Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.

Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Poor the ramining water out each morning.
27
28%
Leave it in the humidifier.
69
72%
Poor it back in the container and use another time.
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 96

HoseCrusher
Posts: 2744
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 6:42 pm

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by HoseCrusher » Sun May 04, 2014 7:01 pm

Den, Correct. The article was done with older machines. I did my testing with the S8. It looks like the redesign may have needed some additional redesigning...

_________________
Mask: Brevida™ Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Machine is an AirSense 10 AutoSet For Her with Heated Humidifier.
SpO2 96+% and holding...

User avatar
Drowsy Dancer
Posts: 1271
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:35 am
Location: here

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Drowsy Dancer » Sun May 04, 2014 7:56 pm

xyz wrote:> I am curious about the number of documented cases of a CPAP user getting any sort of infection from their own water tank.

Wrong question. Lots of people get sick -- talking in general here -- and never get it "documented."

Here's a little science:

humidity + heat + darkness = mildew/mold
(if not cleaned)

Think about your shower.
Anecdata =/= science.

Also, correlation =/= causation.

Do people who take showers get sick more often?

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Swift™ FX Bella Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgears
Additional Comments: Software: SleepyHead. Pressure: APAP 9.5 min/11 max, A-Flex x2
How we squander our hours of pain. -- Rilke

Stevoreno_55
Posts: 369
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:28 pm
Location: MS Gulf Coast

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Stevoreno_55 » Sun May 04, 2014 9:14 pm

old dude wrote:I use most of mine every night, leave what's left in the tank all day and top it off before bed the next night.

In 13 months of nightly use, I've washed my tank out once. I think. I empty it out to move my machine or travel by taking the top off, and the tank looks fine. Nothing growing or anything visible that shouldn't be there. I think I washed my tube out once too. I do wash my mask seal thoroughly every day. I've had that rouge fungus grow in my bathroom before so I do have some idea of the kind of stuff to watch out for.

Given I have diabetes my immune system probably isn't the best, but no problems I'm aware of.
In 13 months of nightly use you've washed your water chamber only once? Whoa!!!! Only once in 13 months?


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14

_________________
Mask
Additional Comments: Newly diagnosed pressures as of June 05, 2014 are 22cmIPAP and 18cmEPAP; first diagnosed with OSA in 1999.

old dude
Posts: 643
Joined: Sat Jul 27, 2013 4:08 pm

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by old dude » Sun May 04, 2014 9:17 pm

Stevoreno_55 wrote:
old dude wrote:I use most of mine every night, leave what's left in the tank all day and top it off before bed the next night.

In 13 months of nightly use, I've washed my tank out once. I think. I empty it out to move my machine or travel by taking the top off, and the tank looks fine. Nothing growing or anything visible that shouldn't be there. I think I washed my tube out once too. I do wash my mask seal thoroughly every day. I've had that rouge fungus grow in my bathroom before so I do have some idea of the kind of stuff to watch out for.

Given I have diabetes my immune system probably isn't the best, but no problems I'm aware of.
In 13 months of nightly use you've washed your water chamber only once? Whoa!!!! Only once in 13 months?


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14
That is correct.

And it looks as clean as the first day I used it. Obviously I don't have X-ray vision and can't spot microbes with my naked eye, but I think it's just fine and haven't had so much as a cold.

Stevoreno_55
Posts: 369
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:28 pm
Location: MS Gulf Coast

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Stevoreno_55 » Sun May 04, 2014 10:04 pm

old dude wrote:
Stevoreno_55 wrote:
old dude wrote:I use most of mine every night, leave what's left in the tank all day and top it off before bed the next night.

In 13 months of nightly use, I've washed my tank out once. I think. I empty it out to move my machine or travel by taking the top off, and the tank looks fine. Nothing growing or anything visible that shouldn't be there. I think I washed my tube out once too. I do wash my mask seal thoroughly every day. I've had that rouge fungus grow in my bathroom before so I do have some idea of the kind of stuff to watch out for.

Given I have diabetes my immune system probably isn't the best, but no problems I'm aware of.
In 13 months of nightly use you've washed your water chamber only once? Whoa!!!! Only once in 13 months?


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14
That is correct.

And it looks as clean as the first day I used it. Obviously I don't have X-ray vision and can't spot microbes with my naked eye, but I think it's just fine and haven't had so much as a cold.
Most insurance companies to the best of my knowledge will pay for one new water chamber every 6 months; no need to go a year on the same water chamber if your insurance company will pay for one sooner.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14

_________________
Mask
Additional Comments: Newly diagnosed pressures as of June 05, 2014 are 22cmIPAP and 18cmEPAP; first diagnosed with OSA in 1999.

User avatar
Drowsy Dancer
Posts: 1271
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:35 am
Location: here

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Drowsy Dancer » Sun May 04, 2014 10:28 pm

Stevoreno_55 wrote:no need to go a year on the same water chamber if your insurance company will pay for one sooner.
That is certainly one way to look at it.

Another way to look at it might be: "No need to make your insurance company pay for a new water chamber if the old water chamber is still working fine."

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Swift™ FX Bella Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgears
Additional Comments: Software: SleepyHead. Pressure: APAP 9.5 min/11 max, A-Flex x2
How we squander our hours of pain. -- Rilke

Wulfman...

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Wulfman... » Sun May 04, 2014 10:40 pm

Stevoreno_55 wrote:
old dude wrote:
Stevoreno_55 wrote:
old dude wrote:I use most of mine every night, leave what's left in the tank all day and top it off before bed the next night.

In 13 months of nightly use, I've washed my tank out once. I think. I empty it out to move my machine or travel by taking the top off, and the tank looks fine. Nothing growing or anything visible that shouldn't be there. I think I washed my tube out once too. I do wash my mask seal thoroughly every day. I've had that rouge fungus grow in my bathroom before so I do have some idea of the kind of stuff to watch out for.

Given I have diabetes my immune system probably isn't the best, but no problems I'm aware of.
In 13 months of nightly use you've washed your water chamber only once? Whoa!!!! Only once in 13 months?


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14
That is correct.

And it looks as clean as the first day I used it. Obviously I don't have X-ray vision and can't spot microbes with my naked eye, but I think it's just fine and haven't had so much as a cold.
Most insurance companies to the best of my knowledge will pay for one new water chamber every 6 months; no need to go a year on the same water chamber if your insurance company will pay for one sooner.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14
That's one reason our insurance costs are so damn high! People abusing the insurance system and getting more stuff than they really "need".
And, if a person has a fairly high deductible and never meets it, they're substantially overpaying for everything up to the deductible limit. That doesn't make sense.

I've been using the very same humidifier tank since I started therapy in May of 2005. Other than dumping and rinsing a few times a year, I have only taken it apart ONCE in early 2012 to actually "clean" it.......and it really didn't look like it needed to be cleaned. I only use cool passover humidification and distilled water, so there's really no reason to worry about anything.

I have a total of six HH tanks (all were acquired with new/used machine purchases) and most are unused, waiting for their turn, but all were purchased out-of-pocket. But, as long as the other "originals" are still like new, I see no need to use the spares.


Den

.

Stevoreno_55
Posts: 369
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:28 pm
Location: MS Gulf Coast

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Stevoreno_55 » Sun May 04, 2014 10:45 pm

Drowsy Dancer wrote:
Stevoreno_55 wrote:no need to go a year on the same water chamber if your insurance company will pay for one sooner.
That is certainly one way to look at it.

Another way to look at it might be: "No need to make your insurance company pay for a new water chamber if the old water chamber is still working fine."
The gaskets on the water chamber that goes inside my Philips Respironics DS400S start to dry out quick and I've had one start to leak at 5 months so 6 months has been a good time to replace my machine's water chamber. Other water chambers on other branded machines might last longer but I get a new one for my machine every 6 months and I do not wash my water chamber in my dishwasher because if I did that would certainly speed up the process of drying those gaskets out.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14

_________________
Mask
Additional Comments: Newly diagnosed pressures as of June 05, 2014 are 22cmIPAP and 18cmEPAP; first diagnosed with OSA in 1999.

User avatar
Denial Dave
Posts: 1335
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Denial Dave » Mon May 05, 2014 4:07 am

my H5i came with the cheaper tank.... I purchased the dishawasher safe version about 2 months after I started therapy.

I had to replace it when I dropped it on a tile floor and cracked the top.



My dishwasher safe tank goes into the dishwasher once a month.... the rest of the time, I top off the tank each evening.

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Started at VPAP pressure setting of 20/14.4. I've survived Stage 1 cancer and lost 80+ lbs. Pressure is now 14.5 / 11
if you don't know where you are going... any road will take you there.... George Harrison

Stevoreno_55
Posts: 369
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:28 pm
Location: MS Gulf Coast

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Stevoreno_55 » Mon May 05, 2014 6:49 am

Wulfman... wrote:
Stevoreno_55 wrote:
old dude wrote:
Stevoreno_55 wrote:
old dude wrote:I use most of mine every night, leave what's left in the tank all day and top it off before bed the next night.

In 13 months of nightly use, I've washed my tank out once. I think. I empty it out to move my machine or travel by taking the top off, and the tank looks fine. Nothing growing or anything visible that shouldn't be there. I think I washed my tube out once too. I do wash my mask seal thoroughly every day. I've had that rouge fungus grow in my bathroom before so I do have some idea of the kind of stuff to watch out for.

Given I have diabetes my immune system probably isn't the best, but no problems I'm aware of.
In 13 months of nightly use you've washed your water chamber only once? Whoa!!!! Only once in 13 months?


Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14
That is correct.

And it looks as clean as the first day I used it. Obviously I don't have X-ray vision and can't spot microbes with my naked eye, but I think it's just fine and haven't had so much as a cold.
Most insurance companies to the best of my knowledge will pay for one new water chamber every 6 months; no need to go a year on the same water chamber if your insurance company will pay for one sooner.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/04/14
That's one reason our insurance costs are so damn high! People abusing the insurance system and getting more stuff than they really "need".
And, if a person has a fairly high deductible and never meets it, they're substantially overpaying for everything up to the deductible limit. That doesn't make sense.

I've been using the very same humidifier tank since I started therapy in May of 2005. Other than dumping and rinsing a few times a year, I have only taken it apart ONCE in early 2012 to actually "clean" it.......and it really didn't look like it needed to be cleaned. I only use cool passover humidification and distilled water, so there's really no reason to worry about anything.

I have a total of six HH tanks (all were acquired with new/used machine purchases) and most are unused, waiting for their turn, but all were purchased out-of-pocket. But, as long as the other "originals" are still like new, I see no need to use the spares.


Den

.
Well since you indicated that you have a stockpile of new water chambers I would see no reason to replace them either. I still have 2 brand new Philips Respironics RB2 parallel ported water chambers which Apria Healthcare shipped to me by mistake years ago; my machine uses the RB3 staggered ported water chamber. I offered to return both of the RB2 units back to my local Apria store; Apria told me they couldn't take them back. Both water chambers were still in their factor sealed clear plastic bags; all I did was open up the boxes when each one of them came; now that's an example of why healthcare insurance costs have skyrocketed. It wasn't my fault that Apria shipped me the wrong water chamber part twice; by the way I still have those 2 brand new factory sealed water chambers stored away in my bedroom closet.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/05/14

_________________
Mask
Additional Comments: Newly diagnosed pressures as of June 05, 2014 are 22cmIPAP and 18cmEPAP; first diagnosed with OSA in 1999.

Stevoreno_55
Posts: 369
Joined: Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:28 pm
Location: MS Gulf Coast

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Stevoreno_55 » Mon May 05, 2014 7:11 am

Denial Dave wrote:my H5i came with the cheaper tank.... I purchased the dishawasher safe version about 2 months after I started therapy.

I had to replace it when I dropped it on a tile floor and cracked the top.



My dishwasher safe tank goes into the dishwasher once a month.... the rest of the time, I top off the tank each evening.
Does the water chamber you have now come with the lid which can be removed; come with the pull up plastic tabs making it easy to remove the lid for cleaning? I was watching a video on another site demonstrating how to use a ResMed S9 Elite with the heated humidifier and heated hose and the tech in the video was showing the water chamber which came with the machine; he said it was the dishwasher safe model; the one which came with the removable lid; the tech said the standard water chamber that came with the ResMed H5i humidifier did not have a lid that could be removed; I would want to have the water chamber which had the removable lid for easy cleaning.

I've been using a ResMed S9 Elite loaner from my DME for a few weeks and it has a water chamber with the pull tab removable lid; I'm beginning to like this machine now if I can only figure out how many hours are on it that would be great because my DME who has been so nice to let me use this machine is recommending one like it after I complete my new sleep study. If and when I get a new machine and it's a ResMed S9 Elite I'd like to be able to check to see how many hours the machine has on it. I've read stories here of others getting used machines from their DME's who claimed the machines were brand new; I want to make sure when the plastic covering is removed from my machine out of the box that my machine is in fact a brand new machine and not a gently used "new looking" machine.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/05/14

_________________
Mask
Additional Comments: Newly diagnosed pressures as of June 05, 2014 are 22cmIPAP and 18cmEPAP; first diagnosed with OSA in 1999.

User avatar
Drowsy Dancer
Posts: 1271
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:35 am
Location: here

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Drowsy Dancer » Mon May 05, 2014 10:03 am

Stevoreno_55 wrote: I've been using a ResMed S9 Elite loaner from my DME for a few weeks and it has a water chamber with the pull tab removable lid; I'm beginning to like this machine now if I can only figure out how many hours are on it that would be great because my DME who has been so nice to let me use this machine is recommending one like it after I complete my new sleep study.
Check here:

http://www.apneaboard.com/resmed-s9-cpap-setup

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: Swift™ FX Bella Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgears
Additional Comments: Software: SleepyHead. Pressure: APAP 9.5 min/11 max, A-Flex x2
How we squander our hours of pain. -- Rilke

User avatar
Denial Dave
Posts: 1335
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Denial Dave » Mon May 05, 2014 10:30 am

easiest way to reply is via this link;

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... amber.html
Stevoreno_55 wrote:
Denial Dave wrote:my H5i came with the cheaper tank.... I purchased the dishawasher safe version about 2 months after I started therapy.

I had to replace it when I dropped it on a tile floor and cracked the top.



My dishwasher safe tank goes into the dishwasher once a month.... the rest of the time, I top off the tank each evening.
Does the water chamber you have now come with the lid which can be removed; come with the pull up plastic tabs making it easy to remove the lid for cleaning? I was watching a video on another site demonstrating how to use a ResMed S9 Elite with the heated humidifier and heated hose and the tech in the video was showing the water chamber which came with the machine; he said it was the dishwasher safe model; the one which came with the removable lid; the tech said the standard water chamber that came with the ResMed H5i humidifier did not have a lid that could be removed; I would want to have the water chamber which had the removable lid for easy cleaning.

I've been using a ResMed S9 Elite loaner from my DME for a few weeks and it has a water chamber with the pull tab removable lid; I'm beginning to like this machine now if I can only figure out how many hours are on it that would be great because my DME who has been so nice to let me use this machine is recommending one like it after I complete my new sleep study. If and when I get a new machine and it's a ResMed S9 Elite I'd like to be able to check to see how many hours the machine has on it. I've read stories here of others getting used machines from their DME's who claimed the machines were brand new; I want to make sure when the plastic covering is removed from my machine out of the box that my machine is in fact a brand new machine and not a gently used "new looking" machine.



Stevoreno_55
MS Gulf Coast
05/05/14

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Started at VPAP pressure setting of 20/14.4. I've survived Stage 1 cancer and lost 80+ lbs. Pressure is now 14.5 / 11
if you don't know where you are going... any road will take you there.... George Harrison

ems
Posts: 2757
Joined: Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:46 am

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by ems » Mon May 05, 2014 11:05 am

Since this subject came up again, it made me check my water tank which I got sometime last year. I've never washed it and just top off with distilled water.

It looks like the day I got it - no spots, no slime, no nothing. I did wipe down where the tank sits; it was a little dusty. I'm more concerned about breathing in the dust than I am the water tank which was like new.
If only the folks with sawdust for brains were as sweet and obliging and innocent as The Scarecrow! ~a friend~

Guest

Re: Humidifier Water - Do You Dump Remaining Each Morning?

Post by Guest » Mon May 05, 2014 11:46 am

Kind of odd that money grubbing Resmed will not sell a "new machine" with the dishwasher safe water chamber but make you spend more money to get it.

No not really odd at all, it is their business plan = Rob your customers, pick their pockets clean.

For that reason alone I would go with Respironics, period.