THE HOSE - TO DISINFECT OR NOT TO DISINFECT ?

[Uncle_Bob]

Having a "DUH" moment.......I should have looked at the picture in the link to your humidifier, first.
Looks like yours has a dial, too.

Den

yes mine has the dial. I'll check my manual tonight.

[rested gal]

I've never "cleaned" my humidifier tank (in almost 4 years). I've always used distilled water, but don't use heated humidification....I like it cool (called "passover"). Most of the time I just add water to my tank about every third night and after a period of months, I'll let it get down a ways and then dump the remainder and rinse it out with hot tap water and refill with distilled.

I use heated humidification turned down low. I just keep adding more distilled...about every third night too before adding more to get it up to the fill line again. Same routine as Den: months of topping it off before dumping it out, giving it a brief rinse (I don't even use hot water for the rinse) and starting over.

[roster]

The hose I am using is over two years old and has never been cleaned. Humidifier is about 18 months old and has never been cleaned.

But then, look at me:

[Raj]

Ah, Rooster, just think what kind of shape you'll be in when you finally hit puberty in a few years....

[builta]

I've never "cleaned" my humidifier tank (in almost 4 years). I've always used distilled water, but don't use heated humidification....I like it cool (called "passover"). Most of the time I just add water to my tank about every third night and after a period of months, I'll let it get down a ways and then dump the remainder and rinse it out with hot tap water and refill with distilled.

I use heated humidification turned down low. I just keep adding more distilled...about every third night too before adding more to get it up to the fill line again. Same routine as Den: months of topping it off before dumping it out, giving it a brief rinse (I don't even use hot water for the rinse) and starting over.

Hey thanks again Rested Gal--two times in one thread! Summary: You don't need to clean your XPAP hoses or Humidity tanks. This will save me time and effort!

If we could just find a way to not have to clean the mask seals.

[RipVW]

I've never "cleaned" my humidifier tank (in almost 4 years).
By the way, my humidifier tank still looks like new (or at least, very close).

Den

I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

[Guest]

I've been having my insurance give me a new hose every month. I was under the impression they were germ factories thus the need to change them often. Noticed today they are charging my insurance $80 for a 6' hose. After reading this stuff, I guess I'll call them and change that frequency to every 3 or 6 months instead.

[Wulfman]

I've never "cleaned" my humidifier tank (in almost 4 years).
By the way, my humidifier tank still looks like new (or at least, very close).

Den

I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

Don't know, Rip. By chance are you using any essential oils or anything like that?
I've always gotten my distilled water at Wal-Mart. Maybe try a different source?
Any other environmental factors (air quality) in the area you live that could be leaving "deposits" in your water?

Den (grabbing at straws)

[Wulfman]

I've been having my insurance give me a new hose every month. I was under the impression they were germ factories thus the need to change them often. Noticed today they are charging my insurance $80 for a 6' hose. After reading this stuff, I guess I'll call them and change that frequency to every 3 or 6 months instead.

EVERY MONTH??? Just out of curiosity, how much does your insurance actually PAY for the hoses? Sometimes the billed amount and the actual paid amount are not the same. Are you paying co-pays? Deductibles? If you were to calculate what you actually PAY in addition to what your insurance pays, you could probably get stocked up with hoses to last a LONG time by just buying a few online. About four years ago, the going rate for hoses at the DMEs was about $50 - $60.

Just remember that we ALL are paying for these outrageous prices for healthcare costs......whether it's an $80 hose at a DME or a $20 aspirin at a hospital (probably alot more by now). And, the reason they're so high is because they can get away with charging those prices because the insurance entities (including Medicare/CMS) can just keep increasing OUR premiums to pay for them.

Den

[talktobon]

My DME told me last week to just wash the hose/mask/humidifer with mild dishwashing soap once a week, and skip the vinegar. He said vinegar is old school and no one needs to do that as long as you wash it. I'll try that route for awhile.

[RipVW]

I've never "cleaned" my humidifier tank (in almost 4 years).
By the way, my humidifier tank still looks like new (or at least, very close).

Den

I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

Don't know, Rip. By chance are you using any essential oils or anything like that?
I've always gotten my distilled water at Wal-Mart. Maybe try a different source?
Any other environmental factors (air quality) in the area you live that could be leaving "deposits" in your water?

Den (grabbing at straws)

Thanks, Den! Not using any essential oils now, not aware of any air quality issues (but who knows!). I think I'll try a different brand/source of distilled water.

[Paul56]

I've never "cleaned" my humidifier tank (in almost 4 years).
By the way, my humidifier tank still looks like new (or at least, very close).

Den

I use passive/no heat as well, and I use only distilled water. But, after a few weeks my humidifier tank actually gets an orangish scum inside the tank!? Wonder why mine needs to be cleaned, gets that scum going. It's actually very slimmy, has to go! Maybe I'm getting contaminated distilled water (get the gallon jugs at the grocery store).

I purchased my distilled at the pharmacy... and have a stash of distilled after getting caught a couple of times with the pharmacy out of stock!

Check the label... mine says "Mineral Salts: 0 PPM Fluoride Ions: 0 PPM".

Wish I could find Double-Distilled water.

[RipVW]

Thanks, Paul! I'll try the pharmacy brand next time. And, I've been thinking about getting one of those home distillers. They are around $100, though, so that's over 100 gallons before breaking even. But, if it provides a cleaner/purer distilled water, I just might go for it.

Update: Well, I just went for it—ordered a home distiller. After reading about the potential benefits of this water for other uses, I decided to order. Ordered this one:
http://www.a1-water-distiller.com/a-ss-outside.htm

[Marietjie]

Distilled water? - Instead of using distilled water I buy RO3 Ozonated oxygen enriched water - and love it !
(this is also our drinking water) I put just enough water for one night in humidifier. I found that if I fill up the tank to its maximum, I get a blocked, stuffy nose the next day. May sounds funny but this is my experience. I wash the tank once a week and have never found any residue in tank whatsoever ! This water is much, much cheaper than distilled water in RSA.
If you can find this kind of water over there, give it a try.

[tomjax]

I probably wash my hose about once a year.

Any I always scratch my head when people ask about drying the hose.
Many use HH to humidify the air they breathe and then want to dry the hose.

Any moisture in the hose would only aid in adding humidity,

But I get confused easily anyway.