Not using a Respironics humidifier with Respironics CPAP?

I am trying to swap a cpap that is not data capable for a Respironics Remstar Auto C-PAP with A-flex. (the key word is trying. . long story alread addressed in this forum and in the chat room) and I am noticing that many people who have Respironics machines do not use a Respironics humidifier. Curious as to why.

Because, in the "M'agic series, the HH is inferior to some other external HH, both in quality, ability to hold water, amount of water held, and the level of humidity produced, and ease of use. Other than that they are fine. Jim

Why, because the chamber for the Respronics intergrated humidifier is very small and is VERY prone to developing leaks. The leaks have destroyed mine and many others dressers and tables. If you have one "NEVER" open the chamber to clean it. It is also a bit expensive to replace the chamber. The leaks also wet down the heating element and unless you put it on legs the heating element sits in water all night and after a while does not work right. Would rather have the Fisher & Paykel HC150 humidifier which will work on any machine.

Jerry

Goofproof and 6PtStar said it all.
I agree completely...those are the reasons I use the external Fisher & Paykel HC150.

It is my intention to use the integrated humidifier when I travel because of its small size and single electric cord.
--Nelson

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): humidifier, Travel

[quote="Nelson"]Goofproof and 6PtStar said it all.
I agree completely...those are the reasons I use the external Fisher & Paykel HC150.

It is my intention to use the integrated humidifier when I travel because of its small size and single electric cord.
--Nelson

[quote="shardebhow"]

Did you get the integrated humidifier when you go the machine and then purchase the F&P later on?

[quote="Nelson"][quote="shardebhow"]

Did you get the integrated humidifier when you go the machine and then purchase the F&P later on?

Hum, is the integrated humidifier with the A-Flex that bad?

Personally I have been using it with my A-Flex for 2 weeks now without any problems, I only set it to 2 out of 5 and it seems to be enough for me.
(or 3 but I prefer 2 so far)

I just refill the small tank every night (which takes 30 sec anyway) but I think I would have enough for 2 8h nights without refilling at setting 2.

I think I will put my APAP on a towel or something just in case, I will try and keep an eye on all this just to make sure it doesn't affect my threatment.

Regards,
DanGr

Problems get worse after the owner takes it apart and doesn't get it together correctly, and when you use a nasal interface and mouthbreath. Jim

Goofproof wrote:Problems get worse after the owner takes it apart and doesn't get it together correctly, and when you use a nasal interface and mouthbreath. Jim

I know there was a recall for the Humidifiers MFG. 12/2001 - 4/2003. Are the problems you have mentioned what the recall was about? If so, I wonder if those things were corrected

I live in Missouri and means that although the humidity might be high outside -- inside is a whole lot different. Our house is really really dry. I have the M series APAP with intergrated humidifier. I have asthma and am unable to breathe easily if there is TOO much humdity so I usually use it as a passover humdifier but found when the furnace came on I need some humidity. I turned the humdifier to between 1 and 2 and would use ALL the water in one 8 hour night. I was afraid if I needed more humidity I would be unable to go any higher without the tank running bone dry and possibly damaging it.

I advertised I wanted a Fisher and Paykel heated humdifier on craigslist and was able to obtain mine that way. I love it. I used it as a passover till just a couple of weeks ago and have it set about 2 and have plenty of water left in the morning.

shardebhow wrote:

Goofproof wrote:Problems get worse after the owner takes it apart and doesn't get it together correctly, and when you use a nasal interface and mouthbreath. Jim

I know there was a recall for the Humidifiers MFG. 12/2001 - 4/2003. Are the problems you have mentioned what the recall was about? If so, I wonder if those things were corrected

Those were the pre-"M"agic style, Apples and Oranges, 2003 is past, even the faithful DME's have probably run out of them, as now they have a cheaper product to hand out. Jim

shardebhow wrote:Last question (s). Does the F&P Humudifier connect easily to the Machine

Yes. The F&P humidifier comes with it's own short (about 16 or 18") hose to connect to the machine.

I bought several of the elbow couplers shown below -- to save wear and tear on hose rubber cuffs. With the coupler, you can just lift the F&P's hose off instead of having to work a rubber cuff back and forth to remove a hose from the humidifier.

shardebhow wrote:does it take up a lot of space???

I don't think so. The footprint of the F&P humidifier is not a whole lot bigger than the extra space taken up when you add an M humidifier beside an M machine. There's a different shape to the footprint. The F&P is considerably taller, too.

I just now measured both humidifiers. Counting the space used where the cord comes out the back, the F&P is 5 1/2 inches front to back, 5 1/2 inches side to side.

The M humidifier adds about 3 1/2 inches to the width of an M machine and extends about 9 1/2 inches front to back, if you include connecting the hose at the rear.

The biggest difference in "size" is that the F&P humidifier is a lot taller than an M humidifier. Counting the elbow connector (or hose cuff) connected on top, the F&P is a little over 9 inches high. An M humidifier with its platform underneath is only 4 inches high counting the humidifier button on top.

I'll gladly find a place for the taller F&P humidifier in order to enjoy its reliability, leakproofness, and the fact that it holds sooo much more water than the M does. Sixteen to seventeen ounces for the F&P's water chamber compared to only eleven ounces for the M.
viewtopic.php?p=206315

The F&P is much easier to fill. If you like to just add more water without dumping the unused out, you can do that without even removing the water chamber. Just lift the hose off the top and use a funnel and a jug of distilled water. Some people keep their distilled water in a squirt bottle, so they don't even have to use a funnel. Quick and easy filling.

The M water chamber always has to be taken out to fill it, then shoved back in. More wear on the connecting gasket each time.

Three more things I like better about the F&P humidifier are:

1. You can turn the F&P on ahead of time to preheat the water. The M humidifier doesn't come on until the machine starts. The only downside is that it's easy to forget to turn the F&P off in the morning. It doesn't turn off automatically like an integrated humidifier does when you shut the machine off. No big deal if you accidentally leave it on a few mornings until you remember there are two things to turn off...machine and humidifier. On the plus side, you don't have to remember to turn the F&P back on if you get up during the night and have turned your machine off until you come back to bed. You'd have to turn an integrated humidifier on again.

2. Depending on your nightstand's shelves and where you like to set the cpap machine, you can place the F&P near the cpap or as much as a foot away from it. Perhaps on a separate shelf, or even out of sight on the floor under your bed.

3. Nicest thing of all - you can use the F&P with ANY machine. You don't have the expense of buying yet another humidifier if you change to a different brand of machine, or have another brand as a backup machine.

I've taken the F&P humidifier on trips. It does take up more room packing than the M humidifier, but again...not "enough more" to be a concern. The extra space it takes up for traveling is as if you'd thrown in a couple more pairs of rolled up socks.

Yeah, it's my favorite humidifier.. that neat little F&P.