Orange Specks in H5i Tank?

[DrDeke]

Good evening,

I have been using my ResMed S9 with H5i for about six weeks now, and recently I have noticed some orange specks or flakes on the bottom of the H5i water tank.

I have been using city tap water in the H5i because the lady at the DME said that was fine as long as I rinse the tank out every morning and let it dry, which I always do. The tank is always bone dry by the time I use it in the evening. The orange spots kinda look like they are loose and would rinse out with the rinse water, but they do not.

I've posted a picture of the specks in the tank here in case it might help, although you don't see them very clearly in the picture.

Do any of you have any idea what these could be or how to remove them?

Thanks,
DrDeke

[dragon672]

Some people on here use tap water. But my DME advised using Distilled water. Tap water can leave behind things in your tank; like the orange specks. You probably should wash the tank in distilled water and vinegar.

[RandyJ]

If vinegar doesn't get them out, I would try a tablespoon of bleach in a cup of water, swish it around a bit until the stains are gone and rinse several times with water, until you don't smell the bleach anymore.

Then use distilled water going forward to avoid any residues. Distilled water only costs between 85 and 88 cents a gallon at big box stores like Target and Walmart.

[jen4700]

Distilled water is essential. It is cheap. You don't want anything living in the tap water in your lungs.

[chunkyfrog]

I see you have the disposable tank.
it is a bear to clean, but this is how my hubby did it.
(This is someone else's video.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scg8Nc9LkRo
When you can get a replacement, I would advise the washable tank.

[sol]

I cannot see any orange spots just the orange marker. If using tap water and the tank is empty in the morning might leave behind some deposits, washing the tank in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 10 parts water solution should help. Fill the tank just under the line of the top mark of the orange marker and two things might use more water higher humidity settings and mask/mouth leaks. BTW why S9 Escape?

[GumbyCT]

Tap water can leave behind things in your tank; like the orange specks. You probably should wash the tank in distilled water and vinegar.

Since tap water does leave bacteria behind I would suggest when rinsing to clean this up you also rinse with distilled water.

People can't understand why things grow in their tank when they use distilled BUT rinse with tap water. Distilled should also be used for whatever cleaning process you finally decide on.

Most people who use distilled quickly find out that cleaning the tank is either not required as often or not required, period. They spend their time answering posts about tap water and other science projects

[DrDeke]

BTW why S9 Escape?

Because I'm an idiot (or, to put it kindly, a CPAP newbie) and let the DME foist it off on me, not knowing that it wasn't really data capable. (They insinuated that it was, but all it gathers is compliance data.) I have an appointment with them for next week to try to get them to swap it out with an S9 Elite, but I don't really know how successful that will be.

Given that a CPAP machine is a long term investment, I'd really strongly prefer to have a data capable unit. Especially since I tend to mouth-breathe; it'd be nice to be able to monitor leakage and adjust the chin strap (or use a FFM) based on the data. Also, who knows what weight changes or medication changes might happen over the next 5 or so years which could affect the CPAP therapy. Don't get me wrong; the benefits I've seen since starting CPAP have been literally life-changing, but I'd like to be able to make sure they stay that way by monitoring the data!

[DrDeke]

Since tap water does leave bacteria behind I would suggest when rinsing to clean this up you also rinse with distilled water.

It does? Ugh. Maybe I'd better disregard the advice of the DME and just use distilled for everything. As has been mentioned in the thread, it's not particularly expensive, and if not using it is gonna be a problem, well...

[GumbyCT]

Given that a CPAP machine is a long term investment, I'd really strongly prefer to have a data capable unit.

Does your insurance allow the use other DME's? I expect you have done your research on this site about how to execute this exchange of equipment?

Are you financially able to return this and buy online? Calculate the difference in your co-pays vs out-of-pocket purchase.

May I ask the meaning of your handle DrDeke?

[DrDeke]

My insurance does allow a fairly wide range of DMEs. I am concerned, though, because I am in the 2nd month on my CPAP equipment. From what I've read on this site, that makes it more difficult to return/exchange CPAP equipment than in the 1st month.

I am very lucky in that there is no insurance co-pay on my policy for prescribed CPAP equipment; my insurance covers it 100%. I am not able to pay out-of-pocket at online prices at this moment, but I will be able to do so at some point in the relatively near future if necessary.

I have read a great deal of information on this site about *why* one might want a data capable CPAP (and I agree with it 100%), but I am less sure about the best ways to negotiate getting such equipment with the DME. Perhaps you have some links on this topic that I have missed?

As for my handle DrDeke; I am *not* a medical or any other kind of doctor. It is a combination of part of my last name (which begins with Deke) and just a bit of parody-type humor of hip hop artists who like to call themselves Dr. [whatever]. It's just something I now use out of habit at random places on the Internet

Thanks,
Rusty/DrDeke

[GumbyCT]

Makes sense DrDeke....so you're a DJ?

Perhaps you have some links on this topic that I have missed?

Not knowing what you have read I think odds are lottery-like that I can guess right. fwiw - I call that a WAG

My insurance does allow a fairly wide range of DMEs.

That alone gives you some leverage. Start a dialogue with some of the others. Why is it this appt is so far in the future? You do know they like to stall?

[avi123]

Could you remove the Dr from your screen name to avoid confusion?

City water contain Coliform Bacteria, Fecal Coliform, E. Coli, Pesticide, Herbicides, Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories, etc. Do you want any of it in your lungs?

[sol]

If you have a standard humidifier tub, it is recommended that you use distilled or deionized water.
If you have a cleanable tub, tap water is fine for everyday use.
http://www.resmed.com/au/service_and_su ... c=patients

[archangle]

Get the cleanable tank. Even if you have to buy it online out of pocket.

Curse you, ResMed, for selling machines with the disposable tank.

Use distilled water in either kind of tank unless you have some particular reason not to.

You can open the disposable tank and clean it, but it's a little difficult and risks breaking the tank. You might want to get a cleanable tank, and then you'll have a spare in case you break the disposable tank opening it up. The worst part is convincing yourself you're not going to break it taking it apart the first time. Some people seem to be able to open it with just their fingers, but I had to pry carefully with a screwdriver.

If your tap water is safe to drink, it's fine to clean the tank. Your tank will not be sterile once you put it back into your machine and run it. Distilled water mostly helps by not having any nutrients in the water for bugs to feed on. Of course, cleaning or rinsing with distilled water won't hurt.