S9 ASV adapt humidifier running dry - help!

[Bright Choice]

I have never had a problem with insufficient water in humidifier tank with S9 autoset. Now with new S9 asv adapt, I ran out of water early one morning and my nose was really plugged up. I filled the tank to "max" and took a nap, then slept for the night. I don't know what time it ran out of water but the total run time for that day was 9 hours 20 minutes. In the am when I went to empty the humidifier tank it was already empty. I guess there would be additional blower time added in because the S9 blows for a while to cool off after it is shut off, so it would have had additional blower time after the nap.

When I was at sleep lab one of the techs asked if I ever had any problem with the S9 autoset because of the small humidifier - I said no. It makes me think that maybe they are running into that problem.

I was running S9 at 7cm, the adapt is running at 15-19 so it makes sense that more water would be used, but enough to dry it out???

I am running with Climateline hose and temp of 72 degrees. Would changing the temperature make any difference?

Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!

[ignorant1]

That's NOT normal. My S9 Adapt uses just about the same amount of water as the S9 Autoset, the higher pressures of the ASV unit not making much of a difference.

72 degrees is lower than the factory default setting. Are you using it in the "climate control" mode, or do you have the humidifier set manually? (temperature & humidity level adjusted seperately.) Are you experiencing any condensation, aka "rainout"? That extra water has to be going somewhere; it's not just magically disappearing.

[Bright Choice]

That's NOT normal. My S9 Adapt uses just about the same amount of water as the S9 Autoset, the higher pressures of the ASV unit not making much of a difference.

72 degrees is lower than the factory default setting. Are you using it in the "climate control" mode, or do you have the humidifier set manually? (temperature & humidity level adjusted seperately.) Are you experiencing any condensation, aka "rainout"? That extra water has to be going somewhere; it's not just magically disappearing.

Darn it. Guess I better check the machine to make sure it is not wet. My table is not wet, nor is the inside of the humidifier. Hmmm...

I think that I will also try using the humidifier that came with my autoset to see if it uses more water when attached to the adapt.

I am using it in the "climate control" mode so all I do is set the temperature. Nope, no rainout. I had the autoset also set to 72 degrees.

Thanks for the input. I have to do some experimenting.

[DaveMunson]

Are you running air conditioner a lot and keeping the bedroom cool?
Mouth breathing?

I have mine set to 72 also and it still goes through a lot of water. Almost a full tank every night. When you set the temp, that is the temp sensed at the hose end ain't it? Even though the hose is heated, I have a cozy on my tube. Try a hose cozy around the end of the hose and see if that helps.

[Bright Choice]

Are you running air conditioner a lot and keeping the bedroom cool?
Mouth breathing?

I have mine set to 72 also and it still goes through a lot of water. Almost a full tank every night. When you set the temp, that is the temp sensed at the hose end ain't it? Even though the hose is heated, I have a cozy on my tube. Try a hose cozy around the end of the hose and see if that helps.

No air c, room is in 60's at night as it is cool in mtns. Everything is same as with autoset. I have a half length cozy but that is same as with autoset. With autoset I could fill it 2/3 full and I would have water left in am. Maybe that is the one that is not working right???

edit - no, no mouth breathing.

[JohnBFisher]

What's the relative humidity in your area? If I remember correctly, you are in Arizona, though in the mountains as you note. It is possible with a low relative humidity it runs dry faster than it would for others.

So, why does it run dry faster than the Autoset version of the S9? Well, it all has to do with the ASV part of the therapy. Even the Autoset (which changes pressure within a range) will not increase the pressure as much or as far as the ASV unit. The result with increased pressure is increased uptake of the water vapor. Thus it will use more water in the humidifier.

Feel free to talk with your DME (and I do recommend that, they may have different suggestions), but I suspect you have two basic options.

First, and probably the easiest if you like the current humidity settings, you can increase the humidity in your room / house. A humidifier in the room will help increase the overall humidity of the air intake to the machine. This will reduce the evaporation within the water chamber on the S9 ASV unit.

Second, you could play around with the humidity settings and see if you can tolerate a lower setting. This will reduce the evaporation of the water from the water chamber.

Hope those ideas help.

[Bright Choice]

What's the relative humidity in your area?

I'm in Colorado - it is very dry.

So, why does it run dry faster than the Autoset version of the S9? Well, it all has to do with the ASV part of the therapy. Even the Autoset (which changes pressure within a range) will not increase the pressure as much or as far as the ASV unit. The result with increased pressure is increased uptake of the water vapor. Thus it will use more water in the humidifier.

Makes perfect sense.

Feel free to talk with your DME (and I do recommend that, they may have different suggestions), but I suspect you have two basic options.

First, and probably the easiest if you like the current humidity settings, you can increase the humidity in your room / house. A humidifier in the room will help increase the overall humidity of the air intake to the machine. This will reduce the evaporation within the water chamber on the S9 ASV unit.

Second, you could play around with the humidity settings and see if you can tolerate a lower setting. This will reduce the evaporation of the water from the water chamber.

Hope those ideas help.

Yes, those ideas really help. First I will just see if it runs out of water again. I am not a nap person, so that one day of napping may have just put it over the edge. I will talk to the dme, just to see what they say. Yes, I could change the humidity settings, but I love the climateline - I don't even need to think about rainout or humidity. Last night I filled the reservoir to barely on the high side of the "max" level. Probably not more than 1/8 inch - not good, water started to spit into the climateline tube. If I need to make some changes, I am thinking about how I could provide more moisture just at the intake by the filter of the S9.

Thanks for your help!

[LittleRedTruck]

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but I must. Are the tanks the same size ? Volume? If so and no leaks. Then the amount of water used is a function of volume of air passed through the reservoir and humidifier temperature. Was your mask leaking a large leak. Were you breathing harder, faster than before while sleeping. Did you wake up light headed, maybe over ventilated, tired from keeping up? I think it must be somehow related to air volume or humidifier temperature . Dan in Minn

[Bright Choice]

Sorry to ask a dumb question, but I must. Are the tanks the same size ? Volume? If so and no leaks. Then the amount of water used is a function of volume of air passed through the reservoir and humidifier temperature. Was your mask leaking a large leak. Were you breathing harder, faster than before while sleeping. Did you wake up light headed, maybe over ventilated, tired from keeping up? I think it must be somehow related to air volume or humidifier temperature . Dan in Minn

Yes, same size tank, same volume. A little more leaking that night (16.8 L which is below 95%) than on autoset (usually very close to zero) - so no, not a large leak. I don't know what my respiratory rate was pre asv but it was 17 bpm that night. No sense of breathing discomfort. First 2 nights I woke with a slight headache. I think that is a process of adapting. No headache last 2 days.

[ignorant1]

Very low humidity will obviously play a role in greater water usage, but what's strange is the significant difference between the two units. You should definitely try the other H5i on your ASV machine.

FYI, I do recall reading somewhere that Resmed does not recommend using a hose cover over the climateline hoses. Not really sure why, it's not as though the hose gets very warm at all. However, it could have to do with the expected amount of heat loss through the hose wall; a difference from expected values could theoretically screw up their humidity algorithm, but that really seems like picking nits...

[Bright Choice]

You should definitely try the other H5i on your ASV machine.

Will do.

FYI, I do recall reading somewhere that Resmed does not recommend using a hose cover over the climateline hoses. Not really sure why, it's not as though the hose gets very warm at all. However, it could have to do with the expected amount of heat loss through the hose wall; a difference from expected values could theoretically screw up their humidity algorithm, but that really seems like picking nits...

Yes, I read that too. I was leery but others say they are doing that so I thought I'd give it a try. I just ordered a "Hozer" hose mgmt system so I think then I can omit the hose cover. Actually, I will just omit it now. I have only used it about a week or so.

[LittleRedTruck]

Just wondering if your any closer to a solution to your dry humidifier problem. Dan

[Bright Choice]

Just wondering if your any closer to a solution to your dry humidifier problem. Dan

Last night I used same humidifier. No nap that day. Slept 8.5 hrs and there was water left, but not much. At least it did not go dry. I will try my other humidifier but I think it is as others have pointed out, just the greater volume of air going through the humidifier. It doesn't have much reserve if one sleeps a long time.

Thanks for asking!

[ozze_dollar]

I have the same equipment and my water lasts 3 days.

[JohnBFisher]

I have the same equipment and my water lasts 3 days.

I suspect the difference is the relative humidity for the area. I've seen over one foot of snow evaporate (not melt) in one afternoon in that area of the USA. It's essentially a high desert. A humidifier for CPAP can use a lot of water in that area.