Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
User avatar
spmccord
Posts: 117
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:33 am

Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

Post by spmccord » Tue Sep 01, 2015 11:56 am

I woke up last night to a weird smell. I checked my humidifier and it was dry as a bone. Will running a heated humidifier dry cause any damage?

The temp wasn't set very high. I did turn the humidifier off (and filled it) before going back to bed.

Thanks!

_________________
Machine

McSleepy
Posts: 454
Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:32 pm
Location: USA

Re: Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

Post by McSleepy » Tue Sep 01, 2015 12:07 pm

spmccord wrote:I woke up last night to a weird smell. I checked my humidifier and it was dry as a bone. Will running a heated humidifier dry cause any damage?

The temp wasn't set very high. I did turn the humidifier off (and filled it) before going back to bed.

Thanks!
"Damage" is a term covering a very wide range of effects. It is hard to draw the line between excessive wear & tear and damage, but that is where running a humidifier dry lies. Different makes/models have different designs but generally there is a silicone seal that hardens when overheated, so you might have shortened its useful life a bit, but nothing to be concerned. Especially if you are like most who exchange their humidifier periodically (the insurance company will cover a new one every so often), and not like me, who only replaces something when it is worn beyond its useful service life.

Keep an eye on it and if/when it (ever) starts leaking (or the smell becomes excessive), you may consider getting a new one.

McSleepy

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Previous machine: ResMed S9 VPAP Auto 25 BiLevel. Mask: Breeze with dilator pillows. Software: ResScan ver. 5.1
ResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto; Puritan-Bennett Breeze nasal pillow mask; healthy, active, middle-aged man; tall, athletic build; stomach sleeper; on CPAP since 2003; lives @ 5000 ft; surgically-corrected deviated septum and turbinates; regular nasal washes

User avatar
Pugsy
Posts: 63941
Joined: Thu May 14, 2009 9:31 am
Location: Missouri, USA

Re: Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

Post by Pugsy » Tue Sep 01, 2015 12:42 pm

I have had that happen on several occasions when I have forgotten to top off the water chamber.
Other than stinking something awful I don't think anything gets harmed. Obviously we don't want to make a habit of it but a once in a while running out of water isn't as bad as it smells.
I have never had anything fail on me after doing it other than my nasal mucosa being unhappy with both the smell and the dryness.

_________________
Machine: AirCurve™ 10 VAuto BiLevel Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Additional Comments: Mask Bleep Eclipse https://bleepsleep.com/the-eclipse/
I may have to RISE but I refuse to SHINE.

If you want to try the Eclipse mask and want a special promo code to get a little off the price...send me a private message.

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Sep 01, 2015 1:43 pm

I did it a couple of times with the old S9 Autoset.
Yikes! It REEKED! But I washed it out, and let the stinky air clear the hose.
The H5i humidifier tanks have a large metal bottom, unlike some others,
which have a piddly little tray on the bottom, and the heat is less likely to damage the plastic.
Oddly, now I can smell when the water is merely getting low-ish, which wakes me so I can add water.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
archangle
Posts: 9294
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

Post by archangle » Wed Sep 02, 2015 2:20 am

I have a low opinion of CPAP machine manufacturers, but even they wouldn't be able to get away with a CPAP machine that damages itself if it runs out of water.

It's probably bad on the long term reliability to do it very often, and it certainly stinks when you let it happen.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Also SleepyHead, PRS1 Auto, Respironics Auto M series, Legacy Auto, and Legacy Plus
Please enter your equipment in your profile so we can help you.
Click here for information on the most common alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check for yourself.

Useful Links.

User avatar
spmccord
Posts: 117
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:33 am

Re: Will running a humidifier dry cause damage?

Post by spmccord » Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:50 am

Thanks for the help!

I have turned it off for now, but when I turn it back on I'll have to make sure and keep it filled!

_________________
Machine