Can You Put Tap Water In A Humidifier?

Many people struggle to maintain the ideal indoor humidity level, and they rely on using a humidifier. However, you may notice that what you put in your humidifier affects what comes out. So, you may wonder if you can put tap water in a humidifier.

You can put tap water in a humidifier, but you may experience problems if the water has a high mineral content. That’s because vaporizing mineral-dense water can cause mineral dust to settle on the surfaces in your home. Even worse, you may inhale the mineral dust and suffer respiratory irritation, especially if you’re asthmatic.

There’s also a chance that you will damage the humidifier by using tap water. You can only avoid this by regularly cleaning the humidifier or using distilled water instead. Follow along as we explore everything you must know about putting tap water in a humidifier.

Can You Use Tap Water In A Humidifier?

Yes, you can use tap water in a humidifier, but you’re better off using demineralized or distilled water. That’s especially true if your home’s water supply has a high mineral content, also known as hard water. Humidifiers vaporize water, and the vapor that gets released should look as clear as possible. However, putting tap water in a humidifier may produce thick, white vapor and dust due to the mineral content. Not only is this visually unappealing, but it can also impact the indoor air quality. This is one of many reasons why putting tap water in a humidifier can be risky and can result in:

Lung Irritation

If your home has hard water, you risk lung irritation when running a humidifier. The minerals will produce white vapor clouds and release dust into the air. Inhaling this dust can irritate your lungs and cause respiratory issues, especially if you have asthma. As the mineral scale builds up, it can also contribute to mold growing throughout your house, as it can easily grow on the mineral scale in the dark and moist environment in your humidifier. In that case, you may inhale mold spores and mineral dust when you run your humidifier.

Mold exposure carries many symptoms, including allergies and lung irritation. The risk of mold alone should make you think twice about putting mineral-dense tap water in a humidifier. You can avoid this water problem by running a water softener or using distilled water.

Mineral Dust Messes

Lung irritation isn’t the only thing you must worry about when vaporizing tap water. Mineral dust released into the air can also settle on furniture and other surfaces in your home. Naturally, the biggest messes will appear around the humidifier, but they can spread. For example, your HVAC system can blow the dust around your home when your AC or furnace runs.

Depending on where your humidifier is, some of this dust may also get into your air filter or ductwork. The mineral remnants may look like standard dust at first, but they will likely appear whiter. This dust is fine, so it can quickly spread even when walking by it or moving nearby objects. Continually cleaning such messes may be annoying, but it’s necessary. That’s especially true if you have children or pets, as they may spread or ingest the mineral dust.

Humidifier Damage

The main reason many manufacturers don’t advise using tap water in a humidifier is because it can damage it. Of course, that’s not always the case, especially if you use filtered tap water. However, unfiltered, hard tap water can damage a humidifier, especially if it’s an ultrasonic unit.

Mineral dust and debris can clog the unit’s transducer, stopping your humidifier from vaporizing water. Even if that doesn’t happen, the debris will at least negatively impact your humidifier’s performance and speed. Cleaning your humidifier’s water tank with white vinegar can remove the mineral scale. However, continually putting tap water in your humidifier will make cleaning the tank difficult. Clean your humidifier weekly if tap water is your only option.

What Kind Of Water Should You Use In A Humidifier?

Ideally, you should put distilled or demineralized water in a dehumidifier instead of tap water. Distilled water has significantly fewer contaminants than tap water, which makes it safer. You won’t have to worry about messy dust, pathogens, and excessive minerals when you use distilled water.

Distilling involves boiling water to remove minerals, and it’s a reliable method to get clean water. Demineralizing water involves using resins and filters to remove excessive minerals. Some people put reverse osmosis water in their humidifiers, which is arguably the best option. However, that isn’t accessible for everyone, as you must install a special filtration system to get reverse osmosis water. Some places sell reverse osmosis water, but it’s not as widely available as distilled water. Either way, you shouldn’t have problems as long as you use water that lacks excessive minerals. 

Is Boiled Water The Same As Distilled Water?

Boiled water is not the same as distilled water, despite the similarities. Distilling water involves boiling it, but the key step is collecting the condensation. This boiled condensation lacks the minerals and other contaminants, as it’s been distilled into a purer form. You can remove some contaminants and bacteria by boiling water, but the minerals will remain unless you condense the water. That said, it’s worth boiling water to clean it if you can’t easily access distilled or reverse osmosis water. It won’t produce the desired results, but boiling your water will at least make it safer to drink.

Boiling a pot of water can increase the humidity level in your home. Granted, this is a temporary solution, but it’s an effective way to help with congestion during the fall and winter. Unlike vaporizing water, boiling water doesn’t release minerals into the air.

Summing It Up

Using tap water in a humidifier is risky, as the air will likely contain mineral dust and even certain pathogens. Mineral-dense water vapor can irritate your lungs and contribute to mold growth in your home. Distilled water, reverse osmosis water, and demineralized water are better for you, your home, and your humidifier.

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