Can I Use Purified Water In My Humidifier?

Your humidifier sucks! Is it stopped due to using unwanted water? A humidifier that adds moisture to the air by either making steam out of water. A humidifier will be functioning and keep your room pathogen-free when you use the best type of water.

Let’s talk about the consequences of not having a humidifier. If your indoor air is dry, you will get skin irritation and respiratory problems. On top of that, if you have a humidifier but are using water contaminated with dust, bacteria, virus, you will suffer from Legionnaires and other health issues.

You may intend to use purified water to get rid of health issues. A question is crossing your mind, can I use purified water in my humidifier?

Yes, you can use purified water in your humidifier. The purified water does not clog your humidifier because it does not have minerals. Besides, as purified water is free from bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens, your humidifier will not disperse antigen to the room. Putting distilled water in a humidifier is ideal for homeowners to keep white dust and pathogen-free homes.

In this article, I will answer all of your questions about your humidifier type and the types of water you can put in it. How do you get purified water for your humidifier? I will also talk about it.

Keep reading to revamp your unhygienic room into a dust-free space. Dust! How could? Well, keep scrolling.

What Is the Best Type of Water for a Humidifier?

Here, I will list almost all kinds of water available in your locality. You will understand the best type of water you can put into your humidifier. Here you go –

Tap Water

Tap water is available almost everywhere else. That is why you would like to put it on your humidifier. But, can you use tap water in your humidifier? Have you ever asked an expert?

You can not use tap water in your humidifier to breathe fresh air. Tap water contains minerals. When running an ultrasonic humidifier, the nebulizer breaks the water particle and then disperse it to the room air. The nebulizer breaks down the mineral and distributes it through the steam. Finally, this fine mineral particle turns into white dust.

If you breathe white dust, you will face respiratory blockage. You are not alone; your furry friends are prone to pneumonia, pneumonitis, bronchopneumonia, silicosis, etc.

Moreover, tap water contains bacteria, viruses, molds, etc., which can be flown through the air produced by humidifiers. Many bacteria can grow in high temperatures and high humidity, and you will see the different colonies of bacteria on any inert objects in your room. However, viruses can not remain alive on inert material as they are obligate intracellular.

The fungus can grow into your humidifier. So, the mold can spread through the steam. Last but not least, tap water can lessen the longevity of your humidifier by clogging it. The mineral deposition is the leading cause of clog in the humidifier.

If you have an evaporative humidifier, the mineral can block its wicks. All in all, you should not use tap water in your humidifier. If you want to learn more, read this article: Can you use tap water in your humidifier.

What is my recommendation when you are bound to use tap water? I suggest you use a demineralization cartridge with your ultrasonic. This demineralization cartridge is easy to use and removes the minerals from water to make your room dust-free.

Purified Water Or Distilled Water

Distilled water and purified water are the same. They are obtained after steaming water and cooling back. So, they do not contain minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, bacteria, viruses, fungus, etc. You can use purified or distilled water in your humidifier to have dust-proof and fresh air breathing.

One of the most significant signs of distilled water’s purity is – it is used in the laboratory, manufacturing factory, etc. So, you can use purified water in your humidifier without a doubt.

To get purified water, you have to make distilled water first. Heat the water at the steaming point and then condense the steam. You get the distilled water. Then you have to do reverse osmosis ion exchange to make it purified water.

In short, we can say purified water is the best type of water for your humidifier. Using this type of water, the humidifier will service for a more extended period.

You can check out this product to make distilled water.

To learn about every kind of water in short, here is a table:

Demineralized Water

Well, demineralized water is closely related to distilled water. It has no contaminants like – calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium, etc. However, the demineralization process can remove bacteria, viruses, molds, etc., from the water. As a result, you will see your humidifier get pink mold or reduce its function.

Moreover, your room air will lose its cleanness when you run a humidifier with demineralized water. So, you can not use demineralized water in your humidifier. You can read this article when facing mold in your humidifier: How to prevent mold in your humidifier.

Boiled Water

You might be wondering, “can I use boiling water in my humidifier?” No, you can not use it in your humidifier because boiling water just removes the bacteria, viruses, and mold from the water. Boiling does not eliminate mineral contaminants from the water but reduces water volume. So, the density of pollutants will increase, giving white dust in your room.

Boiled and distilled water are quite different, although distilled water is obtained by boiling. We heat the water and steam produced. Then we collect the cooled steep as distilled water. But, in the case of boiling water, we heat the water and then collect the residual water itself.

Hot Water

You can use hot water in your humidifier if you have respiratory problems, flu, or cold. I do not recommend using hot water without any health benefits. Putting hot water produces a mist that is soothing for the room environment because hot water has a better moisturizing capacity.

However, hot water has some disadvantages. For instance – in your house, there are children and pets. Sometimes, hot water spills over the humidifier and causes injury to them. As hot water contains more minerals than cold water, it can cause damage to your humidifier.

Last but not least, a hot environment is suitable for bacteria and fungus growth. If your humidifier does not work well, you will find black or pink mold in your humidifier. Besides, inhaling warm mist without any health issues can swell your nasal passage. That may end up with snoring.

Cold Water

According to the FDA, the cool mist is more breathable than warm mist. Putting cold water in your humidifier helps with producing cool mist. Besides, it is safer for the pets and kids in your house. As cold water contains more minor minerals than hot water, there will be less white dust in the house.

In contrast, your humidifier has to work hard when using cold water. If you want to have safe and sound breathing at night, you must use cold water in your humidifier.

Filtered Water

Can I use filtered water in my humidifier? That was a question of mine. After research, I found you can use filtered water in your humidifier concerning the method of filtration.

Let’s say you have a filter that has a reverse osmosis filtration system. As reverse osmosis removes 99% of contaminants and impurities, you can use this filtered water without a doubt.

The ionizing filtering method removes heavy metals but is ineffective for bacteria, viruses, and fungus. Carbon block filter eliminates contaminants from the water but is not so practical for heavy metals. So, I can say you can use filtered water in your humidifier after filtering it with a reverse osmosis mechanism.

If you do not have a water distillation facility, you can buy a filter from your local shop or online. Here is the best water filter for humidifiers.

Bottled Water

You may have a question like – can I use bottled water in my humidifier? Or, can I use spring water in my humidifier? Look, bottled water and spring are the same. They both contain a higher amount of minerals than tap water.

As bottled water contains a high amount of minerals, you will notice dust in your room. Minerals can block your humidifier wicks or affect its function. Besides, this water has a high dose of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. You will get infected with the air you breathe. So, spring water or bottled water can not be used in your humidifier.

Conversely, it is best for people who have a mineral deficiency. But you can meet your mineral needs by eating and drinking healthy and fresh foods.

Hard Water

You should not use hard water in your humidifier because it has a high concentration of minerals and a high dose of bacteria. Besides, hard water promotes bacterial growth. In a cool-mist humidifier, you will see white dust in your room. In comparison, the warm mist humidifier will be clogged with mineral deposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use tap water for my baby’s humidifier?

No, you can not use tap water for your baby’s humidifier. I have mentioned above that tap water contains a higher concentration of minerals and pathogens.

When a humidifier produces mist from tap water, the bacteria, viruses, and molds will spread over the house. These pathogens are detrimental to your baby’s health. Besides, as the children’s immune and respiratory system is not well developed, the white dust and pathogens spread by humidifiers can cause respiratory infection.

So, you must use either purified water or at least filtered water.

Purified water vs. distilled water for humidifier; which one is best?

Purified water is the next version of distilled water. Distilled water is obtained by steaming water and then cooling it back to the water. In comparison, we have to do reverse osmosis ion exchange to get purified water. Both distilled and purified water are the best waters for your humidifier. Because during the distillation process, the mineral contents get removed from the water.

Can I use purified drinking water in my CIGAR, CPAP humidifier?

Sure, you can use purified drinking water in your CIGAR or CPAP humidifier. Though purified drinking water contains a trace amount of minerals, there will be no mineral build-up in your humidifier. One tip here is – if you see any mineral build-up in your humidifier, you can use vinegar to clean up the clog.

With that said, you can also use distilled water in your Vicks humidifier.

How often should you change water for a humidifier?

You should change the water in a humidifier every day if your humidifier keeps running. Nevertheless, you should empty the humidifier tank when the humidifier is not running. The stagnant water and dark place are suitable for bacteria to multiply. So you should change the water more frequently to get the air you breathe in.

Where to buy distilled water for a humidifier?

You can buy distilled water for a humidifier from your local shop or online. The reliable online shopping places are – Amazon, Walmart, Bestbuy, etc. I suggest you buy a water distiller (you can purchase using this link) to get rid of recurring water costs.

Can you use Brita water in a humidifier?

Yes, you can use Brita purified water in a humidifier. Brita purifier purify water by carbon block mechanism. This purifier removes dangerous heavy metals like chloride, magnesium, and lead. You will get contaminated free water to use in a humidifier. However, this purified water may contain a small dose of bacteria viruses. Again, I would recommend you use purified water in your humidifier.

How do you make purified water for a humidifier?

In this article, I will share how to make purified water for a humidifier with a water distiller. Here you go –

• First of all, you should get water from a source.
• Then fill the distiller with water.
• Switch on the distiller.
• The distiller starts to boil the water, killing the pathogens in the water.
• Water becomes steam due to heat.
• The contaminants remain in the distiller tank below as residue.
• The steam is then collected in cooling stainless steel coal.
• The stainless steel cools the water and converts it into the water again.
• The water is filtered through activated charcoal and collected in a pot.
• The distiller will stop automatically when there is no water in the distiller.
• For purification, you have to do reverse osmosis ionization.
• The water is ready to use.

Conclusion

After reading this long article, I am eager to know from you what you have learned. I have clarified all aspects of your question, “can I use purified water in my humidifier?” To be concluded, you can and should use purified water in your humidifier to have the fresh air you breathe. Have an excellent and healthy inspiration and expiration.