When do you use your humidifier?

[cajun]

I started this back in May, so I haven't been using my humidifier. The temps are starting to drop, so I assume at some I'll have to start using it. Question is, do you use yours year-round or only when the temps drop? Roughly what night temps do you start/stop using it?

[amos]

I use my hunidifier year round usually on a setting of 2 1/2 or 3.

amos in Atlanta

[GaryG]

I found for some of the masks I try, I didn't need my humidifier, but then I seemed to notice that a low humidity setting seemed to keep the leaks down. So now even though I don't always need it, I use it anyway.

[deerhound]

I use my humidifier every night.

Dale

[cajun]

For those who use it every night - why? Are you sure you'd sleep worse without it? Would you have some kind of physical issue (dry nose/throat)?

[potholerepairman]

I use passover setting now every night only because when started my throught got very dry from mouth breathing.As craszy as it sounds in less than a month of chinstraps and trying to train my mouth to stay closed (putting the tongue at the back of the top front teeth) , thinking of going without the humidifier for a spell.The temp is 80 in the house and don't see much water missing while using the passover setting so figure the worst that can happen is a dry mouth.I think the tongue trick has my mouth less dry than it has been in many years.

[Muse-Inc]

For those who use it every night - why? Are you sure you'd sleep worse without it? Would you have some kind of physical issue (dry nose/throat)?

Last summer, when I switched from my beloved OptiLife pillow mask to the Resp Care Hybrid, I had to drop the humidifier setting from just under halfway to passover (water in tub no heat). I tried no humidification and that was a disaster, but I have 30+ yrs of sinusitis and yr round respiratory allergies. It resulted in an irritated runny nose, dry mouth and throat, and most annoying itchy ears.

Now when the nights are in the low-mid 40s, I have it set just under halfway...cold for us, this temp should be a month away yet! Thanks to visiting kids, I have sniffles right now (first cold one since last winter) and have the hunidifier set just above halfway.

[amos]

I have used the humidifier every night for the three years that I have been on cpap. It keeps my nares and airway passages moist and open.

amos

[harry33]

Ive never used one and I think that unless you mouthbreathe they are probably not needed
IMO the supposed benefits of humidifiers are overpromoted

[junie]

I only use mine when fall comes tell winter is over, once summer is here off,

[teresamichele]

I use it year round, but I have very dry sinuses because my allergy medication is a steroid nose spray.

During the summer I use it without heat, and during the fall I set it on 3 or 4 (out of 6) depending on if I'm congested or not. I haven't had a winter with the machine yet, but I get dried out pretty badly normally, so it might get bumped up even more!

[Uncle_Bob]

Humidifiers are a comfort feature and given the low humidity in some places they are almost a necessity.

Foolishly i tried to go without in Arizona withe only 20% relative humidity. After a a couple of months i started to get several nose bleeds a day as i had dried out my nose so much. I had to have my nostrils cauterized which was very unpleasant. My ENT doc told me to always use the humidifier which i now do.

[Sleepy Taz]

Harry,

If you do not require a humidifier that is great for you but for some of us who have a high pressure the nasal passages get dry and irritated real easy. MY nose will burn and I will also sneeze all day and have a runny nose. The only thing that stops this is using my humidifier. In the summer I run it in passover without the heat and usually have it set on 4 during the winter.

[Pugsy]

I only started therapy the last of May. I quickly found out that I need a good bit of humidity even here where we have a decent relative humidity all the time. If I don't use the humidifier at a setting of at least 3, I get the most awful sneezy, runny nose, major itchy nose and congestion that mimics a major sinus infection. Miserable.....

So looks like I will be a confirmed year round user.

[LinkC]

Every night on "1". I tend to mouth breathe with the Hybrid and get really dry with just passover. #1 seems just right.