What is that sound & How do I fix it?

[cpap_user_29]

Sometimes during the night, my hose and mask make a very loud knocking or "clunking sound." It sounds like someone is knocking on a door. I think it may be that the hose is filled with too many water droplets and they are hitting the mask. I usually take off the mask, shake out the hose and when I reapply it - it still does the same thing. Can I get some advice on how to prevent this - and what is happening? I cant sleep b/c of the noise - and it wakes up my husband as well.
Thanks in advance!

[Mary Z]

Sounds like you may have your humidifier turned up too high. That can make a clunking or gurgling noise and cause water in the tubing. A hose cozy ( cover for your hose) might help if you don't want to turn the humidity down.
Also, make sure you're not filling the humidifier too high.

[2 B Sleeping Soundly]

cpap_user_29,

Welcome!

I agree with Mary Z’s assessment. I had a similar experience with a System One Humidifier because I filled the water reservoir too high. I also used to get a lot of condensation in the hose because of our house being cooler than the air coming out of the humidifier (our winters are mild and we don’t use a heater), but I cured that with the hose cozy she suggested. I have been using the Snuggle Hose and it is great, but the zippered Pad A Cheek looks like it would do a good job and also make getting the cover very easy to get on and off.

I case you don't know where to look I put the two sources I know of below:)

SnuggleHose
http://www.snugglehose.com/index.html

Pad A Cheek
http://padacheek.com/PAC_Hosecover.html

Hope it helps,

John

[apneawho]

Yep. Sounds like condensation. Don't know what equipment you are using. If you could click on user control and add the equipment to your profile that may help us.
I have a ResMed machine that has the option of climate line tubing. I have never had condensation problems with the climate line. Keeping the machine lower than your tubing is helpful. You can hang the tubing with a hose hanger system or place the machine lower than your head. The hose snuggy or cozy keeps the tubing warmer. There are heated hoses you may look into also. I am not sure what your humidifier is set at right now, but you may try experimenting to see if you can drop the setting a tad. That may reduce condensation, but make sure your nasal and oral passages don't get too dry. Sometimes there is a fine line between comfort and reducing condensation or rain out. Warming the tubing up under the covers with you may help also.

[cpap_user_29]

Thank you for all the replies, and helpful links! This website is the best!

[archangle]

Please do look at the link at the bottom of this post, and sign up for an ID and fill in your equipment.

The next time this happens, stop your CPAP. Disconnect the hose from the machine, and hold the end of the hose up. Disconnect from your mask and do the same and make a "U" shape with your hose. Now, see if there's water in your hose at the bottom of the U. You may be able to see it if your hose is transparent. If you can't see it, see if you can get the water to run downhill and pour out one end of the hose.

If so, you have the dreaded rainout many of us deal with.

Once you tell us your equipment, we may be able to give you specific advice. The simplest solution is if you can arrange the hose so any water formed runs back in to the machine. In the middle of the night, you may be able to lift the hose and make it run back down into the tank as a temporary fix.

[avi123]

It could be the anti asphyxia (a.k.a. non rebreathing) valve. Usually, the valve sounds like that if the machine's flow is stopped and the valve is OK. Also, when the the leaves inside the valve were pushed thru to the other side and need be pushed back.

[Pugsy]

If it is rain out or condensation in the hose, it doesn't take much moisture to make a whole lot of noise.
I have experienced it and am continually amazed that when I pour out the water from the hose there will be such a tiny amount and I was so sure that there was at least a cupful from the sounds I heard.

This winter I bought a heated hose so I don't have to deal with the noise and snorting water up my nose. Heated hose and barrel cozy doing their job now. No more rain out.