Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

[JCWarrior]

Just wondering what everyone does with their left over water each morning?

[icipher]

personally, I leave it in.

It's usually a small amount, and it's distilled water so there shouldn't really be an issue.

[Sharrykb]

My DME advised me not to leave water sitting in the unit during the day so I take the water chamber out during the day and put it back at night. I'm not in favor of wasting distilled water that I paid good money for so I don't dump it out.

Although just now as I was typing this it occurred to me that her reasoning behind not leaving water in the unit makes absolutely no sense at all so I'm not sure I will continue taking the water chamber out...

[squid13]

I top mine off every morning and I also leave it in the machine. If I haven't used much I just leave it until it's down some and then top it off.

[Wulfman...]

I've only used heated humidification once or twice in the beginning of my therapy.......didn't like it.......so, I turned it off and have only used "passover" (cool) humidification ever since (nine years).
I actually dumped the water the first morning.......and thought it seemed like a huge waste of good (distilled) water and since then have only added water to the tank and dump the remainder and rinse it a few times a year. I have only taken the tank apart and "cleaned" it......ONCE.......two years ago, after seven years of use. Still looked like new. With cool humidification, a gallon of distilled will last me about three months, so a few years ago I decided that that's when I would dump and rinse it.......when I start a new gallon of distilled.

Even if anything "grows" in the water in the HH tank, the water molecules are too small to carry any pathogens out of the water to you. They stay behind in the tank. So, there's nothing to worry about in that regard.

Make up your own mind and find the routine you feel comfortable with.


Den

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[Julie]

Never heard of anyone taking the tank out every day unless they need to refill it... doesn't achieve a thing except to raise the possibility of messing up some way. And I only use it once in a blue moon anyhow.

[sc0ttt]

I've only been on CPAP for a couple months and I figured out how much I need per night - usually there's only a little puddle left in the morning. First gallon lasted me about 6 weeks.

[LSAT]

My DME advised me not to leave water sitting in the unit during the day so I take the water chamber out during the day and put it back at night. I'm not in favor of wasting distilled water that I paid good money for so I don't dump it out.

Although just now as I was typing this it occurred to me that her reasoning behind not leaving water in the unit makes absolutely no sense at all so I'm not sure I will continue taking the water chamber out...

Many of the things the DME tells you make no sense

[Captain_Midnight]

Remove tank, empty, and set to dry on a clean towel. That is what I do each morning when I choose to humidify (I do not always).

The reason? Various bacteria and fungi can grow on plastics, some of which are pathogens, or can support pathogens. (Think Legionnaires' disease here, but there are others.)

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[StuUnderPressure]

I top mine off every morning and I also leave it in the machine. If I haven't used much I just leave it until it's down some and then top it off.

That is exactly what I do also.

Every 2 weeks, I throw out the remaining water, wash the tank & replace it with new distilled water.

I figure I am somewhere in between the "clean junkies" and the "if it don't bite me on the ass, how much harm can it do" folks.

[jencat824]

I'm one the 'if it don't bite me...' folks. I top off my humidifier 1-2 times a week. I probably need to dump occasionally but haven't gotten around to it.

[The Latinist]

I'm not yet at a week, but so far using a humidifier setting of 4 on my S9 I've had just an ounce or so left in the morning. I dump that out when I fill the tank at night before bed. I find it smells stale if I don't.

[Drowsy Dancer]

I top 'er off. I like the humidity set at maximum so I add new water almost every other day.

When the tank runs dry, or I've been using tap water because I've been traveling, I give the insides of the tank a vinegar soak--maybe every two weeks or so.

[wlenz]

I would rather pay a few extra cents by replacing the water every day, than take a chance of getting sick from dirty water. The air flowing into the tank is filtered, but not very well. Even a HEPA filter lets small particulates through. I add, from experience, the amount of water I will use each night. Dump excess in the morning. Allow the trank to dry during the day, rinse in the evening and add fresh water. I also sterilize the tank, hose, mask, and sponger filter every Sunday with warm water/white vinegar and a few drops of soap. Everything fits into a Dutch Oven and I let it soak for 1/2 hour. I do this in the morning so parts will dry before evening.
Bill

[library lady]

I rarely have any water left in the tank come morning... this winter's polar vortex here in Minnesota made the air very dry so in the winter it runs completely dry, I take the tank out of the machine, rinse it and let it air dry. Recently when the weather started getting more like spring, I would find the bottom of the tank just barely covered with water.. so I just go ahead and follow my normal habit of rinsing. Weather's a little cooler now than last week, but when summer comes I'll probably notice a difference in water level and maybe change my habits a little until winter comes again. Once a week I do wash the tank and hose with dish water and a little vinegar. I can get a gallon of distilled water for 89 or 99 cents, depending on where I shop, and a gallon lasted a week this winter. We each have to follow our own sensibilities when it comes to cleaning our gear.