Debris in my Humidifier

SmokeChaser426 · Post by **SmokeChaser426** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 5:45 pm

I have just recently been finding debris particles in my humidifier tank. I usually just top it off for a week or so
and then clean and refill with fresh distilled water. I change my air filter once a month. I wash my headgear and
hose once a month. What am I missing or is this normal. I read the posts pretty often and it seems my cleaning
schedule is about normal with most of the people posting cleaning and maintenance questions and responses.
Distilled water here is 88 cents a gallon so it isn't a big deal to change it out, but should I be changing my air filter
more often?
G

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 5:53 pm

OTR truck driver if I remember right???
If so...are you back in the truck or still stuck at home?
Pets?
What does the debris look like?

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 5:56 pm

You should try doing things right, dump and flush and refill at night. Jim

it's not coming from your filter.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:11 pm

When you wash the tank, only use a NEW or dedicated brush.
Crud from the dishpan can find new life in the tank, once declared "dead".
Alternatively, run your brush through the dishwasher or boil it.
Rinse very liberally.

BlackSpinner · Post by **BlackSpinner** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:42 pm

Most of the "crud" I find in mine is due to calcification when I use tap water. Maybe your distilled water is not very good.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:38 pm

Not all distilled water is the same, even when labeled so.
I only had bad distilled water from the sketchy grocer on the wrong side of town.
My home distilled is fine, as is that from the local Wally world.

SmokeChaser426 · Post by **SmokeChaser426** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 4:41 pm

Thanks everyone. No, I am not back on the road yet. It has been a rough year physically/medically. The torn
Rotator cuff turned out to be an inflammation disease called PMR. Hope to be back together by December after
seeing Arthritis specialist.
Best response I think is low quality Distilled water. At 88 cents a gallon I guess I am getting what I pay for.
To answer a follow up question, I don't think it is calcium, it looked like dust particles. Guess I will clean
water tank more often but every day is not practical at this time.
G

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 4:50 pm

That sounds like a plan.
I get tiny floaty bits, maybe once in a couple weeks, probably just lint from my jammies.
I wash it out in the evening right before bed, no drying is necessary.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 5:36 pm

I use the el cheapo 88 cents a gallon Walmart distilled water and I don't see stuff in it and I don't dump or wash very often at all. I do add water each night (I use up too much to go more than 1 night most of the time) but I keep the water chamber exposure to the environment to a minimum. I don't open the lid except to add water and it gets closed immediately. I don't take the hose off unless I am going on a trip and I have to disassemble everything anyway.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 6:22 pm

SmokeChaser426 wrote:I don't think it is calcium, it looked like dust particles.

you dont mention if you are using filters on your cpap but if you arent that is certainly a point of entry.

i do like pugsy does and dont open it or leave it open for any reason. even when i travel i plug the hoses and cpap so nothing can get in

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Oct 22, 2016 7:45 pm

I always check the tank before bed---ever since I found a dead silverfish there.
Pugsy's plugs sound like a great idea.

SmokeChaser426 · Post by **SmokeChaser426** » Mon Oct 24, 2016 1:00 pm

Good feedback, I disconnect my hose and headgear and hang them up during the day. Sometimes the hose has moisture in it from the humidifier,
I have it set to 3 and it helps my sinuses. The cushions on the headgear feel damp in the morning, could be sweat, I usually wash the cushions
once a week. I generally just open the humidifier tank and top off every afternoon for 10 days and then wash and rinse and dry the tank. Maybe
the cotton cloth is leaving particles, didn't think of that until now. Maybe I should just let it air dry in the future. Yes, I use the little white rip off
filters, usually replace every 2 - 3 weeks. If I could find the right filter material I would cut up my own. 6 filters for $ 11.95 + shipping is ridiculous.
I will leave everything attached and hang the hose on a hanger to let the cushions air out and see if any of those things help.
It took me more than 4 months to come out of my morning Fog. That was the only thing that frustrated me about my therapy. Sleep Apnea must
really mess up a lot of physical, mental and hormonal stuff in your system. Glad I hung in and have developed a good routine. My girlfriend says
I have excellent compliance, 100% and only need 70% for the DOT, she says take a night or week off. The nights I put off putting on my mask just
isn't comfortable anymore. I don't have a name for my mask, but my girlfriend says its my new girlfriend. Funny situation, but being healthy is
what it is all about.
Thanks for everyone's suggestions...

D.H. · Post by **D.H.** » Mon Oct 24, 2016 6:00 pm

I also use the 88¢ per gallon Walmart distilled water. I do not see debris in my tank. The only thing I ever did notice was a burning smell after potty breaks (whether or not I put in on “pre-heat”). That smell never occurs at the beginning of the evening and I’ve never noticed it under other circumstances.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 24, 2016 7:45 pm

SmokeChaser426 wrote:I generally just open the humidifier tank and top off every afternoon for 10 days and then wash and rinse and dry the tank.

why does the humidifier tank have to be dry?
i just put mine back in the cpap. washing/rinsing with tap water and wiping with anything is just an opportunity to transfer germs and/or bacteria each time. leaving things exposed to air dry does the same thing. keep the system closed for a while to see if anything changes for you

markf5018 · Post by **markf5018** » Mon Oct 09, 2017 11:32 am

I have just discovered the same debris in my CPAP. It is an aquamarine color about like salt. I have a Scanning Electron Microscope with EDS and I have looked at this debris and it turns out to be Silicon shards.
I also have had a hack (cough)for about 10 months which made me take a closer look.
I have found this debris, two weeks in a row. It is NOT a filter problem unless you are on a pure sand beach with absolutely no contaminants in the sand, the wind is blowing, you are sleeping outside, and the filter is missing in your CPAP.

The professionals better take a close look. I will post my Make and model tomorrow.

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Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: Auto PAP; 13.5 cmH2O min - 20 cmH2O max