It may be hard for you to decide the best water for humidifier tanks. There are many options to consider and many things to take into account. It’s also necessary to pick the right choice so you can get the full benefit of the humidifier.
Since I suffered dry skin, allergies and asthma as a child myself, I’ll help you decide which water your humidifier needs!
Table of Contents
What Is The Best Water For Humidifiers?
Distilled or demineralized water is the best for humidifiers. Due to the distillation process it goes through, it has very low mineral content. As a result, it allows fewer microbes to form in your humidifier. These microbes include bacteria, viruses, and mold.
The distillation process goes as follows; after boiling, the steam is collected and condensed back into the liquid. The process helps get rid of any contaminants and minerals present in the water.
The fewer minerals mean fewer allergens will be expelled, which naturally means more protection for your health and your skin.
Both the Consumer Product Safety Commission(CPSC), and the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) recommend distilled water for your humidifier instead of tap water, for its healthy properties.
What’s Wrong With Using Tap Water In Your Humidifier?
Tap water has many minerals swimming in it. Among these minerals are lead, calcium, and magnesium. After they deposit in the bottom, humidifiers expel them into the air in the form of white dust. The dust eventually rests on your furniture and surfaces and you breathe it in without noticing. The whole process can compromise your health by causing harm to your lungs.
In short, tap water promotes bacterial growth in your humidifier. It then allows your humidifier to spray microbes and minerals into the air that you breathe. This can be harmful to children with breathing issues such as asthma.
There is one way to distill your tap water so you can be able to use it. You can install demineralization filters or cartridges to remove minerals from the water before using it. However, there isn’t clear evidence that this process gives effective results.
Make sure not to fall into the common mistake of boiling tap water to remove minerals from it. Distilling the water is a different process than boiling it; they don’t have the same purpose and don’t give the same results.
Where Can You Find The Best Water For Humidifiers?
You can buy distilled water at any local grocery store; you’ll find a lot of brands to choose from. It’ll be more expensive than regular bottled water, though. You can look for a local supplier who’ll sell it on a discount if you’re a frequent buyer.
You also use any home delivery service to get distilled water. It’ll cost you more than going to the grocery store, but at least you won’t have to leave your house.
The cheapest way to get distilled water is to distill it yourself at home. You’ll only pay for the water distiller and then you’ll have free water flowing in. Alternatively, you can distill it the old way by boiling it, collecting the steam and condensing it into a liquid again.
Common Mistakes People Make When Using A Humidifier
Other than using tap water, there are four main mistakes that people frequently do when using humidifiers. Let’s see how they can compromise the humidifier’s mission.
Not Enough Cleaning
Cleaning the humidifier is essential to ensure it’ll do its job correctly. It’s best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions; it’ll tell you the right way to clean and maintain it.
The air passes through the humidifier and right into your lungs. Any contamination of the humidifier’s purity will harm your health. Leaving humidifiers without regular cleaning will allow mold and bacteria to grow inside. These microorganisms love moist environments; they use them for breeding.
The microbes will then spew into the air you breathe, which can cause complications for people with allergies. Moreover, contaminants could rest on your furniture as white-colored dust.
Wrong Humidity Levels
Maintaining the humidity level and keeping it stable is vital for the humidifier to work effectively. Letting the humidity rise too high can be harmful to people with allergic reactions. You must watch its level so it’s within normal levels.
Furthermore, excessive humidity levels can cause microbes to grow on your house surfaces. Monitoring the humidity is necessary for that matter. If the level is above normal, you’ll see condensation on your windows, and your pillows will get damp. This is the simplest way to monitor it if you don’t have a hygrometer.
Keeping Water In For Days
Leaving water in your humidifier for days is a mistake most people make. This lets the bacteria grow inside. If you have allergies, you should maintain your humidifier carefully to keep the symptoms at bay.
Even if you don’t use the humidifier every day, you should always empty it and clean the insides. Humidifiers often come with cleaning and maintenance instructions. Following them is imperative for safe operation.
If you already have bacteria growing inside, use water treatment to get it under control, so the air you breathe stays clean.
Leaving The Filter Inside For Days
If your humidifier has a filter, make sure to change it when it looks dirty. Dirty filters can be a welcoming environment for bacteria and other harmful microbes to grow inside your humidifier.
The filter is usually located inside the motor housing. For cleaning, remove the outer casing and take the filter out. If it’s mildly dusty, you just need to rinse it using water. If you find mold growing or mineral building up inside, you’ll need to use vinegar or bleach and thoroughly clean it.
Disposable filters are simply replaced without the need to clean them. Humidifiers usually come with instructions regarding this matter, but you may need to change the filter more often than they instruct if you think it looks dirty.
The Right Way to Clean Your Humidifier
If you leave your humidifier without cleaning, you’re letting the bacteria and mold breed inside and then discharge into the air. Dirty humidifiers can be dangerous for people with allergies and breathing problems.
That’s why you should clean your machine at least once every three days. Make sure to unplug it at first. Then remove all the removable parts and clean it thoroughly using bleach. We recommend you use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, but if it’s not available, bleach will do well.
After using bleach, rinse the parts with water so all the residual chemicals inside are gone. If your humidifier comes with the manufacturer’s instructions, follow them while cleaning.
How To Monitor Humidity
Monitoring humidity is essential so it doesn’t rise above acceptable levels. High humidity levels can trigger allergies. The most effective way of measuring a room’s humidity is by using a hygrometer.
A hygrometer is in the same size as a thermometer; it typically consists of two thermometers stuck together with a handle installed on a chain. One of the thermometers is called a wet-bulb thermometer; it has a cloth wick over the bulb. The other one is a regular thermometer.
You can buy these devices at department stores or hardware stores. Additionally, some humidifiers come with built-in humidity sensors that keep the humidity at the right level, so you won’t need to make an extra purchase.
Best Water For Humidifier Tanks Reviewed
I picked these brands for their reliability and high quality. Read these reviews to pinpoint the best one for your humidifier!
1. Aquapap Vapor Distilled Water
The Aquapap Vapor is highly compatible with humidifiers. It comes with a hydrophobic bacteria filter that works with both humidifiers and CPAP machines. When you place the filter between the face masking tubing and the chamber, it’ll keep the microorganisms out of the air you breathe.
Using Aquapap Vapor with its filter, you’ll have a lower risk of bacteria entering through the mask.
You can travel easily with the Aquapap; its case design is easy to carry and fit into any traveling bag. It’s available in 24-bottles cases, 7-bottles cases, and single 12-oz bottles.
The small bottles reduce the risk of contamination that accompanies large containers. Pouring water several times from the same container can raise the chance of bacteria growing inside.
Customers who used it for humidifiers mentioned that the bottles’ size is suitable for everyday use, unlike the common 1-gallon bottles. The elderly love this feature because these bottles are easier to carry.
Pros
- Very low mineral-content
- Handy and easy to carry
- Keeps the bacteria at bay
Cons
- Over-priced
- The bottle itself is low-quality
2. Smartwater Vapor Distilled Water
The Smartwater is called that name for a reason. It goes through a complex purifying process, using vapor distillation to stimulate the hydrologic cycle. Additionally, electrolytes join the distillation process to further purify it and improve the taste, in case you want it for drinking.
Furthermore, the bottles are environment-friendly; they’re recyclable which is a bonus. Using Smartwater bottles, you won’t be doing any harm to our planet!
Customers who used this brand loved the slim design of the bottle; they mentioned it’s easy to grip and carry around. They also praised the purity and refreshment of the air.
Pros
- Free of coloring and artificial elements
- The bottles are recyclable
- Premium packaging
Cons
- No-return policy
- Overpriced
3. Deer Park Distilled Water
Deer Park water has very low mineral content. The water goes through 13 steps of distillation to ensure the highest purity level. Additionally, it doesn’t cause a buildup of any microbes in the humidifier.
Deer Park is ideal for hydrating purposes, it refreshes the air and is soft on the skin. The fact that it’s free of trace elements means that you won’t see any residue in your humidifier.
Upon your purchase, you receive a 6-gallon case. Its size will be convenient for you if you don’t visit the stores frequently; you can keep using the 6 gallons for a relatively long time. However, it has a higher risk of bacteria contamination because you use the same plastic bottle repeatedly.
Customers who used this brand mentioned that it goes well with small humidifiers. They also praised the refreshing effect it has on the air.
Pros
- It’s free of any contaminants
- Free of any trace element
- Pure and refreshing
Cons
- Relatively over-priced
- No-return policy
- A large number of customers received only 1 gallon instead of 6
The Verdict
Our top pick for humidifiers is definitely the Aquapap Vapor Distilled Water. It’s not only refreshing and purifying, but it’s also designed to fit anywhere and to carry easily. You’ll have no problems traveling with a case of Aquapaps. Additionally, the bottles are lightweight and easy to carry for convenience.
The Aquapap Vapor has it all; the protection against bacteria, the high purity level, and the convenient design.
Compared to the Smartwater, for example, which also has a user-friendly design, you’ll find that the Aquapap Vapor comes with a hydrophobic bacteria filter for extra purifying, which is a bonus.
I hope these reviews helped you decide which distilled water brand goes well with your humidifier. Just keep the cleaning instructions in mind and enjoy the fresh air!
