Humidifier chambers to empty or not to empty

[Gerryk]

I have seen several people post that they leave the water in their humidifier tank and leave that in their humidifier daily.

I remove mine daily, dump it out rinse it and set it out to dry.

I do this for a couple reasons such as always afraid one of the kids would bump it and water would get into the cpap, something would start to grow in the tank, and I just like fresh water in it daily.


Yes, I use distilled water and usually most of it is gone in the am so I am not wasting a lot of water.

Just curious to see what other people do and why.

[RandyJ]

I experimented with dumping the tank every 3rd day (as others said they did) and just topping off with distilled water in between, but I started to get a pinkish growth in the tank so I went back to emptying daily and letting dry. Seems to be much safer.

[Kitatonic]

Both my husband & I empty the humidifier daily,air dry without soap or vinegar rinses. Although the DME sends a new humidifier after six months,we're using the same humidifier after 8 months as there is no deposits or scum. I use the leftover distilled water to rinse off my silicone pillows, nasal mask cushion or Gecko pad as this seems to retain their shapes because our city water is very hard.

[lagasan]

Wash and air dry every day. I add some vinegar to the soapy water. I don't want to breathe mold or bacteria. I have Addison's Disease and like to avoid illness. I mean a simple bladder infection landed me in intensive care with an adrenal crisis. So I am overly cautious.

I include the hose in the washing each weekend.

I wash my nasal pillows daily as well, but no vinegar.

Anne

[jweeks]

Hi,

When I use my M-Series BiPAP Auto, I always dump the water every day. The water tank splits in 2 very easy, so it is easy to wipe and dry it. I generally only use this machine for travel, so I don't want to leave it sitting in a hotel room with water, or accidentally pack it up with water still in it.

With my S8, I generally top off the water every day, and dump it once a week or so. The stock tank that came with it doesn't open, so it is difficult to dry it out or even get it fully empty. I have a replacement tank that does open, but I still am in the habbit of just topping it off. I only use distilled water to lessen the risk, and if I am sick, I dump it every time I use it.

-john-

[Linus]

I have had the same humidifier since 2008. I am using water that I distill at home. I top off the chamber each night and rarely clean it. I had a small amount of pink about a year ago when I was travelling ( no distiled water ). There have been no issues other than the one pink episode.

[KSMike]

I've wondered about this as well.

My F&P chamber goes about 2 days on a fill during the winter and 3 during the summer and if I dumped it every day I'd be wasting a lot of money (over time) on distilled water. Since I haven't had any (apparent) problems in 3 years, I continue to use it up until it needs refilled. When it doesn't have enough left for another night, if it's pretty low I dump whatever is left before refilling. If there's nearly enough left for another night, I just top it off.

[GumbyCT]

I experimented with dumping the tank every 3rd day (as others said they did) and just topping off with distilled water in between, but I started to get a pinkish growth in the tank so I went back to emptying daily and letting dry. Seems to be much safer.

The pink slime is an indication that tap water came in contact with the tank at some point. Did you use tap water, prob to "clean" the tank?

My experience has been no tap, no slime, no problems.

[RandyJ]

The pink slime is an indication that tap water came in contact with the tank at some point. Did you use tap water, prob to "clean" the tank?

Yes, at the time I was cleaning the tank with tap water and dish soap, followed by vinegar/water soaks. But I never filled the tank with anything but distilled water.

I still use tap water to rinse my tank and let it dry daily, and don't have any problems.

Regarding the wasting of water (KS Mike), if you measure how much water you need for the night (3/4 cup or 1 cup), you can put just that amount into the water chamber and in the morning there will be very little to dump out.

[diamethia]

Should we use distilled water to wash the tanks?

I have to empty mine on Mondays to travel and it gets empty again on Wednesday when I head home and I wash it Saturday Morning. My dme told me to use a little dish soap and hot water to clean it. Is this ok or should we use something else?

[GumbyCT]

I still use tap water to rinse my tank and let it dry daily, and don't have any problems.

Apparently, allowing it to dry is killing off the bacteria that were transferred via the tap water.

Never touching tap water has the same effect

Tho I don't like my things to sit out open in the room ALL day exposed to other bacteria, IF they never get inside they never grow. So I just use distilled and never go near the tap water, well 'cept to drink or shower.

[nanwilson]

Don't empty mine, just keep refilling with distilled water every night. Clean it out and air dry once every month or two.

[Maxie]

I was keeping my tank topped off with distilled water and washing thoroughly with vinegar and water monthly. The key word is was because I discovered sort of a very thin dark slime on the tank bottom. I could only get my little finger down into the tank to feel it and push through it so I knew I was really seeing it. I immediately washed out the tank with vinegar and took it outside to dry in the sunlight. Now I empty it daily. I'm getting a tank that I can open and put in the dishwasher for myself for mothers' day.

[lazer]

On a related note, I have well water which is a little heavy on "iron" and maybe calcium - as in leaves the rust stains in tub, toilet, fixtures, ect... It is tested "safe" as far as drinking, ect... My question, is it safe to wash humidifier and accessories with well water? I do use only "Distilled" water as far as filling the humidifier.

[Mary Z]

I confess (confess because this is not recommended) that I just top off the water every night and wash every ten days. I use RO water.