What's often not thought of when using water-based appliances such as humidifiers or CPAP machines, is what sort of water you put inside them. Read on to find out more about which types of water you should be using if you own the following appliances.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, devices such as CPAP machines, humidifiers and neti pots should only contain water that is free of microbes such as distilled or sterile water or boiled and cooled water. Unboiled plain tap water may contain unwanted particles, while hard water which has a high mineral content may cause mineral build-up within your machine.
Using the wrong type of water in your appliance can cause scaling or bacterial growth. It may also irritate your airways or cause your machine or its components to break down.
It's also wise to regularly clean and disinfect your at-home appliances, as well as change the water regularly to avoid exposure to bacteria.
If you use contact lenses, it's recommended to never store them in non-sterile fluids such as distilled water, tap water, bottled water, or home-purified water. They should instead only ever be stored in contact lens solution.
If you are looking for a list of the best to the worst type of water to use, especially for a CPAP machine, see the list below:
Distilled water that has been stripped of all impurities, including minerals and microorganisms
Demineralised water
Filtered water
Bottled water
Boiled tap water that has been left to cool down, not ideal to use but better than plain tap water
Tap water (not recommended)
You can purchase distilled or demineralised water at supermarkets and online.
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Information sourced from: VeryWellHealth and CPAP Sales,
Image sourced from: Real Simple
All content is created and published for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Always seek the guidance of a qualified health professional.