Running out of water

[JChester]

My humidifier tank has, occasionally, been running out of water lately. It makes my nose & sinuses extremely uncomfortable for days afterward.
I used to always have 'leftovers' with 1/2 to 2/3 tank, but I've been filling it to the top, every night since but it still sometimes runs dry, before I wake up.
I've tried turning down the humidity level & hose temp and sometimes still can't get 8 hours out of it.
I don't know if it's a problem with my machine or the change of weather (lower temp & humidity) &/or turning on the heat in the house.

Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Perhaps a room humidifier???

[echo]

Have you checked your leak data to see if maybe you're mouth breathing? Do you have a dry mouth/throat in the mornings?

I normally go through a 1/4th to a 1/3rd of a tank on a normal night, but when I get leaks or blow through my mouth tape, there's usually a lot less water left in the tank the next morning.

[Sheriff Buford]

Your humidifier is not suppose to run dry in one night. My humidifier did the same thing several years back. The DME came to my house, picked up mine (for repairs) and left me a loaner until mine was repaired. I ended up going a few nights without a humidifier and I realized I didn't need one. Call your DME and make arrangements to get it repaired.

Sheriff

[Pugsy]

Leaks and pressure used will both affect water usage even if there is no change in the ambient room humidity. Higher leaks and higher pressures will use up more water.
If you have recently turned the furnace on then that will also dry out the ambient humidity that the machine is starting out with...so more water will be consumed.
You may need to add a room humidifier if you can't blame leaks or pressure used.

It wouldn't be impossible for there to be a machine malfunction causing too much water usage but it would be highly unlikely.
Most of the time when the humidifier wants to act up it wants to quit heating and not apply too much heat.
But you might want to alert your equipment supplier as to this recent problem since it is not totally impossible and you may still be within a warranty period.

[chunkyfrog]

Living in an old house, I've learned that water use varies greatly with the season.
In summer, without AC, I use almost no water; with AC, quite a bit more.
In winter, with the furnace running, I use a lot of water. If the relative humidity gets down to 15%,
I barely get 8 hours.

[JChester]

THANKS... for all of your replys & suggestions!

I spoke with my equipment supplier & they suggested much the same as all of you. (Gonna root through the closets, tonight, to find our room humidifier!)
One other thing they mentioned was that I may have been overfilling my 'water chamber', potentially causing damage to it.

So... I did some research & found that the aluminum-base 'standard water chamber' I have, should be replaced every 6 months or so. DUH!!!
Mine's almost a year old & it's looking kinda funky around the seals. Multiple cleaning attempts haven't seemed to help much. Maybe the seals are shot & leaking moisture!

So... I ordered a new "Dishwasher Safe Water Chamber for H5i™ Heated Humidifier". It had great reviews & was $10 more than the same one I've been using since I got my CPAP.
Stainless instead of aluminum, 3-piece instead of 2-piece. Maybe it will hold up longer, but I won't take any chances!
Now that I know this piece is expendable, I'll be replacing it (even the 'better one') twice a year!!!

It'll be here Friday! (Thank you, cpap.com!)