PH

[Otterhound]

It's humidification season and I use distilled water .
Tired of buying it .
Bought distilled water PH measures at 6.5 .
The condensate from my furnace is not plumbed into a drain line . Instead , it is pumped into a holding tank that I pump into the street when necessary . This water PH measures at 6.0 .
Both are general measurements using a pond water test kit .
I intend to use this endless supply of free water for my humidifiers . Am I wrong to do this ? If so , why ?
There are no minerals in this to create deposits since it comes from the air as a byproduct of the combustion of natural gas . This explains the very slightly acidic nature of it instead of being slightly alkaline .
Thanks .

[Swamp Yankee]

Originally Posted by Otterhound

It's humidification season and I use distilled water .
Tired of buying it .
Bought distilled water PH measures at 6.5 .
The condensate from my furnace is not plumbed into a drain line . Instead , it is pumped into a holding tank that I pump into the street when necessary . This water PH measures at 6.0 .
Both are general measurements using a pond water test kit .
I intend to use this endless supply of free water for my humidifiers . Am I wrong to do this ? If so , why ?
There are no minerals in this to create deposits since it comes from the air as a byproduct of the combustion of natural gas . This explains the very slightly acidic nature of it instead of being slightly alkaline .
Thanks .

How much water are you using? I bought a gallon of distilled water more than a month ago and I've used maybe 1/3 of it so far to protect 6 guitars with case and soundhole humidifiers through humidity rates in the teens inside my house.

[Otterhound]

I run a humidifier in my shop and one in my house . Shop is easy because the temp is kept at 55 and 35% .
House is at 65 , so it takes more water , much more , just to maintain 30% . Forced air heat sucks .
I am not using case humidifiers .

[Mandobart]

Most humidifiers use a wicking filter. Using distilled water prolongs filter life as there is much less mineral buildup. It makes no difference to the guitars, since the water vapor is mineral-free. I have fairly hard water in my area but I just use tap water for my humidifiers. I change filters about once a year. I guess it depends on which is cheaper - replacement filters or distilled water? I don't know what effect if any you'll have from using slightly acidic water - pure water should have a pH of 7.0.

[Dirk Hofman]

I had assumed the recommendation for distilled water was to keep minerals out of the equation, maybe eventually clog the filter/sponge or whatever. Hadn't considered PH.

Never bothered with it, but I rarely humidify, only when in Tahoe.

[Mandobart]

Minerals tend to make water more basic (pH greater than 7.0). I think we've reached a whole new level of minutia on AGF. What did we all do before we started discussing esoteria here? Play guitar?

[M19]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

What did we all do before we started discussing esoteria here? Play guitar?

Only when the pH is 6.5-7.5.

[Otterhound]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

Minerals tend to make water more basic (pH greater than 7.0). I think we've reached a whole new level of minutia on AGF. What did we all do before we started discussing esoteria here? Play guitar?

Since condensation is a byproduct of combustion as is acidity , I felt it prudent to ask . I realize that the level of acidity is minimal , but I would rather be safe than sorry since more is at stake than a few guitars .

[chitz]

I'm putting about 6-8 gallons of water thru my humidifiers each day here.

I use tap water with a bacteriostat additive. No issues.

[Swamp Yankee]

I'm running case humidifiers.

As for the house, I have a large 12 quart stainless steel stock pot which fits beneath a wooden stool between the legs. Crossing the rungs of this stool on the inside, I have 2 plastic coat hangers and a length of dowel. This arrangement supports a sizeable "flour sack" towel, which hangs like a tent with the two bottom ends in the water in the stock pot. Behind this contraption, I have a small fan which runs constantly, blowing air through the "tent". This evaporates about a gallon of tap water daily. This is enough to avoid cracked lips and getting a shock every time I touch a light switch.

Distilled water distschmilled water.

[flaggerphil]

Oh. I thought you were talking about a Photographers Mate.

[ManyMartinMan]

If you are running a forced-air system, why not simply add a humidfication system through the furnace? End the refill treadmill.

[Otterhound]

Originally Posted by ManyMartinMan

If you are running a forced-air system, why not simply add a humidfication system through the furnace? End the refill treadmill.

This entire process only came to me the other day .
A whole house humidification through the forced air system certainly is an option .
We have limestone/alkaline tap water and well water here , but this would negate the issues with sediment that comes with ground water here .
As long as the slightly acidic nature of this water will not harm a system , it is a perfect symbiosis . Free sediment free water that is , by virtue of how it is created bio-free is perfect .
Research .

[Mr. Jelly]

A neutral pH does not mean there is an absence of minerals in the water. Condensate has minerals in it. The minerals are what screw up a humidifier.

[Mandobart]

Originally Posted by ManyMartinMan

If you are running a forced-air system, why not simply add a humidfication system through the furnace? End the refill treadmill.

A couple reasons for me:

1. I have hard water. I'm not going to also add a water softener. So I'd have to periodically clean/replace rocked up misting nozzles.

2. I've seen the mold/mildew inside the ductwork caused by some systems.

3. My furnace/house fan does not run constantly or even 50% of the time.

Refilling room humidifiers every couple days and filters once a year has been working pretty well for the past few years.