#1
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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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Barry Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}: My SoundCloud page Some steel strings, some nylon. |
#2
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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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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#3
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Quote:
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SCGC Custom OM Mars spruce/cocobolo |
#4
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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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#5
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Quote:
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#6
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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! |
#7
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Mineral buildup can shorten the life of a humidifier. I only use distilled H2O.
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#8
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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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-Raf |
#9
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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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A couple of Halcyons and a Canadian made Larrivee "Wish I had more time to hear your reasons, but I have to go get a beer." 00-28 |
#10
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That's right, I remember that now too. Where do you get those things?
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Barry Sad Moments {Marianne Vedral cover}: My SoundCloud page Some steel strings, some nylon. |
#11
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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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#12
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Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
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Larrivee OM-03RE; O-01 Martin D-35; Guild F-212; Tacoma Roadking Breedlove American Series C20/SR Rainsong SFTA-FLE; WS3000; CH-PA Taylor GA3-12, Guild F-212 https://markhorning.bandcamp.com/music |
#13
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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. |
#14
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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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You're talking to me. I hear music. And the whole world is singing along https://marshallsongs.com/ https://www.reverbnation.com/marshal...ther-tragedies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UGW...neHaUXn5vHKQGA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGxDwt26FZc http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/marshallsongs http://www.myspace.com/marshallhjertstedt |
#15
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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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