True or False: Distilled water is best for batteries.
True and false, but under-watering or over-watering batteries is the problem.
This one isn’t actually a myth.
It’s true, but somewhat insignificant. When a battery gasses during the charge cycle, it emits hydrogen and oxygen gas. It’s recommended that the hydrogen and oxygen lost during this process be replaced weekly by adding water (H2O) back into the battery.
So it’s best that only water go back in, not other chemical impurities found in water. As a general rule, if the water is good enough for a human to drink, it’s good enough for a battery.
However, the best practice is to use a deionizer system to remove harmful impurities. These systems can last for up to a thousand gallons of water or more and the replacement filters are relatively inexpensive. You won’t find any difference in battery performance or battery life between using distilled or deionized water.
Remember that proper watering is the No. 1 thing you can do to maintain your batteries. It’s generally under-watering or over-watering that’s the problem, but it’s still important to remove impurities. So get a deionizer system today (less than $600). And if you really want to make sure your water is safe, get a water quality tester, too (less than $100).
