Can You Use Distilled Water In A Humidifier (Why You Should)

By: madison
Date: December 2, 2022
Time to read: 5 min.

You are not alone if you have ever wondered whether you can use distilled water in a humidifier.

This is a common question with a simple answer. While you can use distilled water in a humidifier, there are some things to remember.

Key Takeaway’s

Using distilled water in a humidifier can help to improve the quality of the air in your home.
Distilled water is free of minerals and other impurities that can be found in tap water, which can lead to build-up in your humidifier over time.
Distilled water can also help to extend the life of your humidifier.
If you use distilled water in your humidifier, be sure to clean it regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Always follow the safety instructions that come with your humidifier.

Table of Contents

Here’s The Answer To Can You Use Distilled Water In A Humidifier

Yes, you can use distilled water in a humidifier. It is the best type of water to use because it will not leave any mineral deposits behind.

Humidifiers come in two varieties: warm mist and cool mist. Either distilled water or filtered water will be used in both types.

You should use distilled water because it doesn’t include any minerals that could leave behind deposits.

If you do use filtered water, make sure to change the filter regularly. Otherwise, the filter will become clogged with minerals and deposit them into the humidifier’s tank, which can ultimately lead to problems with its performance.

Distilled Water Is Pure Water That Has Had All Impurities Removed Through Distillation

Distilled Water maker — Distilled Water Is Pure Water That Has Had All Impurities Removed Through Distillation

Water that has been distilled is the purest form of water that can be produced. Distillation involves boiling water, allowing the vapor to cool and condense into liquid form.

The result is pure water, which has had all impurities removed during the distillation process.

Distilled Water Is Often Used In Humidifiers

People have been using distilled water for years to fill their humidifiers. It is the purest form of water, free from minerals and impurities that can build up and cause problems.

Humidifiers with distillers are also popular because they control the amount of moisture in the air in a very specific way, which means that you will be able to maintain it at an optimal level for your needs.

You May Need To Add A Drop Or Two Of Essential Oil

You can use distilled water in your humidifier, but you may need to add a drop or two of essential oil to help the unit function properly.

Essential oils can help humidifiers work better by providing a pleasant scent for you and your family.

They also have other benefits, such as helping prevent mold growth in the machine and reducing cleaning needs by keeping bacteria at bay.

If You Use Tap Water In Your Humidifier, You Will Need To Clean It More Often

Your humidifier will require more frequent cleanings if you use tap water to avoid mineral buildup. Mineral buildup can cause problems with the quality of your humidifier’s output.

For example, if your humidifier has a filter and minerals build up on it, then they may clog the filter and prevent air from flowing through.

If this happens, this could be dangerous for anyone using your humidifier (especially if they have allergies).

Another problem with mineral buildup is that it can coat other parts of the machine, such as the tank or evaporator. This coating could make those parts less efficient at their jobs or even stop them from working altogether.

Distilled Water Is The Best Choice For Most People

If your tap water is hard, distilled water is your best bet. Hard water contains dissolved minerals that can build up and cause problems in humidifiers.

If you have hard water, filter the distilled water before using it in your humidifier so that you don’t damage the unit or risk clogging it with mineral buildup.

Suppose you don’t have a filter and need plain tap water without risking mineral buildup. In that case, I recommend adding salt (at a ratio of 1 tablespoon per gallon) as an alternative to purchasing expensive filters for every humidifier model.

Salt will also help reduce any bad smells from developing inside the unit.

How Is Distilled Water Made?

Distilled water is one of the purest liquid forms and can be created using various methods.

The most common way to make distilled water is by boiling water in a distillation unit, collecting the resulting steam until it condenses back into liquid form, and then repeating this process several times until there are no more impurities left in the mixture.

Distillation units are typically made from glass or metal pipes connected in specific ways. A simple diagram of a basic distillation unit looks like this:

What Are The Benefits Of Using Distilled Water In A Humidifier?

Distilled water is pure and free of impurities. It does not contain minerals or chemicals, which can build up in your humidifier and make you sick.
Distilled water is free of bacteria. Bacteria can build up in your humidifier if you use tap water or filtered tap water as an alternative to distilled water.

Are There Any Risks Associated With Using Distilled Water In A Humidifier?

Distilled water is pure, so it doesn’t contain minerals and other compounds that can be found in tap water. However, this doesn’t mean you should never use distilled water in a humidifier.

Whether or not your home’s humidity level is ideal depends on what type of humidifier you have: ultrasonic or evaporative.

Ultrasonic humidifiers use high-frequency vibrations to turn distilled water into a cool mist that fills the room with moisture.

The downside is that these machines also produce some heat from the vibration process (which is why they can cause burns).

Evaporative humidifiers get rid of excess moisture by blowing warm air through a wet wick filter over distilled water.

Conclusion

As we can see, distilled water is a great choice for anyone who wants to use a humidifier. It’s easy to find, cheap, and won’t cause any problems with your unit.

However, if you have hard water or live somewhere with high mineral content in the air (like near a beach), you may want to consider using filtered tap water instead of distilled water in your humidifier—but that’s up to you.

Look out for other articles on our website about similar topics, or keep a watch for updates on our social media channels.

Author

My name is Kenneth Sine, and I’m a product engineer who has been working with humidifiers for over ten years now. In my spare time, I write for HumidifierSource.com, where I share my knowledge with others who want to learn more about the world of humidifiers.