Look, I get it—sometimes you’re out of options and the tap is right there. Is it a total disaster? Not for a night or two, especially if you have soft water. But if you use tap water long-term, you’ll start seeing crusty white deposits inside the tank that smell like a wet rock.
And then there’s the bacteria thing. Tap water has chlorine that keeps microbes in check, but once it sits warm in your humidifier for a day, that protection fades. That’s why distilled water (which is sterile) is better for your lungs, especially if you’re using a cool-mist or ultrasonic model.
Bottom line:Tap water is the lazy cousin who shows up uninvited—fine in a pinch, but you don’t want them moving in.
