using cpap machine to dry out hose

[springman946]

can anyone tell me if it is a good idea to turn on my cpap machine and allow the air to blow throw the hose to dry it out after washing it someone told me that its not good because you can wear out the machine by doing that

[Julie]

Your friend is right. But in any case, what's the point of doing the hose at all? It doesn't (shouldn't) get dirty, but if you choose to rinse it once in a while then hang it over the shower rod in the a.m. Even if it doesn't dry out 100% by p.m. what difference will a few drops make compared to using humidification, plus they'll dry out quickly when you have the machine going.

[LSAT]

Once you get it dry, you will immediately go to bed and it will get wet again. I have been using my hose for over a year without drying it out. I agree...using your machine to dry the hose will wear out your machine sooner. 1 hour a day...365 hours a year.... 2000 hours in 5 years.

[ChicagoGranny]

Why are you washing the inside of the hose?

[Pasta]

My DME told me to wash my hose out every couple weeks, and I thought I was being a slacker only doing it every couple months haha. I'd stop washing it altogether if I could. It's a pain to wrestle with it in the sink. I'm starting to see a huge variation in cleaning practices in here haha.

[Julie]

"I'd stop washing it altogether if I could." Then why don't you just stop?

[Johnd80]

From everything I've read about hoses these are the first posts I have seen which question washing them.
I wash mine about every month in order to prevent the growth of mold which is not good in your lungs.

[Pasta]

"I'd stop washing it altogether if I could." Then why don't you just stop?

From everything I've read about hoses these are the first posts I have seen which question washing them. 
I wash mine about every month in order to prevent the growth of mold which is not good in your lungs.

^ Because of this. My DME said to so I figured it was necessary. I can see how bacteria could hang out in there too. Don't know how big a deal it is, I'd be happy if the concensus was it wasn't necessary.

[Julie]

In 8 yrs of using Cpap I've never ever had mold or anything else unwanted in my hose(s) and haven't heard of anyone else having found any either.. I suppose if you live in a really swampy area you might have a problem, but otherwise, the only thing going through the hose (to you, not from you) is air through the machine's filter.

[Pasta]

In 8 yrs of using Cpap I've never ever had mold or anything else unwanted in my hose(s) and haven't heard of anyone else having found any either.. I suppose if you live in a really swampy area you might have a problem, but otherwise, the only thing going through the hose (to you, not from you) is air through the machine's filter.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too, and it's why I don't wash my hose nearly as often as I was told to. Still wasn't sure though. The only thing I could think of was my breath blowing a little way into the hose, but even that seemed unlikely. I'm with you, I doubt it's necessary, I'm just hoping a bunch of people don't rush in to prove us wrong.

[Pugsy]

I'm with you, I doubt it's necessary, I'm just hoping a bunch of people don't rush in to prove us wrong.

Almost always when someone comes in to try to defend rigid cleaning schedules its a newbie. Most of us cpap veterans have long ago given up the rigid cleaning schedule...and we are still here.
I started cpap therapy 5 years ago the end of this month...I have never had anything show up growing in my long hose either.
And I sure don't adhere to any sort of rigid cleaning schedule for anything.
I gave that up about 6 months into therapy when it became old real fast going through the "routine" that I thought I just HAD to do and I found out I didn't have to do it and didn't die a horrible death or catch some nasty bug.

Now there are a few cpap veterans who prefer to still maintain a rigid cleaning schedule but not near as many of those as there are newbies who have had the fear of whatever put in them by someone. I still say...whatever floats your boat and lets you sleep well...that's what a person needs to do. If someone worries about germs and bugs or whatever...then they need to do whatever it is that they need to do to alleviate those concerns.

The need to dry the hose...I have never understood that one. Why not just wash it in the evening and hook it back up to the machine and use it....it's going to get moisture in it anyway.

[houndlover]

The first time I was on CPAP 6 years ago I lived in FL...super humid area...my hose grew stuff. :/ Now, that being said I had been sent home from my sleep study with a machine, non-heated hose, and a mask. Was not told anything about cleaning anything....so my humidifier tank also grew some things before I figured out on my own that I should clean it.

Now I have a heated hose and zero condensation..I clean the humidifier tank so I'm not worried about anything growing.

[lliann]

Eeeesh.

So, and lets just say I am not a perfectionist nor an alarmist, yet I will try to be informed.


I have been washing my hose. Not often but once in a while. Its a royal pain in the butt washing the hose. Is there a solid reason why I should wash it? Ever..? For any reason? Can it grow "stuff"

Inquiring minds want to know.<g>

[Julie]

IF at some point, whether it's next week or next year you SEE something (or smell something - tho' that would be more likely a machine generated odor) that doesn't belong, then go ahead and deal with it, but if all is well... if it ain't broke... etc. I think I washed a hose... somewhere around 2007... or was it 2009?

[lliann]

IF at some point, whether it's next week or next year you SEE something (or smell something - tho' that would be more likely a machine generated odor) that doesn't belong, then go ahead and deal with it, but if all is well... if it ain't broke... etc. I think I washed a hose... somewhere around 2007... or was it 2009?

Sounds good to me. Less is more.