Remstar humidifier leaking

[tulajane]

I have a Remstar heated humidifier and it has begun leaking onto the table during the nite!! Now I'm afraid to use it -- don't want to electrocute myself!

I took it off to drain and wash it and that's when the leaking started. The seal on the metal plate looks fine -- the unit is only 1 month old -- it's pushed down securely on the plastic water tank.

Has this happened to anyone else? I miss my humidity!!! Much more comfortable at a 16 setting!

Thanks! tulajane

[Goofproof]

It is under warrenty for 2 year, your DME will replace it, If you use distilled water in it you wont have to remove the bottom and it will be less likely to crack. Jim

[Amigo]

I have a Remstar heated humidifier and it has begun leaking onto the table during the nite!! Now I'm afraid to use it -- don't want to electrocute myself!

I took it off to drain and wash it and that's when the leaking started. The seal on the metal plate looks fine -- the unit is only 1 month old -- it's pushed down securely on the plastic water tank.

Has this happened to anyone else? I miss my humidity!!! Much more comfortable at a 16 setting!

Thanks! tulajane

Tulajane, I have the same humidifier, and it only leaked once when I didn't push down hard enough to reseal it after cleaning. It was only a very tiny gap, but obviously more than enough for the water to very slowly seep out.

Mine has been going strong for 2 + years, and I separate the plastic tank from its base every two weeks when I clean it.

By all means have the DME provider check it out, and replace if defective. I'm only at a pressure of 14, but I cannot imagine using my CPAP without humidification.

[roztom]

I agree with AMigo. Be areful when you replace the bottom with the container. It is easy for it to not seat properly.

You have to "coax" it in there. When I've reseated mine I've been concerned I might break it - I'm gentle but firm.

I also pull mine apart and clean in Vinegar & Distilled water every 2 weeks.

Best,

Tom

[Yoga]

After a year of taking my humidifyer apart weekly, it leaked. DME claimed it was the first one she got back after only a year. Now I only give it the rinse treatment.

[Karla1958]

Yesterday my Remstar heated humidifier leaked all over the desk I had it on. The water went through the platform it sits on and down through the wires and stuff and came out through the vents in the bottom. Have I ruined this thing? I took out the tank and it seemed tightly sealed, but it kept leaking. I finally called the DME and asked if this is normal or did I break it. They said it was okay to use but put a towel under it???? I was worried I'd get electrocuted. But I did what they said and used it last night after washing the tank. And last night it didn't leak. So what on earth could it have been making it leak? And now it doesn't? And will it tomorrow? I can't keep cleaning up this big watery mess. I keep too many important things on my desk and don't want anything ruined by the water leakage. Should I return it? Or not? If they fill it I'd bet it won't leak for them. So, anyone have any suggestions? It is just a loaner humidifier and I don't want to be responsible if it has damage when I return it to them (if I ever do later on.) Or should I return it now and just get a different one? Shouldn't they open the platform and clean out the water and check the wires before they send it back out with me? Maybe the heater part doesn't have enough pressure to keep it from leaking? But last night it was okay? How can a leaking problem be intermittent? I must have done something wrong. I've only had the thing a week.

One more thing quick... I'm going in for a mask fitting today to try and get a new mask from the DME. I hope they exchange it. I paid cash for it and I didn't get a receipt and I was wondering if that will make a difference. I also asked another wonderful mask company to donate a mask for my use. Hooray, they are!! One I think that will fit me correctly. They are sending me a packet with a fitting guide so I get the right size. Thank you KR! I can't wait to get this new mask. I'll let you all know how the new donated mask is once I get it. They are a wonderful small company and I love that about them. They are wonderful compassionate people too, not just a company! I let you all know about it later.

[OutaSync]

Karla,

Is it possible that you may have overfilled the water tank? There is a fill line sticker on it and it is easy to miss. That tank can't be over about 2/3 full. Filling it past the line will cause it to leak once the machine is turned on.

Bev

[6PtStar]

I'm assuming it is the "M" Series. They have had a history of the chamber leaking. The early ones leaked past the "O" ring. The new chambers are suposed to have a larger seal and don't leak as bad. Leaking just one time should not hurt the heater element. Mine leaked so much it rurned the top of my dresser and evently shorted out part of the heating element but it took more than one time. Put a tray (cake pan) under it to catch the leaks and get your DME to replace the chamber with one of the new models. Should have a large back latch and a black seal. It should be OK.

Jerry

[Karla1958]

Nope, it wasn't overfilled. It was right below the line actually. And it wasn't overspill from filling it because I don't fill it on the platform. I was wondering if a single cat hair could have gotten in there to break the seal? Would something so small do that? The cat is shedding something incredible and I can't always see the hair (I need new bifocals badly)! The cat hair theory is the only thing I think that could have happened that I didn't notice.

[Wulfman]

Yesterday my Remstar heated humidifier leaked all over the desk I had it on. The water went through the platform it sits on and down through the wires and stuff and came out through the vents in the bottom. Have I ruined this thing? I took out the tank and it seemed tightly sealed, but it kept leaking. I finally called the DME and asked if this is normal or did I break it. They said it was okay to use but put a towel under it???? I was worried I'd get electrocuted. But I did what they said and used it last night after washing the tank. And last night it didn't leak. So what on earth could it have been making it leak? And now it doesn't? And will it tomorrow? I can't keep cleaning up this big watery mess. I keep too many important things on my desk and don't want anything ruined by the water leakage. Should I return it? Or not? If they fill it I'd bet it won't leak for them. So, anyone have any suggestions? It is just a loaner humidifier and I don't want to be responsible if it has damage when I return it to them (if I ever do later on.) Or should I return it now and just get a different one? Shouldn't they open the platform and clean out the water and check the wires before they send it back out with me? Maybe the heater part doesn't have enough pressure to keep it from leaking? But last night it was okay? How can a leaking problem be intermittent? I must have done something wrong. I've only had the thing a week.

One more thing quick... I'm going in for a mask fitting today to try and get a new mask from the DME. I hope they exchange it. I paid cash for it and I didn't get a receipt and I was wondering if that will make a difference. I also asked another wonderful mask company to donate a mask for my use. Hooray, they are!! One I think that will fit me correctly. They are sending me a packet with a fitting guide so I get the right size. Thank you KR! I can't wait to get this new mask. I'll let you all know how the new donated mask is once I get it. They are a wonderful small company and I love that about them. They are wonderful compassionate people too, not just a company! I let you all know about it later.

If your humidifier looks like this one, then my advice would be that if you are taking the tank apart to clean it to....DON'T take it apart. There's a little bit of rubberized sealer near where the plastic top and the bottom of the tank fit together. If the top doesn't get pushed all the way down, it can leak. When putting them back together, it's a good idea to use a flat surface (like a counter top) and push the top all the way down.....then visually inspect it to make sure. As far as the platform that it sits on, as long as you don't use it when it's wet and if you've given it sufficient time to dry out, it probably hasn't been hurt.

Den

[Karla1958]

A black latch and black seal??? This one has an almost clear seal and no kind of latch at all. I don't really know how it stays shut except for the pressure from the heater pushing up on the tank. (I'm so dumb at this, sorry!)

[OutaSync]

Karla,

Den is right. There is no latch and black seal on your tank. I have the same machine that you have. I have never removed my tank from the machine. I fill it up right where it is. Less wear and tear on all of the parts. If you use distilled water, you shouldn't have to take it apart to clean it because it won't be dirty. Same with your hose.

Bev

[Karla1958]

Yup, that huge photo is what I have!!! I do have weak hands, but I do press it against the counter to make sure it is shut. But I may just not be strong enough. I have one heck of a time opening it for cleaning and the DME said it should be washed every day. I sure would like to get out of having to wash it every day! I don't see how the thing gets so dirty that you have to wash it daily.

Thanks everyone for your input.
Karla

[Wulfman]

Yup, that huge photo is what I have!!! I do have weak hands, but I do press it against the counter to make sure it is shut. But I may just not be strong enough. I have one heck of a time opening it for cleaning and the DME said it should be washed every day. I sure would like to get out of having to wash it every day! I don't see how the thing gets so dirty that you have to wash it daily.

Thanks everyone for your input.
Karla

Karla,

I've never taken my original humidifier tank apart in nearly four years (it'll be four years in mid-May)......however I DID take another one apart because I purchased it "used" from someone else (came with a machine) and I wanted to clean it before I stored it away. That's how I know about the rubberized seal near the bottom of the aluminum plate.....so I did get to practice putting it back together.
I use distilled water and only refill when the level gets lower. Occasionally, I'll dump out the remainder, rinse with tap water and refill with more distilled water.

Your DME has probably never had to use one of these machines and is probably being.....um......"overly cautious".
The first morning after I started my therapy, I did dump the rest of the water out and thought....."What a waste!".....and stopped doing that.

Den

[Karla1958]

I've decided I'm not going to take the humidifier back today when I go get fitted for a new mask. It was probably my fault somehow and I'd rather not stress my relationship with the DME people. I don't really want to break in a new one either. The DME office smells incredibly flowery, like they use too much air freshener and all my equipment smelled flowery and it's finally wearing off my machine and humidifier. I don't think they should be using any kind of smelly products there at all, but I guess I'm the only one that feels that way.

Thanks guys and gals, YOU ARE ALL THE BEST! and I apologize for being grouchy and miserable a lot of the time. It's a sleep thing, you know, the pre-CPAP bad sleep or too sleepy grouchies! Sorry for being a real pain.

Karla