s certainly tempting to just go to the tap and fill your humidifier unit with tap water you re going to have problems.

This is because tap water contains mineral deposits that promote the growth of mold and bacteria. When the tap water is broken down and dispersed as mist the mineral residues will be spread as white dust and end up on your bed. As the water is distilled the minerals are removed leaving pure water that can be used for any kind of humidifier or cpap machine. Tap water can leave hard white mineral deposits in the chamber.

Unfortunately standard tap water is not ideal for your humidifier. Cases of lung disease have been connected to using contaminated well water in a cpap humidifier source if distilled water is not available where you live use bottled water. The minerals in tap water which consists of calcium magnesium iron and others can leave a white residue behind that contaminates the water chamber. Such water has been completely purified.

She said that she d seen cases of people getting weird infections from using unboiled tap water in cpap machines.