Mystery: my water tray was 80% full this morning

[crab-legs]

I have a Philips Respironics DreamStation CPAP. My humidification is set to 3, out of a scale of 0-5. After 8-9 hours of sleep each night, the water is always all gone or there is just a tiny bit left. This morning, however, the tray was 80% full of water. I checked the humidification level, and it was still set to 3. And also, three nights ago, the tray was also half full when I woke up. These have never occurred before.

I don't think my machine has an ambient humidity sensor.

These are the things which I have done differently recently:

1. Weatherwise, this week it has been unusually cold for August in northern Nevada, where I live. So last night I turned off the air conditioner and ran just the fan, since it was cool enough. I had to wear a jacket last night due to the wind, which is bizarre for August.

2. I also have used a BPS (Battery Power Solutions) battery backup for my CPAP the last 5 nights, plugging the wall AC power into the CPAP batteries and then into the machine.

3. I also switched to regular water the last few days, after having used distilled.

Do I have a bad CPAP? It is 1.5 years old now. Or did one of the three things above cause the change?

I don't want to test it while I am awake, since that will put extra hours of wear on the machine.

Also, I usually don't feel any different in the morning whether I have the humidification turned on or off. There is usually no extra dryness in my nose, so I can't tell if the humidification was working last night. Although if I leave the humidification off for a few weeks, I occasionally get boogers/bugars (spelling?) in my nose.

[LSAT]

I'm sure the machine has an ambient humidity sensor. If the humidity plate is getting warm, the humidifier is working.

[Patriot Partner]

LSAT must be in Mensa.

Profound deduction indeed

[crab-legs]

Thanks guys. I will see if the plate is getting warm.

[Dog Slobber]

The ambient humidity was likely a lot higher, that does two things:

• The sensor in your device will not heat the water as much
• Wet air won't draw as much water from the humidifier as dry air

A/C dries out the air, you haven't been running it lately, that explains why the ambient humidity is a a lot less dry.

[D.H.]

To the OP:

You said that you have a DreamStation in the text. Please add that (and the mask) to your profile.

As far as I know, all humidifier-equipped models of Dream Station have an ambient humidity sensor (which you can theoretically disable).

What you did not say is whether or not you are experiencing discomfort related to "dryness;" at least no in the context of the tank being 80% full (or was that 20% empty?). If not, and assuming the water is above room temperature, you have no issue!

You also didn't mention whether you're using a heated hose.

[Dog Slobber]

As far as I know, all humidifier-equipped models of Dream Station have an ambient humidity sensor (which you can theoretically disable).

What's the difference between disabling and theoretically disabling?

What you did not say is whether or not you are experiencing discomfort related to "dryness."

Yes, he did. He said, "Also, I usually don't feel any different in the morning whether I have the humidification turned on or off. There is usually no extra dryness in my nose"

If not, and assuming the water is above room temperature, you have no issue!

He might.

Assuming his humidifier is no longer working (which I don't think is true). It's not winter, his potential for nose dryness now while the air is more humid, is not the same as in the drier winter.

[chunkyfrog]

Relative humidity in the environment varies greatly.
I have a cheapie hygrometer next to my cpap.
I can tell at a glance the reason for low or high water usage.
PS, I am not a rocket scientist--but frogs know from humidity.

[babydinosnoreless]

Northern Nevada is almost always dry. Spent 15 years there. If its not raining or more humid than normal and if you don't have a house humidifier going maybe you should have your DME check your machine out.

[crab-legs]

Thanks everyone for replying!

UPDATE: this morning my water tray was empty! And the heating plate got hot last night after just a few minutes. Although I didn't run the air conditioner again last night. The other night when little water was used must have been a fluke,

To the OP:

You said that you have a DreamStation in the text. Please add that (and the mask) to your profile.

As far as I know, all humidifier-equipped models of Dream Station have an ambient humidity sensor (which you can theoretically disable).

What you did not say is whether or not you are experiencing discomfort related to "dryness;" at least no in the context of the tank being 80% full (or was that 20% empty?). If not, and assuming the water is above room temperature, you have no issue!

You also didn't mention whether you're using a heated hose.

Ok, I will update my profile. Thanks for your help. And I don't have a heated hose.

I hate to be gross, but I did have a booger (spelling?) this morning, even though the water was all gone from my water tray. I do get those sometimes though even when the humidification is turned on and working.

[crab-legs]

Northern Nevada is almost always dry. Spent 15 years there. If its not raining or more humid than normal and if you don't have a house humidifier going maybe you should have your DME check your machine out.

Good to know that. Where did you live? I live in Carson City, the state's capital.

[babydinosnoreless]

Northern Nevada is almost always dry. Spent 15 years there. If its not raining or more humid than normal and if you don't have a house humidifier going maybe you should have your DME check your machine out.

Good to know that. Where did you live? I live in Carson City, the state's capital.

I was in Silver Springs, out by Lake Lahontan.

[crab-legs]

Northern Nevada is almost always dry. Spent 15 years there. If its not raining or more humid than normal and if you don't have a house humidifier going maybe you should have your DME check your machine out.

Good to know that. Where did you live? I live in Carson City, the state's capital.

I was in Silver Springs, out by Lake Lahontan.

Very nice! I would hate to live in that area though. I drove through it a few times and I think it is mostly a dessert. But I guess Carson City is too, lol!

[D.H.]

I said that you can "theoretically" disable the ambient humidity sensor. because I don't suggest doing that.

If the OP really feels (s) he needs more humidity or just doesn't like the tray being 80% full, (s)he can switch to a heated hose.

[Pugsy]

If the OP really feels (s) he needs more humidity or just doesn't like the tray being 80% full, (s)he can switch to a heated hose.

Huh?

Using a heated hose doesn't mean that a setting of 3 gives more humidity than the setting of 3 with a non heated hose.