If you've recently been diagnosed with sleep apnea your doctor may have prescribed a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine as the first course of your treatment. A CPAP machine essentially keeps your airways open while you sleep at night so you won't have to deal with the waking up, snoring, and other symptoms that can occur as a result of the ailment.

The humidifier in your CPAP machine requires water to remain at optimal moisture levels so you're not being dried out while you sleep at night. Because you'll likely be using your CPAP machine each time you lay down to rest, practice good maintenance so that the device always works the way it should. A key way to do this is to use distilled water in your CPAP machine. See why this is such an important step in the process.

Tap Water Often Contains Harsh Minerals

Although the water that comes out of the faucets in your house might appear to be completely clean, your eyes can deceive you. There could be tiny minerals in the water that you can't see with the naked eye. Using this water is often harmful because the minerals can eventually build up and start to eat away at the plastic parts of your CPAP machine. You then find yourself having to constantly pay for a replacement because your device doesn't seem to last very long.

Distilled water is optimal because the distillation process removes many of those dangerous minerals from the water supply. Your machine can then keep plugging along for an extended time and this helps you save money.

Water Is Different Wherever You Go

It's also good to get into the habit of using distilled water in your CPAP machine because it creates a cycle that is perfect for when you travel. Maybe you physically reside in an area that has soft water. The problem comes in when you go to another city, state, or country. Water tends to have a different consistency in various parts of the world. If you have already made it a point to only use distilled water in your CPAP machine, you won't have to risk breathing in dangerous chemicals when you go to another part of the globe.

Using distilled water is an excellent maintenance tip that allows your CPAP machine to go the distance. Start using distilled water from the very beginning so your machine can be with you for the long haul. For more information, contact CPAP distilled water suppliers.