What comes to mind when you think of soft water? Chances are that you are thinking of distilled water. Distilled water is often recommended for CPAP users because it’s said to be the softest water. But what does that really mean? Is distilled water soft water? And is distilled water really the best option for keeping your medical device clean and functioning properly?
The answer, like most things in life, is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no. This article will break down the key differences between soft and distilled water and help you understand which one is best for your CPAP, humidifier, and other health-related uses. Let’s get started!
Distilled water is both soft and contaminant free, making it the best water to use in a CPAP machine. Get vapor distilled water for your CPAP, humidifier, or facial steamer today!
What is distilled water?
Distilled water has all the minerals and contaminants removed. It is excellent for machinery because it won’t leave any mineral buildup. Therefore, it is also recommended to use distilled water in a CPAP device. CPAP machines are necessary for people who suffer from sleep apnea. The machine forces air into your lungs, preventing the obstruction of your airway that leads to apnea episodes.
Some people also enjoy drinking it, especially athletes. Distilled water is made by boiling the water to separate the water molecules from other elements, like hard minerals, and destroying organic compounds like bacteria. The pure water vapor is then separated from the impurities and converted back into liquid form so that it is entirely purified. As different liquids and solids have different boiling points, complete distillation allows the water to separate from all other minerals and impurities.
What is soft water?
Soft water is free from dissolved salts of metals such as calcium, iron, or magnesium, that form insoluble deposits or appear as scale in boilers, bathtubs, and laundry equipment. Soft water has a low concentration of magnesium, calcium carbonate, and other ions. The calcium carbonate content in soft water is less than 85.5 parts per million. Soft water lathers with soap easily. In nature, soft water mainly comes from peat or igneous rock sources, such as granite. It may also come from sandstone sources since those sedimentary rocks are usually low in calcium and magnesium. Around 85% of the US water supply consists of hard water (Ouch!). However, many businesses and homeowners utilize water softeners to strip away extra minerals and create soft water on demand.
Is distilled water soft water? Can soft water be used in a CPAP?
Distilled water is soft water because it is free from minerals. However, soft water is not necessarily distilled. Distilled water has all of the contaminants and minerals removed. On the other hand, soft water has had the “hardness,” impurities like magnesium and calcium removed and replaced with salt. Many people believe that soft water is better for your body, home appliances, and equipment because it doesn’t leave behind a mineral residue like hard water can. But the truth is that neither type of water offers a better or worse clean. Soft water still has sodium in it, and depending on the condition of your pipes, homes with water softeners can produce “soft” tap water that actually contains lead or other heavy metals it leached out of the pipes. Therefore, distilled water is the best water to use in home appliances and medical equipment, especially a CPAP.
So the short answer to is distilled water soft water is this: all distilled water is soft, but not all soft water is distilled.
Why vapor distilled water?
Distilled water is soft water. Therefore, it is highly recommended for a CPAP humidifier. But that does not mean that every type of soft water is suitable for your CPAP device. There is a chance that the soft water you are using in your CPAP has some residual salts in it. Therefore, experts and manufacturers of CPAP highly recommend using distilled water. In the end, it’s up to you whether or not you want to invest in quality water like vapor distilled water. But if you truly want to put health and safety first (and properly maintain the investment of your CPAP device) then vapor distilled water is the only way to go. With Aquapap’s vapor distilled water, you can be sure that you are getting the purest form of water possible which is free from contaminants and salts. You can also have it delivered in small, right-sized bottles, right to your doorstep, so why wait? Invest in Aquapap today!