What is your take on daily emptying of your humidifier?

[Jaylee]

My Dad just got off the phone with the DME who insisted that the whole world would come to an end if he didn't empty his humidifier tank daily and refill with distilled water

I only empty mine maybe twice a week.

What is your method and why? I am taking an informal poll, of sorts

[potholerepairman]

Empty mine daily only cause its put away in the cabinet below where its used so as not to drip water everywhere.It seems wasteful as I am using passthru only and very little to no water is missing when its dumped every morning.Refuse to pay for bottled water but the machine gets it, go figure.

[rested gal]

I empty mine about twice a year. Yes... "a year."

I use only distilled water and just add more as needed.

Been doing it that way for at least five years with no problem. But that's what works for me -- so far. Doesn't mean it's the way others should do it. Everyone has to make their own decision about what they think best with their own equipment.

Hope all is going well for your father, Jaylee! He's lucky to have you helping him.

Here are some more discussions about the varied "cleaning" routines many people have for their cpap equipment:

Cleaning CPAP Equipment
topic started by forumadmin - April 2005
viewtopic.php?p=18245#p18245

More-Sterile/Easier-Cleaning Process?
topic started by bozmon - February 2005
viewtopic.php?p=7811#p7811

Cleaned my mask now it leaks
topic started by gerrys - June 2007
viewtopic.php?p=184829#p184829

Cleaning water tank
topic started by seernst - June 2008
viewtopic.php?p=275976#p275976

Weekly Mask Cleaning---OverKill ???
topic started by DannyP - August 2008
viewtopic.php?p=293520#p293520

THE HOSE - TO DISINFECT OR NOT TO DISINFECT ?
topic started by Marietjie - March 2009
viewtopic.php?p=352004#p352004

How often do you clean your hose?
topic started by Juliebove - April 2009
viewtopic.php?p=361594#p361594

Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Tank?
poll started by NeedSomeAir - September 2009
viewtopic.php?p=405431#p405431

[LinkC]

I use about half a tank per night (at least in the winter when the humidity is low). I top it off each night before going to bed. Is your Dad's DME SELLING him DW? Why else would he pour perfectly good water down the drain?

[sleepycarol]

I am like RestGal and only top mine off. Don't empty it unless I am moving the machine around and don't want to take a chance on water entering it. Otherwise just top it off. I do use distilled water as it is cheap and never have had any build up that I can see.

But then I am lax on my whole cleaning routine. I don't remember the last time I actually cleaned my mask thoroughly.

I think each of us needs to do what we are comfortable with. For me, my routine works. For others, especially those with compromised immune systems, regular cleaning maybe warranted.

[rosiefrosie]

I have to think if I even do it twice a year. I'm with rested gal, I hardly ever empty my humidifier water and have had no problems, but everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with.

rosie

[xiola]

I just want to say.. i love you guys.

when i got my equipment from the DME and she went over the many daily cleaning, monthly cleaning, weekly cleaning. i was all... umm. yeah. no.

i know me. I'm not gonna do that. just, not gonna happen.

i wipe off my mask every morning. i TRY to change the filters on the machine on schedule and i just top off the humidifier tank with distilled water.

im happy to hear that I'm not going to have the cpap police banging down my door to reclaim my abused equipment!

[ufo13]

I also just clean the tank once or twice a year! In between just add distilled water as needed! The more you can simplify things in applying this therapy the better IMO!


All the best,
Steve,
ufo13

[Babette]

I don't empty my tanks. I have 3 Respironics machines - an M Series Auto, and two Plus "tanks". I just refill them every day with Distilled Water. When I feel like doing a big clean - maybe once a year - I wash them. But so far, no fungal growth.

When I travel, I just use tap water, and empty and draw the tank daily as I move around. If I'm stationary, I don't empty the tank, just refill it.

I usually clean the tank thoroughly when I get home, just to get out any mineral deposits. So far, so good.

Cheers,
Barbara

[bailachel]

When I am home, I just top mine off with more distilled water as needed. However, I travel for work 2-3 times per month, and that is a different story. Obviously, the tank gets emptied pre-travel. I also empty it every day in the hotels because I often end up using tap water. In addition, I don't want to take the risk that the housekeeper will inadvertently jostle the machine and spill the water from the tank into the CPAP. I could just remove the tank, but....

[Gerryk]

I empty mine daily. I do use tap water too. I have a few reasons why I empty it.

1. I don't like water sitting around in an open container.
2. I don't leave my humidifier chamber in the machine, I have kids and sometimes the dogs are accidently let loose and may bump the machine, then my machine is shot.
3. I like to let it dry out, then I can tell if it needs to be cleaned.
4. It's a good habbit for me to get into daily, because every third day I take my machine to the firehouse with me.

Gerry

[rjjayrt]

The therapist in me want to say you clean your equipment as instructed, the realist and xpap user in me says nope. I really think its an individual thing, depends on the environment the machine is in. I instruct my patients per the manufacturers instructions, then I tell them how I do it. I let them decide based on there environment.

[BrownEyes]

i fill my humidifier every two days. i have too, the water is just about, or empty

Distilled Water only for me

[reitzell]

I empty mine every night... just seems to be a potential breeding ground for problems- a fluid that sits at at room temperature and I am pretty good at guessing about what amount is needed and just adding a little bit more so we are only talking about a couple of ounces of water anyways.

[Muse-Inc]

I'm of the wash daily ilk and spray with vinegar before final rinse. Got pink slime once in the heat of summer and completely freaked. But, I live the hot humid South (well, during summer 'cause we're doing a good job of pretending to be an up North winter right now!), so your needs may vary based on your environment.