Where to put cpap machine?

[Tigerlily]

It says the cpap machine should be at a lower level than where my head is when I sleep. How vital is that really?

I have it on my nightstand which is pretty much at the same level as my bed and I have nowhere else to put it.

[zoocrewphoto]

It says the cpap machine should be at a lower level than where my head is when I sleep. How vital is that really?

I have it on my nightstand which is pretty much at the same level as my bed and I have nowhere else to put it.

It can cause problems with rainout (water in the hose going to the mask) if it is not lower than your bed. I keep mine in a night stand next to my bed. It is not on top of the stand, but in the second drawer down.

[Tigerlily]

So, if I don't have a problem with rainout, then it's not a problem, right?

[Sheriff Buford]

It's ok to have the machine at any level. The reason it is suggested that the machine is below your head is because of rainout issues. Rainout is when the heated water vapor condenses back to water in the hose. If the machine, hose or both are below the level of your head, the water will drain back down to hose and into your humidifier tub. That being said, if your machine is really cranked up, it may not allow the water to drain back down the hose. Rainout can be frustrating. Your machine (humidifier) may be messed up, the humidity level in the room will affect it, machine/hose position, humidifier setting and humidifier water level all contribute to rainout. Trying to eliminate it may cause you to drop kick the humidifier into the next county...

I would ask.... er... forget it.... Pugsy... I didn't ask.....

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

Rain out prevention is the reason behind the suggestion to place the machine lower than the bed.
That's thinking any condensation that develops in the hose will run downhill.
Rain out is just annoying and won't hurt you. You would be surprised at how much noise a few drops of water in the hose will make.
There's another level of rain out that machine placement won't be much help though. That's at the mask level when the moisture is from the air we exhale.

If you aren't having any rain out issues then you don't have to worry about machine placement. Mine is pretty much level to the bed too. If you have the heated hose it is unlikely that you would have rain out in the hose anyway.

[John from Brookston]

Mine sits on the nightstand (which was an end table in an earlier incarnation) maybe 2" lower than the level of the mattress.
I just run the hose across the pillow I use for an armrest and dress it so it doesn't get pulled. I have the heated hose so I have not experienced any condensation. I run the humidifier at wide open at 3 and the hose at either 2 or 3. Tank of water lasts 7 hours. It works well there so I'm not going to put it down where the vorpal dust bunnies live.

[Tigerlily]

Thanks guys.

I have the heated tube now, which I love. No rainout here.

[jdm2857]

Mine sits on a stand especially made for the machine by ResMed.

It's the box my S8 came in, stood on end and placed between my bed and nightstand.

[dos coyotes]

Ditto jdm2857! I have a queen size bed and a bookcase headboard. It abuts the door to the bedroom on one side and the door to the closet on the other. No room for a night stand. I had planned on putting the machine on the bookshel either level with my head, or more likely, on the top of the headboard where the mini-stereo is. BUT, I temporarily just turned the box my ResMed S9 came shiped in and turned it on its side.

Again like you, I use the heated hose and simply drape it up and over the bed. It's just me and the cat so it bothers no one (kitty sleep near my feet). Thanks ResMed for the custom stand at no extra charge!

And I had no idea it was best to have the machine lower than your head --- the things you can learn on this forum!

[sgeer]

Use a bag clip attached to the hose by twist ties or small guage flexible wire. The attachment to the hose (and hose cover if used) should be roughly 3 ft from the mask. Make the attachment by wire (7 inches or so) a turn or two wrap around the hose and then twisted tight to keep it from moving up and down the hose. The length of the wire to the bag-clip after it is attached to the hose in my case is about an inch. Trim or tuck the edges to prevent scraping yourself. To use, clamp the clip at waste level to the top sheet or cover of the bed. This will hold enough slack to allow movement but not allow wrapping or pulling. This is also optimized for travel within unknown room configurations. The placement of the CPAP unit is then less of a concern. However, recommend you do not place on floor in hotel. The air intake is then low and in proximity to more dust, chemicals, etc. then if elevated. Typically I do not travel with tank and use it only during dry spells. I use Resmed CPAP/a hose cover/nasal pillows FX, never had rain out, cover was for comfort as hose bothered me.

[Oddprofessor]

My nightstand is too small to accommodate a tissue box, a photo of my family, a candlestick, a small table lamp, my iPad, my cell phone, AND my S9, so it's on the floor next to the bed. It seems to work fine. I haven't had any issues with the length of the hose.

[chunkyfrog]

My machine sits on a child's stool below my nightstand wall shelf.
The hose runs up the wall behind the shelf and through the scrunchies hanging from the fishing pole.
I like my machine low, as it is also quieter, as the edge of the bed blocks most sound.
I really notice the difference when we travel; the Intellipap is slightly louder,
and the shelf in my brother's camper is above my head. Noisy!
I use the heated hose year round, so no rainout--hardly ever.

[sleeplessinaz]

Mine is sitting on one of those small short plastic step stools between my night stand and bed frame. It works perfectly! it's up off the floor and doesn't take up room on the night stand. I never get rain out

[flyingwithoutwings]

Mine is sitting on one of those small short plastic step stools between my night stand and bed frame. It works perfectly! it's up off the floor and doesn't take up room on the night stand. I never get rain out

I put mine on a small step stool but was so afraid I might jerk it off that I put it in the top drawer of my night stand. Fit perfect with plenty of "breathing" room and no fear of knocking it down.

[chunkyfrog]

. . . afraid I might jerk it off . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beavis_and_Butt-head
(I'm a baaaad frog!)