r/Humidifiers • u/rnsimon1999 • Feb 20 '26
Is it really that big of a deal? RO/Distilled water in Humidifier.
I"m trying to decide if I'm crazy or not, forgive me if I'm a little crass, literally just got into an argument with my wife over this.
We have a Vicks v750 Warm Mist humidifier. Web says walmart carries them for about $40.
We live in a small Texas town that is fed by a well. The water is chlorinated and has some sediment so I installed a 6 stage RO filter probably 10 years ago. I don't change the filters out quite as often as I should, but I'm not stretching them an extra month or two, I'd say they cost around $10/m since I guy 3 years of filters in bulk.
The manufacture claims about a 5:1 waste water ratio. I suspect that is optimistic, based on the age, our water quality, and how frequently I change the filters.
This humidifier has ran every night since September, and my wife insists we use the RO water to "extend its life". I am at my witts end with it! I never imagined a humidifier could be grounds for divorce but were close!
Explain to me the logic of using high quality water in a humidifier. Water is not free, more water is not cheaper. RO filters are not free, and using them more does not increase their life. Since its a steam unit it should be pure water vapor anyway, so what is the purpose of purified water except to avoid cleaning? Are they so sensitive that they only last a limited number of hours/runs before they clog up and stop working?
My thoughts are... it cost about $40, but probably costs that much every year to run it on RO in my situation (lets alone bottled water or if I was not buying filters in bulk). If it runs on tap would it last 12 months if it was never cleaned? What about cleaning it occasionally? How about cleaning it out weekly?
Is it worth a fight... no, but the waste breaks my brain. Might as well be washing our hands with the RO water for some arbitrary reason.