Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy treats sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. Many CPAP machines include a humidifier, adding moisture to the pressurized air. This humidification improves comfort and therapy effectiveness by alleviating dryness and irritation in the nasal passages and throat. Experts and manufacturers consistently recommend using distilled water for these humidifiers.
Understanding Water Impurities
Distillation involves boiling water and condensing the steam, effectively removing minerals, chemicals, and microorganisms. Tap water contains dissolved minerals like calcium, magnesium, and iron, along with additives such as chlorine or fluoride, and various microorganisms. While generally safe for drinking, these substances become problematic when aerosolized and inhaled through a CPAP humidifier. Filtered and most bottled waters, including spring or purified varieties, also retain some mineral content or may not be entirely free of microbes. Boiling tap water eliminates microorganisms but does not remove dissolved minerals or chemical contaminants.
Protecting Your CPAP Machine
Impurities in non-distilled water significantly affect the CPAP machine. When heated in the humidifier chamber, dissolved minerals do not evaporate with the water vapor. Instead, they are left behind and accumulate as mineral deposits, often visible as scale or white crusty residue. This buildup can occur on the humidifier chamber walls, heating plate, and even extend into the tubing.
Mineral accumulation reduces humidifier efficiency, clogging components and increasing wear and tear, potentially leading to malfunctions. Severe buildup can shorten the lifespan of the CPAP equipment, and damage caused by improper water use is typically not covered by manufacturer warranties. Regular cleaning helps, but mineral removal is a persistent issue with non-distilled water.
Safeguarding Your Respiratory Health
Using non-distilled water in a CPAP machine poses direct risks to respiratory health. When minerals from tap water are aerosolized by the humidifier, they can be inhaled, potentially causing irritation to the respiratory tract. Over extended periods, this inhalation might contribute to lung issues.
The warm, moist CPAP humidifier environment, coupled with impurities, creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms. Pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella species (which can cause Legionnaires’ disease) can thrive here. If these contaminants are inhaled, they can lead to respiratory infections, trigger allergies, or worsen existing conditions like asthma. The human respiratory tract lacks the strong acidic defenses present in the stomach, making it more vulnerable to inhaled microorganisms.
Practical Considerations for CPAP Water Use
Consistently using distilled water remains the primary recommendation for CPAP humidifiers to ensure both machine longevity and user health. If distilled water is unavailable, temporary alternatives like purified or filtered bottled water may be considered with caution. These alternatives may still contain trace minerals or microorganisms. If used, thorough and more frequent cleaning of the humidifier chamber is necessary to mitigate mineral buildup and potential microbial growth. Boiling tap water can kill some microorganisms, but it does not eliminate minerals, so it is not a substitute for distilled water in preventing scale.
It is important to avoid using harsh chemicals for cleaning, as they can damage the equipment and leave harmful residues. Regardless of the water type used, regular cleaning and maintenance of the CPAP machine and its components, including daily rinsing and weekly deep cleaning of the humidifier chamber, are important for optimal performance and hygiene.