Can You Use Spring Water in a Humidifier?

High-quality or natural spring water obtained from unpolluted sources is free from chemicals, and harmful microbes, and is rich in minerals that our body needs.

Spring water has a lot of benefits depending on what you need to use the spring water for plus the source of the spring water.

So can you use spring water in a humidifier? The simple answer is no. You can use spring water in a humidifier if you choose to do that but you really should not be using spring water in a humidifier because of its high mineral content, which will ruin your humidifier.

You can drink spring water or use it for other purposes around your home expect using it in things like a humidifier.

While the name might sound alluring and all-natural, spring water is not suitable for humidifiers. You should not attempt to use spring water in your humidifier. This article will help you understand the composition of spring water and why it is not a great option for your humidifier.

This post addresses:

Comprehensive Answer: Can you use spring water in a humidifier?

Where Does Spring Water Come From?

Spring water is simply underground water. It can also be referred to as mountain water, because of the high number of natural springs found on the sides of many mountains.

Spring water can naturally be obtained from springs that have made their way to the earth’s surface or directed to the earth’s surface through a network of natural piping techniques like the use of bamboo pipes.

This approach was traditionally used for irrigation and is still used in rural areas to preserve natural springs.

Spring water can also be obtained by drilling underground natural sources of spring water.

Natural forces such as hydrostatic pressure and gravity also contribute to the formation of springs as they push water from underground aquifers.

Composition of Spring Water

The composition of spring water differs depending on its source.

Some of the common minerals present in spring water include calcium, chlorine, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, lead, sodium, sulfur, cobalt, chromium, iron, fluorine, iodine, manganese, copper, selenium, and molybdenum.

Some minerals like selenium, cobalt, iodine, and chromium are usually found in trace levels.

The main minerals of concern when it comes to the use of your humidifier include calcium, magnesium, and sodium. These minerals are commonly associated with water hardness and often leave discolored deposits in humidifiers, boilers, or around taps where the water used is hard water.

Reasons Why You Can’t Use Spring Water in Your Humidifier

Presence of dirt

If you are getting the water yourself from a natural spring, the water might not be clean enough to be used in a humidifier, especially if you are unsure about the source of the spring.

If you plan to use spring water for other purposes around your home, ensure that the water from the spring has been approved for drinking and usage, as some water sources might have high levels of harmful minerals.

Microbial pollution

Most water sources have been contaminated today with industrial waste, which means that unless you are sure of the source of the spring, you might end up using contaminated water in your humidifier.

While bacteria and other microbes are carefully monitored in water plants and public water supplies, the same cannot be said for springs.

Springs that flow over long distances of land can come into contact with synthetic material or different microorganisms that might be released into your immediate home environment if the water is used in a humidifier.

Mineral deposits

Spring water has higher levels of mineral content than tap, distilled, or purified water. The high content of minerals in spring water can be linked to the source of the water,

Since spring water is basically underground water. The water draws minerals from the different layers of rocks in the earth’s crust.

Risk of Humidifier Damage

The high mineral content in spring water can damage the heating element in your humidifier. Warm-mist humidifiers have a heating element that heats the water to promote the release of a warm mist.

Like boilers or cooking pots, if you constantly expose the heating element in your humidifier to spring water, the mineral deposits will accumulate on the heating element and affect its performance.

Clogging Filters

The minerals found in spring water can slowly clog the filter in your humidifier. Most cool-mist humidifiers have a filter and exposing the filter to the spring water will damage it over time and affect its efficiency in filtering dirt and dust particles from the water.

Damaged Nozzle

The minerals present in the spring water can accumulate in the nozzle of your humidifier and affect the flow of mist.

With time, you might notice that the humidifier does not release as much mist as it did when it was new. This problem could be linked to the accumulation of mineral deposits in the nozzle.

Can you use bottled spring water in a humidifier?

Bottled spring water and natural spring water are similar. Most companies that sell bottled spring water get the water from natural springs within their geographical area.

As such, the composition of bottled spring water and natural spring water is almost the same, with the exception of the levels of different minerals in the water.

Based on the composition of most bottled spring water, that type of water is not suitable for use in a humidifier.

To learn more about the negative effects of minerals on your humidifier, check out the link below.

Recommended Article: Hard Water Effects

To Sum up

While spring water may be a great option for drinking because of its mineral content, it is not good for your humidifier.

The high content of minerals in spring water can easily damage your humidifier or shorter its shelf-life due to the accumulation of mineral deposits.

It is also important to note that damage caused by the accumulation of mineral deposits in your device will not be covered by your warranty.

The best solution for avoiding the issues associated with using spring water in your humidifier is switching to distilled or purified water.


How to make distilled water for humidifier?

If you want to make distilled water in your home, boil a large pot of water and cover it with a lid. Place a smaller pot inside the water when the water starts boiling to collect the drops of evaporated water that condense on the lid.

While this is a simple distillation process, you will need to use a large amount of water and boil the water for a long time before you can get enough water to use in your humidifier.

Can you use boiled water in a humidifier?

It is not recommended to use boiled tap water in your humidifier because the water might still have some mineral deposits.

The best water to use in your humidifier is distilled or purified water.

What can I add to my humidifier water?

You do not need to add anything to your humidifier. Plain water is good enough for any humidifier.

However, if you have a humidifier that has a diffuser, you can use different essential oils in your humidifier.

Similarly, if you are using a Vicks humidifier, you can add Vicks Vaposteam tablets to the humidifier to soothe your throat and relieve congestion symptoms.

Where to buy distilled water for humidifier

You can buy distilled water at a mall, grocery store, or retail store near you. Alternatively, you can also get distilled water from online stores like Amazon. If you wish to buy your distilled water from an online store, here are a few recommended options that you could buy.

Snugell Distilled Water for CPAP Humidifiers: Comes in a 24-bottle pack of 16.9 oz.


Resway Distilled Water:  Comes in a 24-bottle pack of 16.0 oz


Mars Wellness Distilled Water: Comes in 24-bottled packs of 12 oz


What if I don’t have distilled water for my humidifier?

If you do not have distilled water, you can opt to make distilled water in your home using a simple boiling process that entails collected of evaporated water.

Is bottled water OK for humidifier?

Whether bottled water is okay for your humidifier depends on the type of water in the bottle. If it is distilled bottled water or purified bottled water, then you can comfortably use it in your humidifier without worrying about exposure to harmful microbes and dirt.

If the bottled water is mineral or spring water, then it would not be a good option for your humidifier because of the presence of minerals that can clog or ruin your humidifier.

What happens if I use tap water in my humidifier?

If you use tap water in your humidifier, you are likely to notice an accumulation of mineral deposits on the inner sides of your humidifier.

Since the composition of tap water differs from one state to another, you might also expose yourself to harmful microbes present in the tap water.

Meet the Author

The author is a blogger, interior design and home improvement enthusiast, and researcher, with a passion for helping people improve their homes by creating a calming and beautiful environment. Check out the about author page to learn more about her work