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Old 09-24-2016, 04:22 PM
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Default Why distilled water in sound hole humidifiers?

When I bought a Music Nomad sound hole humidifier today, my favorite salesman reminded me to use distilled water. I never have. They also tell you to use it in clothes irons also, but we've never had and the irons last forever. I bought a jug, just for the heck of it, but why use it?
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Old 09-24-2016, 04:37 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Because if you live somewhere like Phoenix where the water is really hard and full of minerals you will turn the sponge into a rock within a few months.

If you have a decent RO system you could get away with that I suppose.

Also, most folks will mix in a cap or two of bleach because mold is icky.
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Old 09-24-2016, 04:41 PM
Orfeas Orfeas is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBman View Post
When I bought a Music Nomad sound hole humidifier today, my favorite salesman reminded me to use distilled water. I never have. They also tell you to use it in clothes irons also, but we've never had and the irons last forever. I bought a jug, just for the heck of it, but why use it?
I think some tap water sources have more minerals and other impurities that fills the sponge after a while. I have used a tap water a couple of times when I needed to humidify.
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Old 09-24-2016, 05:03 PM
Colt45 Colt45 is offline
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I remember hearing somewhere distilled water prohibits mold growth. I don't know, but that's what I use. It's not like I take showers with it
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Old 09-24-2016, 06:05 PM
Paleolith54 Paleolith54 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBman View Post
When I bought a Music Nomad sound hole humidifier today, my favorite salesman reminded me to use distilled water. I never have. They also tell you to use it in clothes irons also, but we've never had and the irons last forever. I bought a jug, just for the heck of it, but why use it?
He's probably just repeating what he's been told or has read on a forum. I used tap water when I lived in Albuquerque and Denver with no problem, maybe the water in Phoenix is especially bad. In New Jersey? I wouldn't worry about it. In fact, it's hard to imagine you needing go do anything except maybe in the dead of winter when it's very cold (hence dry) and you're running the heater.
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Old 09-24-2016, 06:13 PM
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Distilled water is very nearly pure H20.
Tap water usually has lots of minerals in it that do not evaporate and will build up after lots of H2O has evaporated.

The more minerals in your tap water the worse the build up.
It's not a black and white thing.
Mineral content varies tremendously with your location.

So the fewer minerals that get left on your guitar's humidifier's sponge the longer it will last.

On a related note, I installed an RO filter under my kitchen sink.
LOVE it!
If I change all the filters when needed the water is very nearly pure H20.
Tastes great .. I carry it everywhere.
Many uses, like putting in your iron and directly into an aquarium without water treatment.

RO-treated tapwater saves tons of money compared to buying water in bottles.
No plastic water bottles to buy or throw away/recycle.
No diesel fume-belching truck delivering water to my home.
VERY green!
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Old 09-24-2016, 06:41 PM
Robert1950 Robert1950 is offline
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Mineral buildup can shorten the life of a humidifier. I only use distilled H2O.
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Old 09-24-2016, 07:22 PM
Misifus Misifus is offline
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Tap water, even spring water or "drinking" water has dissolved minerals in it. With extended use in any application in which the water is allowed to or caused to evaporate, those minerals will be deposited in the device, be it a humidifier, a steam iron, or a coffee maker. I lost two coffee makers in a row to mineral buildup. Since then, I've switched to distilled water, and I've had no more trouble with my machine. Either distilled if reverse osmosis water will do.
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:01 PM
Gasworker Gasworker is offline
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I replaced the sponges with water beads and I use tap water. I got the water bead idea from Fazool.
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:02 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gasworker View Post
I replaced the sponges with water beads and I use tap water. I got the water bead idea from Fazool.
That's right, I remember that now too. Where do you get those things?
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Old 09-24-2016, 08:31 PM
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As stated, it depends on where you are. I have only used tap water for 30 years without incident or having to change sponges. Mold won't be a problem unless you are over-saturating the environment with humidity. Keep your guitars between45 & 55% humidity and I've never had an issue with mold. If you're local RH is over 45% you don't need anything anyway.
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Old 09-24-2016, 09:17 PM
AZLiberty AZLiberty is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TBman View Post
That's right, I remember that now too. Where do you get those things?
Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
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Old 09-25-2016, 12:19 AM
Montesdad Montesdad is offline
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Yeah, a Michaels or Hobby Lobby or such

They are inexpensive and a few go a long way - if they go bad over time due to mineralization, just toss them and put in some new ones.
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Old 09-25-2016, 07:57 AM
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If you're using a sponge type humidifier, you can always rinse it out and get rid of the mineral build up. If it's an Oasis type humidifier, the mineral build-up will kill the unit.
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Old 09-25-2016, 09:15 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Misifus View Post
I lost two coffee makers in a row to mineral buildup. Since then, I've switched to distilled water, and I've had no more trouble with my machine. Either distilled if reverse osmosis water will do.
FWIW, you also can use vinegar to clear the buildup. I used to run vinegar through the drip coffee maker about once a month when I lived somewhere with really hard (i.e. splash a few drops of water on the counter and if you didn't wipe it up right away you'd have white spots) water.
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