How to dry a hose after cleaning

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
maskracer
Posts: 19
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2008 9:48 pm

How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by maskracer » Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:31 am

I read in a manual that one should never blow dry the hose with a machine after cleaning. This runs counter to what I've been doing for the last 3 years, with no discernible fallout. I always thought hang-drying a hose would not do the trick, and make the hose susceptible to mold/mildew.
Any guidance?

-tim
Posts: 710
Joined: Sat Dec 03, 2011 7:46 pm
Location: Melbourne Australia

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by -tim » Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:49 am

It depends on your environment. Blowing air over wet surfaces can cause pollen and mould spores to collect and there are lots of places in a house that I expect would be perfect. In a cool dry winter, air drying should work fine. In very damp climates, the dry time will be so long that some spores will settle in the clean pipe before it dry. I expect the best method would be use the cpap blower for a while without the humidifier but I don't see that as an option. So far I just rinse my hose and hang it over the kitchen cabinet and let it drip onto a plate.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ N20 Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Resmeds overpriced SpO2

User avatar
TalonNYC
Posts: 984
Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:26 am
Location: New York FREAKIN City
Contact:

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by TalonNYC » Sat Feb 11, 2012 10:43 am

I let it hang over a kitchen chair while I finish cleaning everything else, then attach it to the machine and have the air blow with no tank in the humidifier for about 20 min. That seems to completely dry it out.

I have a basement apartment, so I don't like to leave anything damp hanging around, especially in the humid months. Air drying the hose with the blower keeps it nice and dry.

User avatar
LSAT
Posts: 13345
Joined: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:11 am
Location: SE Wisconsin

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by LSAT » Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:34 am

Why worry about drying it. As soon as you connect it to your CPAP/Humidifier, you will have moist air going through it again.

User avatar
archangle
Posts: 9293
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:55 am

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by archangle » Sat Feb 11, 2012 3:32 pm

I suspect they're worrying about screwing up your data on your CPAP machine, increasing the blower hours, running the machine at full blast with no resistance, etc. Plus they realize that if you're going to use the hose the same night with a humidifier, it will get wet anyway.

I blow dry my hose after each weekly cleaning on an old CPAP machine and then let it sit dry for the rest of the week.

By the way, what manual for what machine?

_________________
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.

Robespierre
Posts: 168
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 3:36 pm
Location: S Colorado

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by Robespierre » Sat Feb 11, 2012 3:48 pm

What LSAT said.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Climateline hose; SleepyHead

Thanks

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by Thanks » Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:46 pm

I honestly can't remember where I read the guidance. But thanks for all the comments. Helpful as always.

a1albert
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:08 pm

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by a1albert » Sat Feb 11, 2012 11:18 pm

I use a small diameter rope about two feet longer than my hose. I tie a small nut on one end of the rope for weight to drop down through the hose. On the other end of the rope I tie a small rag and pull the rag through the hose, kinda like useing a Bore Snake on a rifle.

Albert

User avatar
KrisasMan
Posts: 108
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2011 2:25 pm
Location: St Paul, MN

Re: How to dry a hose after cleaning

Post by KrisasMan » Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:07 pm

I have wondered about this myself. The CPAP manufacturers all make it seem easy, you just wash, hang and it will be dry in the evening. I have debated doing something like the rag tip. For now I just figure it will dry pretty quickly once the heat and air flow are applied.

I may get another hose when I hit 6 months and alternate as long as this one stays in good shape.

_________________
Mask: Mirage™ FX Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: PR FullLife FFM as backup, SleepyHead v0.92 for Mac