Cause of moisture in mask?

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:33 pm

I've been curious about this for awhile, so will ask!

Do those who have moisture in their masks also use a full-face mask?
Could the moisture be a result of mouth-breating?

(Or do some people just exhale more "hot air"?) Sorry, but how else does one ask THAT question?!!? .

ColoZZZ · Post by **ColoZZZ** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:41 pm

The moisture is a result of condensation that occurs when the warm, moist air blows through the hose and mask. Its the same process that occurs in distillation.

If you can adjust your heater setting in the humidifier, that could help. I've heard that there are also hose covers that insulate the hose which I plan to get when I get my setup going.

good luck!

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 1:58 pm

ColoZZZ:

I don't have that problem, or any condensation problem. Others know why.

The question was brought about from reading that some DON'T have hose condensation (rainout), but DO have mask moisture.

Thanks anyway!

Sleepless_in_LM · Post by **Sleepless_in_LM** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:09 pm

Offerocker:

I think you are probably on the right track. I recently had surgery, and it has caused me to mouth breathe a lot more (Hybrid mask). I certainly have much more moisture in my mask, but don't have any hose rainout. Never really had mask moisture prior. So anecdotally, I think I can confirm your theory in part.

Yesterday was my first day home and I spent a good part of the evening sewing a sleeve for my hose because I wanted to crank my humidifier way up. Hindsight is 20/20, but I sure wish I had ordered a comfort sleeve before I went off for surgery... Now I have an old carebear towel hugging my hose, not really my style, but it works. We might have do some business in the future.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:19 pm

you can test against a mirror see it happen, take a piece of tape and put it over the exhaust holes, then hold the mask up to your face and breathe in and out, you should see moisture form in the mask as you exhale and disappear as you inhale. That moisture is coming out of your lungs as you exhale.

You normally don't see that if your mask has what is considered a high CO2 washout rate (reason you tape over the holes). It seems the CPAP manufacturers are changing the way they mfg masks, most of the Respironics interfaces I have tried recently have dead space specifications included with the mask. Most likely from the CSDB study.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:22 pm

Sleepless_in_LM wrote:Offerocker:

I think you are probably on the right track. I recently had surgery, and it has caused me to mouth breathe a lot more (Hybrid mask). I certainly have much more moisture in my mask, but don't have any hose rainout. Never really had mask moisture prior. So anecdotally, I think I can confirm your theory in part.

Ooh - so sorry about your surgery! Hope you're coming along as expected. I DO think that our 'body' air is always warmer - I probably should have worded it that way, in hindsight!

Sleepless_in_LM wrote: Yesterday was my first day home and I spent a good part of the evening sewing a sleeve for my hose because I wanted to crank my humidifier way up. Hindsight is 20/20, but I sure wish I had ordered a comfort sleeve before I went off for surgery... Now I have an old carebear towel hugging my hose, not really my style, but it works. We might have do some business in the future.

Hmmm Carebear towel, eh? Sounds cute to me! . You drum up the business, and I'll make 'em! I'd really like to put some of that 'boa', feathery stuff at the top end - may as well have some entertainment, watching it fluff in the breeze, ha ha.!

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:28 pm

Snoredog wrote: <snip> You normally don't see that if your mask has what is considered a high CO2 washout rate (reason you tape over the holes). It seems the CPAP manufacturers are changing the way they mfg masks, most of the Respironics interfaces I have tried recently have dead space specifications included with the mask. Most likely from the CSDB study.

Interesting, Snoredog! I don't know what the CO2 washout rate is for the Activa or CL2 simple cushion. I usually use the Activa. How many holes does one cover? I know that the Activa seems to REALLY blow OUT a LOT! In fact, I need to lower my ComfortSleeve so that it's out of the way - the air hitting it causes undesirable noise. The exhaust cover for that mask doesn't seem to be able to be 'reversed', to change the direction of the airflow - which would be great for me, anyway. Any ideas?

whatrdreamsmadeof · Post by **whatrdreamsmadeof** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:41 pm

Hi Offerocker,
Let me first say I love the comfort sleeves you made me... I use the breeze nasal interface and get some moisture in that blue triangle piece that holds the nasal pads.......I think it's because the air is warm and that plastic blue piece is so cold... I'd love a comfort sleeve thingy for it but unfortunately that's where the exhaust hole is. So like my pups I too have "wet nose"
Take care......Ellen

JimH · Post by **JimH** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 3:34 pm

most condensation from what I understand comes from the air in the room either being cooler than the heated mist going through the hose and mask or if it is more humid in weather etc. I bought a hose cover off of CPAP.com and it has helped tremendously. A lot of people have purchased the electronic heated hose from Australia. I don't know the site information but I know it around here.

Jim

ColoradoDreamer · Post by **ColoradoDreamer** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 11:42 pm

I use a nasal mask and have significant condensation in the mask. I mark it up to my room being cool, 60 degrees at night. I roll up half a tissue and put it in the mask. It is saturated when I wake up. I made myself a hose cover when I first started and it was wonderful, but that was earlier this fall. I now have to empty some water out of the hose each morning (the section from the headboard to mask).

I should be getting my heated hose in 7 days!

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 3:12 pm

I haven't notice to much condensation in the mask itself, but during the night, the exhaust port "spits" a little - like getting a tiny mist shower - and the water hitting my eyes and face tends to wake me up...

Any suggestions? I don't think my humidifier is to hot - as I still have some dryness issues.

Thanks.

Offerocker · Post by **Offerocker** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 7:51 am

Hoss wrote:I haven't notice to much condensation in the mask itself, but during the night, the exhaust port "spits" a little - like getting a tiny mist shower - and the water hitting my eyes and face tends to wake me up...

Any suggestions? I don't think my humidifier is to hot - as I still have some dryness issues.

Thanks.

Suggestions:
Have your humidifier LOWER than your head.

Questions:
Do you have any water droplets in your hose?
If so, consider covering it, to keep in the heat from your humidifier, so that the ambient/room air does not cool it and cause condensation.
There are several sources of covers for the cpap hoses; I make one, and there's also a heated hose available; do a search on "Aussie" heated hose here.

Sounds like you could be a dangerous bed partner, with the water droplets spitting out!!! . At least it's going OUT, eh?
What mask are you using?
If you fill out your PROFILE with the equipment you're using, others may be able to help with any other problems you may experience.

Hope I've helped some.

Cause of moisture in mask?

Cause of moisture in mask?

wet mask too

ComfortGel - spits from exhaust port...

Re: ComfortGel - spits from exhaust port...