Sleep apnea is a serious issue that affects the quality of sleep and breathing for millions of people worldwide. CPAP machines have proven to be effective in treating this condition, but traveling with them can be challenging. For example, distilled water is essential for CPAP machines, which means you will have to bring some of that water on your travels.
How to travel with distilled water for a CPAP machine? This article will give you some useful tips, so keep reading!
6 Ways to Travel With Distilled Water for a CPAP Machine
There are three ways you can safely travel with distilled water for your CPAP machine. The safest way, if you are travelling by plane, is by declaring the distilled water for medical use. If the journey is not a very long one, another good option is to buy travel-sized distilled water. In extreme cases, you can bring your water distiller along during the journey to make distilled water at any opportune moment, perhaps during a layover or a stop.
If traveling with distilled water is not possible, you can also consider using regular water during the journey and buying distilled water upon arrival.
1. Declare the Water for Medical Use
If you are travelling by plane, you need to check the airline's rules before packing your water. As you certainly know by now, most airport security personnel won’t allow you to bring more than 100 ml of liquid on the plane.
However, if you declare that the water is for medical use, you will probably be allowed to bring it on the plane, even if it’s more than 100 ml. Just don’t forget to declare this - otherwise you might run into issues with the airport security.
Another tip is to always check in advance all the terms and conditions regarding travelling with liquids. This is the best way to ensure you won’t experience any issues.
2. Buy Travel-Sized Distilled Water
Another important method for traveling with distilled water for a CPAP machine is to buy travel-sized distilled water. Of course, this will only work if you don’t plan to travel for many days or more. For example, if you know you’ll be back home in 2-3 days, you should only pack enough water for those 2-3 days, instead of bringing gallons of distilled water.
3. Consider Buying After You Arrive
If you are travelling to a location with stores, pharmacies, and gas stations, you can buy your distilled water there, instead of carrying it with you. In general, distilled water is cheap in most places, so this shouldn’t cost you too much. This option could save you a lot of space in your luggage and make your travels much easier.
4. Use Regular Water (Only While You Travel)
This is not a perfect alternative, but it can work for a night or two. If you haven’t brought any distilled water for travel, and you can’t buy it at your destination, tap or drinking water can be a good alternative. However, keep in mind that you shouldn’t use tap water in a CPAP for longer than a day or two.
Tap/drinking water is full of minerals, and when used in a CPAP machine, it can cause mineral buildup. As a result, your CPAP machine may start to malfunction or stop working completely. So, switch back to distilled water as soon as possible.
5. Make Sure The Water Is Secured
Another important thing when travelling with containers of distilled water is to check if they are properly closed and sealed. You want to avoid leaks and contamination that could happen if your water container isn’t properly closed.
We also suggest you use several small bottles of distilled water for travel instead of one large bottle or container. This ensures that, even if one of those bottles starts leaking, other bottles will be ok, and the water in them won’t get contaminated.
6. Bring Your Water Distiller
This method might seem like it’s a bit too much, but if you are travelling for an extended period of time, bringing your own water distiller could be a smart move. There are many household water distillers that are portable and easy to use.
You can distill the exact amount of water you will need for your machine, without having to carry around water containers. Plus, you will no longer depend on finding store-bought distilled water in an unknown location.
Mistakes To Avoid When Travelling With Distilled Water for a CPAP Machine
There are also some mistakes you should avoid if you decide to travel with distilled water for a CPAP machine. These mistakes might seem minor, but they can cause significant issues and setbacks during your travels.
For example, one such mistake is trying to bring a large jug of distilled water on a plane before declaring its medical use and checking with the airplane company in advance. Another extremely common mistake that many CPAP users make when travelling is using regular water for extended periods of time. Many CPAP users do this even when they aren’t traveling.
Next, in case you plan to buy distilled water at your destination, don’t just assume that you’ll be able to find it. Research local stores, pharmacies, and gas stations. You don’t want to arrive there just to realize that none of these places are selling distilled water.
Finally, if you are buying your distilled water, don’t open it before travelling. You might not be able to close and seal it properly, which will lead to leaks and potential contamination. If you are distilling your water at home, store it in a leak-proof container.
Ensure Constant Distilled Water With A Co-Z Water Distiller
If you don’t have a water distiller, but you’d like to get one for your upcoming travel, here are some options you could try:
1. CO-Z 4L Stainless Steel Water Distiller
This stainless steel water distiller is compact, safe, and simple to use. The entire chamber and condensing coil are made of 100% 304 Stainless Steel; all plastics used meet food-grade and BPA-free standards.
With this water distiller, you can distill up to 6 Gallons of Water/ Day. This makes it perfect for travel, as it is a portable and reliable way to ensure clean water wherever you go.
2. CO-Z 1 Gallon Water Distiller, 4L Countertop Machine
This is another great water distiller for home use and for your travels. It is durable, leak-free, and easy to use with one-button operation. You can get up to 6 gallons of distilled water per day with this distiller.
Conclusion
It is possible to travel with distilled water for a CPAP machine, but you need to do it properly. Follow our methods and tips, and try to avoid some common mistakes that people make. This way, you’ll be able to use your CPAP machine wherever you go!
You might also be interested in whether distilled water goes bad and how long it lasts.
