Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

[HoseCrusher]

At night I add what I think I will use that night. In the morning I dump out whats left and let the tank dry out.

[Islandwoman]

I don't use distilled. We have an under counter smallish water filter suppose to stop just about everything. After dinner I boil a pot of that water for herbal tea. Cool by bed time and I use that. I dump and refill daily. When I first started I used distilled and tried leaving for a few days, just topping off of needed. When I dumped it I felt slime on the inside, no thanks to that. We live in a damp climate, PNW, dry climate may be different.

[HearMeROAR14]

I dump mine everymorning. I am new to this and I gave serious thought to just topping it off but I work in and ICU and see the raging infections we can get in our lungs, sinuses, etc and rethought it. I only want fresh water humidified into my body. The plastic will eventually grow a slick slime on it. EWWWW

[Sharrykb]

My DME advised me not to leave water sitting in the unit during the day so I take the water chamber out during the day and put it back at night. I'm not in favor of wasting distilled water that I paid good money for so I don't dump it out.

Although just now as I was typing this it occurred to me that her reasoning behind not leaving water in the unit makes absolutely no sense at all so I'm not sure I will continue taking the water chamber out...

Many of the things the DME tells you make no sense

I am very new to CPAP so I'm still learning that. I have my 2 week appointment with them on Thursday and I can't wait to see how little they are able to tell me about my therapy in comparison to what I know already thanks to this forum.

[Goofproof]

I dump mine into a coffee cup and make my instant coffee with it. I hate to think about wasting 4 cents of water a day. Times are tough.

Thanks for the poll, our poll locker needs fed. Jim

[beautifuldreamer]

I dump mine out every morning and let the humidifier air dry. Seen too many little floatie things in water that is left more than a few days in other things. This is distilled water, not sterilized water . . .

For a while I was washing my humidifier chamber every day, but now I do that about once or twice a week, and just dump water and air dry on the days I don't wash it .. .

[Stevoreno_55]

My DME advised me not to leave water sitting in the unit during the day so I take the water chamber out during the day and put it back at night. I'm not in favor of wasting distilled water that I paid good money for so I don't dump it out.

Although just now as I was typing this it occurred to me that her reasoning behind not leaving water in the unit makes absolutely no sense at all so I'm not sure I will continue taking the water chamber out...

I dump mine out every day; rinse the chamber out; not wash it out; I wash it out once a week; after I've rinsed it out I leave it on my kitchen counter on top of paper towels to dry during the day then when it's time for bed I'll fill it again with fresh distilled water which I buy from my local Walmart for < $1.00 a gallon.



Stevoreno_55
04/30/14

[Sharrykb]

My DME advised me not to leave water sitting in the unit during the day so I take the water chamber out during the day and put it back at night. I'm not in favor of wasting distilled water that I paid good money for so I don't dump it out.

Although just now as I was typing this it occurred to me that her reasoning behind not leaving water in the unit makes absolutely no sense at all so I'm not sure I will continue taking the water chamber out...

I dump mine out every day; rinse the chamber out; not wash it out; I wash it out once a week; after I've rinsed it out I leave it on my kitchen counter on top of paper towels to dry during the day then when it's time for bed I'll fill it again with fresh distilled water which I buy from my local Walmart for < $1.00 a gallon.



Stevoreno_55
04/30/14

You are right, distilled water is cheap. I just don't see the point in dumping out water that I paid ANYTHING for if I don't have to. If that makes me cheap, so be it.

[lliann]

Ok, so I have been watching this. And I was of the kind who topped off the tank at night.(distilled water)

Then the more I read, the more eewwwy I got. I suppose adding cool water to previously used water could eventually grow things? But if that's true, some of those distilled bottles on Walmarts shelf could be there forever so whats the difference if it stands in a tank or a plastic bottle (the seal?)

Then I thought...ok, if I rinse it out, I can't use tap water, right, cuz that has the thingies in it. Kinda defeats the distilled water purpose?

Oh my, this is so complicated.

[4betterO2]

Seems everyone is letting their tank out to dry, is anyone wiping it?
I don't like to leave the machine gaping wide, but I'm sure how well the tank dries out if simply put back in.
I've been using glass-type microfiber towels (or so labeled), but in the PR humidifier tank, there is a tiny chamber area at the front corners which is too small to reach in, so there remains water in those tiny square corner holes. It's hard also to get water out from under along the seals.
I've been wondering if anyone is using a hair dryer to dry off these corners? But that would blow unfiltered, not very clean air?
If using the air from the machine hose to finish drying the humidifier chamber, that would cause a large leak to register, and would affect the AHI recorded? (Dumb user, or dumb little chamber corner?... )

[Drowsy Dancer]

Ok, so I have been watching this. And I was of the kind who topped off the tank at night.(distilled water)

Then the more I read, the more eewwwy I got. I suppose adding cool water to previously used water could eventually grow things? But if that's true, some of those distilled bottles on Walmarts shelf could be there forever so whats the difference if it stands in a tank or a plastic bottle (the seal?)

Then I thought...ok, if I rinse it out, I can't use tap water, right, cuz that has the thingies in it. Kinda defeats the distilled water purpose?

Oh my, this is so complicated.

I don't think it's that complicated. AFAIK I've never caught anything from my humidifier. Your level of squeamishness may vary.

I do use distilled water in my neti pot.

[sftballslh]

Heat plus humidity equals bacteria. Figure out how about how much you use every night and let it air dry during the day.

[Scootergirl]

I dump what is left every day - I don't have much left as I figured out how much to fill it each evening. I do rinse the tank and let it dry. I don't see the point in taking a chance with something growing in that water - I have allergies, asthma and now sleep apnea - a few cents of water each day isn't going to be the thing that breaks my bank. I've had too many Sinus infections, bronchitis and pneumonia - Taking the precaution of having the cleanest equipment is worth it if it avoids infection or aggravating my allergies or asthma.

[hacksaw2375]

Using distilled water prevents you from having mineral deposits build up in the tank and in the hose and because it is distilled(boiled) it doesn't contain any bacteria.
Distilled water does not prevent mold and mildew from forming when combined with the air that flows through the machine but it does take some time to occur and will occur faster at warmer temperatures.
I check the water each night and leave the water or add more if low.
Every week to 10 days when the tank is almost empty, I remove the tank and the hose and clean it with a mild dish washing liquid, then rinse tank and hose thoroughly and let it dry during the day.
That night I refill the tank and re-attach the hose...
No issues so far.

[sciflyer]

I'm only about 4 weeks into my CPAP journey, but I've already got a pretty good routine.

I empty out each morning and wipe and dry the tank, it's just not worth the risk IMHO.

I also hang my hose and mask up to dry above a heating vent each day.

It's damp here and I figure it's best to make sure everything is as dry as possible each day.

And then wash everything once a week with baby shampoo.

So far, so good.