Editing Distilled water (section)

==Applications==
In chemical and biological laboratories, as well as in industry, in some appliances, [[DI water|deionized water]] or [[Reverse osmosis|reverse osmosis water]] can be used instead of distilled water as a cheaper alternative.
If exceptionally high-purity water is required, [[Purified water#Double distillation|double distilled water]] is used.

In general, non-purified water could cause or interfere with chemical reactions as well as leave mineral deposits after boiling away. One method of removing impurities from water and other fluids is [[distillation]].

For example, [[ions]] commonly found in tap water would drastically reduce lifespans of [[lead–acid batteries]] used in cars and trucks. These ions are not acceptable in automotive cooling systems because they corrode internal engine components and deplete typical [[antifreeze]] anti-corrosion additives.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100701012047/http://www.hazardouswaste.utah.gov/SWBranch/Adobe/P2Factsheets/AntifreezeRecyclingFactSheet.pdf Pollution Prevention Fact Sheet Antifreeze Recycling & Disposal]. Utah Department of Environmental Quality, US</ref>

Any non-volatile or mineral components in water are left behind when the water evaporates or boils away. Water escaping as steam, for example from a boiler of heating system or steam engine, leaves behind any dissolved materials leading to mineral deposits known as [[Glossary of boiler terms#S|boiler scale]].
[[File:Steam water distiller.JPG|thumb|A boiling water distiller. Boiling tank on top and holding tank on the bottom.]]

Low-volume humidifiers such as [[cigar]] [[humidor]]s can use distilled water to avoid mineral deposits.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-19|title=Distilled water {{!}} Empire City Auto Parts|url=https://empirecityautoparts.com/products/parts/distilled-water/|access-date=2021-09-22|language=en-US}}</ref>

Certain biological applications require controlled impurities, especially in experiments. For example, distilling water to be added to an [[aquarium]] would remove known and unknown non-volatile contaminants. Living things require specific minerals; adding distilled water to an ecosystem, such as an aquarium, would reduce the concentration of these minerals. Fish and other living things that have evolved to survive in lakes and oceans should be expected to thrive at mineral ranges found in their original habitat.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/caep/r3/docs/basic-aquarium-set-up.pdf |title=Basic Aquarium System Set-Up Trout-in-the-Classroom |access-date=2015-01-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923214044/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/caep/r3/docs/basic-aquarium-set-up.pdf|publisher=Department of Fish and Game |archive-date=2015-09-23 }}</ref>

Controlled impurities as well as equipment reliability are critically important in medical applications where, for example, distilled water is used in [[continuous positive airway pressure]] (CPAP) machines to humidify air for breathing. Distilled water will not leave contaminants behind when the humidifier in the CPAP machine evaporates the water.<ref>{{cite web|title=Distilled Water And CPAP Usage|url=http://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Humidifiers.html#why-do-i-need-to-use-distilled-water-with-in-my-humidifier-chamber|publisher=cpap.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705042850/http://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Humidifiers.html#why-do-i-need-to-use-distilled-water-with-in-my-humidifier-chamber|archive-date=2014-07-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Humidifiers.html#why-do-i-need-to-use-distilled-water-with-in-my-humidifier-chamber|title=CPAP Humidifier Frequently Asked Questions - CPAP.com|work=cpap.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705042850/http://www.cpap.com/cpap-faq/Humidifiers.html#why-do-i-need-to-use-distilled-water-with-in-my-humidifier-chamber|archive-date=2014-07-05}}</ref>

It is also possible for brewers to blend distilled water with hard water to mimic the soft waters of [[Plzeň]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter15-1.html|title=How to Brew – By John Palmer – Reading a Water Report|work=howtobrew.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091005195150/http://www.howtobrew.com/section3/chapter15-1.html|archive-date=2009-10-05}}</ref>

Another application was to increase the density of the air to assist early airplane jet engines during takeoff in 'hot and high' atmospheric conditions, as was used on the early [[Boeing 707]].<ref>''Down the Susquehanna to the Chesapeake'' by John H. Brubaker, Jack Brubaker – page 163</ref>

===Use in steam irons===
Distilled water can be used in [[Ironing|steam irons]] for pressing clothes to minimize the build-up of limescale in hard water areas shortening the lifespan of steam irons. Some steam irons have built in filters to remove minerals from the water meaning standard tap water can be used.