What type of water should you be using in CPAP machines Toronto? There is a lot of confusion about this topic but this blog post is here to help clear things up for you. You may have noticed that distilled water is recommended by the manufacturer of the machine you own and you may be wondering whether you can get away with using tap water instead.
What Is Distilled Water?
In order to make distilled water, regular tap water is run through a distillation process. This involves turning regular water into a gas and then having it condensed back into its original liquid form. As a result, almost all of the microorganisms, compounds and minerals in the water are removed. Some of the most common compounds found in tap water include:
- Bacteria
- Calcium
- Heavy metals
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Many others
The distillation process thoroughly cleans the water. This is why it is the best choice for use in CPAP machines Toronto. Distilled water is also recommended for other areas such as laboratories, hospitals, clinics etc. where it’s important to have a sterile environment in place.
Using Tap Water for CPAP Machines
It may be tempting to just turn on the taps and fill CPAP machines Toronto with water but the best thing you can do is avoid tap water completely. Tap water contains a number of contaminants that can damage the water chamber in the CPAP humidifier along with other parts of the machine including the tubing.
Using tap water will ultimately lead to a buildup of minerals in the machine, which can negatively affect its life expectancy. The heating plate inside the humidifier won’t be able to effectively warm up the water when there is a large mineral buildup. This means that you won’t receive enough moisture during the night and you may wake up with dry nasal passages and feeling very uncomfortable.
If you have ever read advice from users of CPAP machines either on social media websites or in forums on the Internet saying that it’s okay to use tap water, this should be ignored. The contaminants found in tap water will vary from one area of the city to the next and you’ll never know exactly what you are breathing in. Well water can also contain dangerous contaminants that you’ll definitely want to avoid.
Your health and the longevity of CPAP machines depend on good cleaning and maintenance habits. One of the most important things you can do is to use distilled water and stay away from any type of tap water.
Calcified Deposits and Fungal Growth
If you are using tap water for your CPAP machine it won’t be long before you start to see calcified, hard deposits forming. This occurs when the water evaporates from the humidifier chamber. It is the same type of calcification that you may see on the inside of a kettle if you have just been using tap water in it.
These deposits look white and they are hard to get off. You may need to scrub down the area with vinegar and even then you may not remove all of the calcified deposits. This mineral buildup can lead to fungal growth, which will ultimately affect the tubing on your CPAP machine. Not only will this affect your health but you will probably have to replace the tubing and other CPAP equipment much more frequently.
This can be very costly and you will pay more to replace the CPAP parts and accessories than you would have to pay for buying distilled water in the first place. As well, if the CPAP machine happens to break down, the use of tap water may void the warranty you received from the manufacturer.
When It’s Okay to Use Tap Water
There are now a few models available that have been designed to operate with tap water. If you really want to use water from the tap, you may want to check out these models. They are advanced units, however, and you may have to end up paying more for them than you would for regular CPAP machines Toronto.
Filtered Water and CPAP Machines
Filtered water may be available from your tap or you may have a special water pitcher with a filter attached to it. While these filters are able to remove a variety of different impurities, they do not take them all out. It’s important to note, however, that refined water coming from a reverse osmosis or deionized process would be okay to use.
How about Bottled Water?
Most bottled water is spring or mineral water and it usually contains salt and minerals. You’ll need to check the label on the bottle to find out if the water has been purified. Aquafina, for example, does make bottled purified water and would be safe yet costly to use in your CPAP humidifier chamber. If you don’t have access available to any distilled water, however, it would be a good choice.
Buy or Make Distilled Water for Your CPAP Device
If you don’t want to incur the expense of buying distilled water or don’t want the hassle of carrying it home from the supermarket, you can make your own distilled water at home. You’ll need to purchase an ion distilled filtering system for water. There are models available that have been specifically manufactured and designed for use with a CPAP machine. This will give you the ability to make your own distilled water in the comfort of your own home.
CPAP Outlet Canada
Whether you are new to CPAP therapy or are looking for CPAP machines, visit our website at cpapdepot.ca. We are an established and reputable CPAP outlet Canada with a wide variety of machines and CPAP equipment and supplies to choose from. You can also feel free to fill out the contact form while you’re on our website if you have any questions at all about your therapy or the type of machine that would suit you best.