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Can I use demineralized water instead of distilled water?
submitted almost 9 years ago by itsHURLUM

I've just spent the last two hours, searching my city for some distilled water, with no luck. All the shops only had demineralized water.

I went to the drugstore and dude behind the desk, told me that the only difference between the two, is that distilled water is sterilized while deminiralized water is not. So my question is: Can I use demineralized water instead of distilled water?

It's for thinning up my e-liquid. I read somewhere here or on the e-cig subreddit (maybe even innokin subreddit) that it could help the liquid wicking better and increase the coil lifespan. Don't hang me up on it though, I just thought I'd try it out!

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6 points
 
by andygev35almost 9 years ago

I add 5% distilled water to all of my mixes. I do this for no other reason than to lessen the hygroscopic effects of vaping vg/pg. I used to always have a hoarse voice until I started doing this.

Distilled water is heated above the boiling point to become water vapor. The vapor is collected in a separate container, leaving the impurities behind. The vapor returns to liquid as distilled water.

Demineralized water is made by passing water through ion exchange resins. The water exchanges contaminating anions and cations with hydrogen and hydroxide, which combine to form water. Both types of water meet international quality standards, but demineralized water is cheaper than distilled water. Demineralized water can be used for most of the same things as distilled water, except in some situations such as lead-acid batteries in vehicles or the enameling industry, in some laboratories, and as a coolant for nuclear-reactors in ships and submarines

SOURCE

1 points
 
by ChilledHandsalmost 9 years ago

That's interesting, does anyone else do this?

4 points
 
by FACE_MEATalmost 9 years ago

Yes.

3 points
 
by T_Macealmost 9 years agoresident tobacco specialist

Why not just use more PG?

1 points
 
by itsHURLUMalmost 9 years ago

Will that do the same (thinning/better wicking - and sorry for a stupid question)? I'm using a 70/30 VG/PG mix right now, I've thought about doing a 50/50 mix.. edited the 30/70 VG/PG, I meant 70/30 vg/pg

3 points
 
by T_Macealmost 9 years agoresident tobacco specialist

Yes it will thin out the mix making it easier to wick. I do 50/50 all the time. 60/40 is good too. I'd say this solution is better than using water.

1 points
 
by pheonix940almost 9 years ago

I wouldnt especially if they are using a subohm tank or a dripper. Pg will thin ot out but also make it harsher, water wont.

1 points
 
by jaredlll08almost 9 years ago

Uh, you use you got that right? VG is what makes it thick, so a 30/70 VG/PG should be pretty thin already...

1 points
 
by itsHURLUMalmost 9 years ago

Sorry I meant it the other way around, 70/30 VG/PG

3 points
 
by derpmojoalmost 9 years ago

Look in the baby section of a grocery store, baby water for formula is distilled.

3 points
 
by bman86almost 9 years ago

Yeah, if you want to pay 4 dollars a liter. Go to the section that has the gallon bottles of water, and look for the ones with the green (I think it's green, might be another color, just usually not blue or white) cap. Boom distilled water for about 1 dollar per gallon.

1 points
 
by D3fault121almost 9 years ago

This would be my suggestion too. A major grocery store or baby store should carry it.

1 points
 
by leapinglabratsalmost 9 years ago

Depends. Demineralization doesn't really remove any organic matter or bacteria, unlike distillation. It would have to involve multiple steps to be pure enough to inhale safely and you definitely want it to be sterile.

5 points
 
by BriarMagic13almost 9 years ago

To be fair to vaporize the ejuice, which requires flash boiling of the liquid by the coils, would most a likely kill all but the most stringent of microbes due to the extreme heat. I doubt you have a bacteria like anthrax or an extremophile in the water, but it's possible. Idk why you'd want to use water in ejuice, but you've stood in a hot shower and in hailed the steam before I assume, so there isn't much difference, especially with the minute amount of water versus something like a shower.

1 points
 
by TogiraIkonoka0618almost 9 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

If you want distilled water you could always try this method

1 points
 
by Ziserainalmost 9 years ago

....My local Fry's supermarket sells distilled water for A buck a gallon. Should be able to use the same water in my vapes right?

1 points
 
by brfwizardalmost 9 years ago

Just to clear some stuff up about distilled water usage. It might be used in batteries But from what i know you should use acid/water to bring level back up in batteries. Distilled is also used in radiators when mixing antifreeze(main reason for selling in gas stations). If you use regular water with antifreeze it will react with your car system overtime and clog your heater core and other components And let your system rust or get other impurities to cause the clogging. I've been diy with in the first month of switching to vaping. I haven't personally tried this yet but always trying something new to see how it works/helps my juice. Ive been more into diff steeping methods which i think is more important at the moment for me anyway. You can probably find distilled at auto parts store.

-1 points
 
by Paleone123almost 9 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

Distilled water > Filtered Water (various forms, Reverse Osmosis, demineralization) > Tap Water

Use distilled. It's the same price and better.

5 points
 
by FACE_MEATalmost 9 years ago

Did you not read the part where he said he was unable to find distilled water?

1 points
 
by Paleone123almost 9 years agoProud Sidebar Reader!

Well, no, not until he said he's in Denmark, which was after my comment. In the US distilled water is in every grocery store right next to other bottled water for the same price. For vaping, it's better because it's free of any chemicals that could react with the juice. Apparently, some countries don't think it's that big of a deal, but in the US they market distilled water for use with baby formula or other infant needs, so it's extremely common.

1 points
 
by itsHURLUMalmost 9 years ago

I checked 3-4 supermarkets and 2 drugstores in my city, all of them only had demineralized water.. I asked in the drugstore if they could get me any distilled water, but they said it was very pricey compared to the demineralized water, and they would have to order home a larger amount of it! I think it's not that easy to get distilled water here in Denmark, at least not where I'm living :(

1 points
 
by leapinglabratsalmost 9 years ago

I'd start with the gas station :) But I feel your pain, I tried to find saline without preservatives, hopeless, had to make it myself.

1 points
 
by itsHURLUMalmost 9 years ago

I feel stupid for not checking the gas station.. It would make much sense selling it there, since it's used for car batteries (I think?) and so on.. I'll check tomorrow!

1 points
 
by chocolatiestcupcakealmost 9 years ago

what supermarkets do you have around you? like all the grocery stores around me have distilled water in their water section. like where the bottled water is at there should be jugs of distilled possibly depending on location

1 points
 
by itsHURLUMalmost 9 years ago

All of our supermarkets keep their demineralized water near isopropyl alcohol, drain cleaner liquid, ammoniumhydroxid and so on - household items. I asked in all the supermarkets I were in, and they only sold demineralized water.

0 points
 
by Plumphonealmost 9 years ago

That's mildly shocking to me, as a grocery store worker. I just put 33 gallons of distilled water on the shelf at my store. See if they have 'Steam distilled' drinking water. Gluten free is best.

Distilled water is just the recaptured steam from boiled water. So if you're clever and desperate, you /can/ make it yourself.

5 points
 
by bman86almost 9 years ago

Are you kidding me? Gluten free? I'm done redditing for today.

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