Rainout Solution Suggestions

[bkpap]

Hello,

I've been experiencing rainout and after browsing have landed on solutions of using a hose holder and a hose cover. I'm looking for specific suggestions for these devices that have worked in solving your past rainout problems.

I use the ClimateLineAir 11 heated tubing. Please let me know if adjusting settings from the auto climate control helps as well.

Thank you!

[Dog Slobber]

The main purpose of the ClimateLine (or any heated hose) is to prevent rainout.

Set it to auto, if that takes care of it, great. Otherwise, set it to manual, and then manually increase the temperature.

[mlmollenkamp]

First, try setting the humidity to Auto. You can either set the tube temperature to Auto, or set a number to make it higher or lower. Auto is equivalent to 81F. Higher will generally give you more humidity since the machine can and will increase humidity with temperature. Using manual on the humidity level does not guarantee a dry tube, but the auto setting should be OK at least for the main tube (see below). If you still have rainout with auto humidity you can lower it. The Auto position is similar to setting humidity to 4. If you can deal with drier air, reduce it to 2 or 3, or leave it at 4 and increase the tube temp.

A hose hanger works because half the hose will drain back into the machine. If not using a hose hanger, make sure the machine is lower than the top of the mattress for the same reason. But with the heated tube it shouldn't be necessary. I use a hose cover even with a heated hose, but I don't think it makes any difference for rainout. But it certainly doesn't hurt.

What kind of mask are you using? Nasal masks with the leader tube are prone to rainout because the leader isn't heated. If you are using one of those you can get a hose cover for that portion, or get a hose cover that's long enough for both the main tube and the mask tube. I suggest a hose cover on both, I always use one even on a heated hose. In the bad old days before Climateline I used to make my own heated hoses and could include the leader tube. I don't suggest this route however, I'm fortunate that I didn't suffer from a burning bed...

Top feed masks are a special case. The Resmed Airtouch series has fabric over the side tubes which is probably better than the AirFit version. The Respironics Dreamwear is similar and can have the same issues. I've made covers for the down tubes but don't need them currently. I use Airfit masks but don't have the problem with my current room temperature. If you sleep in a really cool room you may need to increase the room temperature a little. I used to sleep in a really cool room, 60 to 64 F. I now go to about 68 F. Raising the humidity in the room may also help a bit and decreases the likely hood of running out of water overnight.

Some masks, full face especially have large exposed surface area and can rainout in the mask its self from the exhaled air. Raising the tube temp and lowering the humidity might help, but raising the room temperature is probably the only possibly effective treatment. It may be difficult because the mask is exposed to your breath which is very humid. It pays to figure out if the rainout is in the mask or the hose, nothing you do with the hose is going to fix rain in the mask.

[mlmollenkamp]

I almost forgot. I've used both of these hangers:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJMGTKN9?re ... in_title_1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089W44YZR?re ... in_title_9

The main thing is to figure out what works with your bed. The clamp on one works well on my steel frame bed but won't work on our other bed with a wood headboard. Just read the reviews not just for rating but for pictures that show it in use and make sure it works with your bed.

With hose covers I prefer a full length zipper. Make sure to get the right length. When I used masks with leaders I got 7 foot covers. Now that I'm using a top feed I get 6' 1/2 or 7'.

The other thing is the difference between slick covers and felt covers. Without a hose hanger the slick ones (Resmed makes one, over priced but works well). Slick ones help prevent leaks because they don't cling to the sheets. Felt ones feel nicer to the touch. I don't think there is much difference in insulation value, but its possible felt is better. I use felt with a hose hanger but the slick Resmed when I travel.

https://www.amazon.com/ResMed-Zippered- ... 153&sr=1-1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F6CS2XXW?re ... tle_8&th=1

[bkpap]

Thanks for the replies!

To clarify, I currently use the auto setting for climate control and tube temp. My current mask is the AirTouch N20 nasal mask and it has a leader tube.

Now that you've mentioned it, I've noticed water droplets in the mask and in the leader tube, but not the heated hose itself. I keep my room temperature on the hotter end at 73 to 75 F.

That said, I still think it's a good idea to buy a hose hanger and cover even if the root cause isn't hose rainout. The clamp hanger you recommended will work with my bedside table, but I can't find a reliable 7 foot hose cover to include the leader tube. The only one I found on Amazon had reviews saying it was shorter than 7'. Do you remember which ones you used? It's fine for me if the cover is sold on a different website.

[Pugsy]

I don't know of any hose cover (we call them hose cozies) that is 7 foot in length and with the use of a heated hose it isn't as critical to use a hose cover/cozy on a heated hose but there are some nice cozies for those shorter hoses that are what I call mask hoses.
Karen at Padacheek has some very nice cozies that are much shorter that we can add. I have one myself because my nasal masks all have hoses attached. One of them is actually 20 inches long. Karen has some shorter and some longer so you can measure your mask hose and get one close to the length you need. They do help a lot. I use maximum humidity setting and prefer a cold bedroom so I have to use the heated hose set to max temp
https://www.padacheek.com/hose-covers-1

I don't use any sort of hose hanger so can't help with that. Sorry.

[mlmollenkamp]

Amazon has a number of 8 ft covers which are a bit too long. But you can also install a standard cover over the mask leader hose laving it short at the machine end where everything is warmer anyway. Or you can get a short additional cover as others have mentioned.

[Dog Slobber]

As others have suggested, a hose cover for a heated hose cover wont help increase the heat of the tube. The heated hose is on a thermostat, so it just wont turn on the heating element as much.

And you need to be careful about hanging your hose (to reduce the impacts of rain-out).

Yes, any water that condenses will run back towards the machine, *provided* it condenses before the apex of the hose. But, any water that condense after the apex, on the mask side, will run back towards the mask.

[Pugsy]

And you need to be careful about hanging your hose (to reduce the impacts of rain-out).

Yes, any water that condenses will run back towards the machine, *provided* it condenses before the apex of the hose. But, any water that condense after the apex, on the mask side, will run back towards the mask.

Totally agree and I try to tell people who are thinking about any sort of hose hanging system that they need to remember that water can't run uphill and when you use a hose hanging system it often means the hose is routed upwards and there comes a point where it simply doesn't help because there is some uphill involvement that will negate the "let the water run back into the water chamber" benefit of the hose hanger.

Just a couple of weeks ago I reduced the house thermostat by 5 degrees and guess who came calling...yep that old rain out monster and he was in the heated hose as well as the short mask hose. My bedroom is by nature about 5 degrees cooler than house thermostat anyway. Between the overall cooler temp and the bedroom's usual colder temps I had rain out so bad it woke my husband up with the noise. Took me forever to get all that water out. All that and I route all my hose(s) under the covers and still had copious amounts of water.