humidifier

CowboyDave · Post by **CowboyDave** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:16 pm

I have been on cpap for 1 week. Can someone please tell me the benefits of heating the water in the humidifier? I kind of like the cool air, but if the machine is designed to use heated air...

Thanks,
David

TXKajun · Post by **TXKajun** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:20 pm

Howdy, Dave and welcome to the forum and the wild world of XPAP.

As far as heating up a humidifier, IMHO, it's pretty much a personal decision. For me, in the summer, I tend to like the cool air coming in, but in the winter, if I don't turn on the humidifier, after about 2 hours, it feels like the air is freezing my nose and throat. Soooo, I use the heat during the winter. I've been on an APAP for almost 2 years now.

I'd be willing to bet you're going to get all kinds of answers to your questions, though. It's a good one!

Kajun

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:22 pm

CowboyDave wrote:I have been on cpap for 1 week. Can someone please tell me the benefits of heating the water in the humidifier? I kind of like the cool air, but if the machine is designed to use heated air...

Thanks,
David

Many of us like it cool, too. I think I tried the HH once or twice when I started therapy......decided right away that I didn't like it. I always have water in the chamber, but don't even have the HH plugged in so I won't accidentally turn it on. The cool air keeps my nasal passages open.

Den

oldgearhead · Post by **oldgearhead** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:29 pm

Can someone please tell me the benefits of heating the water in the humidifier?

The air passing through the HH will pick up more moisture if the water is warm.

I always use humidifier heat with my nasal pillow mask, and I never use
the heat with my full-face mask. In either case I always have the heated hose turned on, for comfort.

Jcastle · Post by **Jcastle** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:30 pm

I have also been trying to answer the heated air vs cold air question. From what I have learned the air being supplied will be similar to the ambient room temperature ( + or - a few degrees). I would prefer warm air, but my H3i only warms the water to aid in the humidification process.

I am told there are some heated hoses out there that will "warm" the air as it travels through the hose, but remain skeptical until I hear something definitve.

Hope that helps.

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DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:35 pm

Another perspective answer to your question is that heating the water allows for greater moisture to be taken up by the airflow. If you are not having issues related to dry nasal or throat membranes, then heated water is one less thing you have to worry about.

BTW - another way to increase the amount of moisture in the airflow without increasing the temperature of the water is to increase the water surface area of your humidifier reservoir.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:37 pm

Many people like the humidity in the winter because their nasal passages tend to dry out. So if your nose starts to dry out, hurt, or bleed, then you should use the heated humidifier.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:43 pm

Jcastle wrote:I have also been trying to answer the heated air vs cold air question. From what I have learned the air being supplied will be similar to the ambient room temperature ( + or - a few degrees). I would prefer warm air, but my H3i only warms the water to aid in the humidification process.

I am told there are some heated hoses out there that will "warm" the air as it travels through the hose, but remain skeptical until I hear something definitve.

Hope that helps.

I don't think the heated hose will warm the air signifcantly if at all. The purpose of the heated hose is to warm the hose so that it will not condense the moisture from the humidified airflow.

Jcastle · Post by **Jcastle** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:01 pm

In my earlier thread "Dreaming of Warm Air", some users of the HH have commented that the air seems warmer coming out of the hose. I agree with your assessment of the HH, but was simply trying to pass on what was relayed to me.

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:55 pm

DreamStalker wrote:
Jcastle wrote:I have also been trying to answer the heated air vs cold air question. From what I have learned the air being supplied will be similar to the ambient room temperature ( + or - a few degrees). I would prefer warm air, but my H3i only warms the water to aid in the humidification process.

I am told there are some heated hoses out there that will "warm" the air as it travels through the hose, but remain skeptical until I hear something definitve.

Hope that helps.

I don't think the heated hose will warm the air signifcantly if at all. The purpose of the heated hose is to warm the hose so that it will not condense the moisture from the humidified airflow.]

Dreamstalker, do you have an Aussie Heated Hose? If not, then I'm not sure you are qualified to say it doesn't warm the air coming out of the hose.

If you do have a Heated Hose, then it must be broken. My heated hose blows out warm air.

(all respected said).

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:03 pm

By your standards, you are absolutely correct that I am not qualified to say it does not warm airflow out of the hose since I do not have or use an Aussie hose.

I qualified my statement with the term “significantly” because I made a roughly calculated assumption that -- at 12 volts per 1,000 milliamps, the assumed copper coil within the Aussie hose does not likely put out more than 12 watts of heat energy. I am familiar with the heat generated by a 15 watt light bulb … and when I considered the surface area of the 6-foot (maybe 2-meter?) hose over which the 12 watts is distributed and the rate of airflow through the hose (say about 30 liters per minute) … it just does not seem that the heating of that airflow could be very significant. However, the Aussie hose design is indeed an excellent method of preventing condensation of humidified airflow.

I admit that I am not an electrical engineer (or any kind of engineer for that matter) and therefore my rough calculation could be way off. So, I respectfully stand corrected by the experienced Aussie hose owners/users.

I still think folks who do not have a rainout problem but only wish to mitigate their cold airflow should consider the idea of a $20 space heater over the $120 Aussie hose.

Respectful regards

Fredman · Post by **Fredman** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:23 pm

It would be interesting to see who uses a heated humidifier - the region they live and the relative humidity of the air in their home as it relates to the outside temperature.

The heated humidifier is designed to add mositure to the air. I live in area where in winter we have snow and relative humidity in the air can be low as 30-35%. Humidity is a must for two reasons...one to bring the air coming from the hose to a comfortable level as Linda stated (avoid nose bleeds and nasal dryness) and also to keep the air warm. As stated earlier, in winter the air blowing out can be cold on the ol beak!

Certainly agree with the comment about that the cool air is very refreshing in summer.

ColoZZZ · Post by **ColoZZZ** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:40 pm

I've heard that in the arid Southwest, humidity in a heated home can be as low as 5% to 10%. I'm not sure if what the actual humidity is in my home but I want all the help I can get preventing my sinuses from dessicating.

In dry regions, it would seem like a heated humidifier would be a must in the winter time.

--Andy

pedroski · Post by **pedroski** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:46 pm

Fredman wrote:It would be interesting to see who uses a heated humidifier - the region they live and the relative humidity of the air in their home as it relates to the outside temperature.

The heated humidifier is designed to add mositure to the air. I live in area where in winter we have snow and relative humidity in the air can be low as 30-35%. Humidity is a must for two reasons...one to bring the air coming from the hose to a comfortable level as Linda stated (avoid nose bleeds and nasal dryness) and also to keep the air warm. As stated earlier, in winter the air blowing out can be cold on the ol beak!

Certainly agree with the comment about that the cool air is very refreshing in summer.

When my titration study was done the sleep doc told me that west of the mountains (inland Australia) need a heated humidifier because it is very dry in central Australia. I also like the cool air at the moment (our summer).

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 11:49 pm

I've used the Aussie heated hose for almost three years. Usually with a heated humidifier.

There was a week, however, when I was trying out a BiPAP that did not have an integrated heated humidifier with it. At the time, I had loaned my separate F & P heated humidifier to a friend, so had no heated humidifier at all to use with the BiPAP Auto.

I keep my humidifier turned down very low anyway, so I didn't think much about it. Didn't think it would make any difference to not use a humidifier or the heated hose. I did notice the air felt very cool, but no big deal.

After using the machine for about two hours, the inside of my nostrils began to sting painfully from the cold air. I plugged in the heated hose (don't know why I didn't think to do that to start with...doh!) and within a fairly short time the slight amount of heat in the hose took the chill off just enough that the treatment air was much, MUCH more comfortable.

So, yes...the heated hose will definitely warm the air at least a little, even if a heated humidifier is not being used.

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Additional Comments: Current flow rate is 8 cm

Mask

Additional Comments: Current flow rate is 8 cm

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