White film on humidifier

[palerider]

They also suggest you change the HH tub every six months. When did you last change it?

"they" also like selling overpriced supplies... so... *shrug*

[HoseCrusher]

I see that everybody has been pussy footing around the real issue. I am sorry to be the one to break it to you but here is really what happened...

You were abducted by aliens. They injected themselves into your blood supply with the idea of exiting through your lungs and either mouth or nose. Your use of CPAP was not anticipated and they ended up splashing down in your humidifier tank. Before they were able to transport out of the tank they had to pee. The white film marks their territory.

Sorry to be so blunt but you have wasted a valuable commodity. Alien pee is known to help all sorts of ailments. Rather than throwing it out you should be wiping it on your body or maybe even drinking it. If it continues you could even bottle it and sell it...

About the only thing you can do is to fashion a tin foil hat for you and also make one for your CPAP machine. If you wake up one morning and find small bodies floating around in your tank you will know that the tin foil successfully blocked their transporter signal. That will teach them to invade.

If you don't "buy" that explanation, perhaps your water is contaminated, or it could be some dust being drawn through the machine. The filter should stop most of this, but I imagine some still gets through.

You should be able to wash it out and by changing the water daily keep it from coming back. If you decide to change your water daily just track how much you use on a typical night and just put that much in each night. That way you will not waste a lot of water.

[palerider]

I see that everybody has been pussy footing around the real issue. I am sorry to be the one to break it to you but here is really what happened...

You were abducted by aliens. They injected themselves into your blood supply with the idea of exiting through your lungs and either mouth or nose. Your use of CPAP was not anticipated and they ended up splashing down in your humidifier tank. Before they were able to transport out of the tank they had to pee. The white film marks their territory.

I'm dubious about this so called "theory" of yours!

surely most of the aliens would have been blown out the mask vent, and not been able to crawl all the way up the hose to be able to play in the pool!!!

[HoseCrusher]

What??? You are not familiar with the splash down vehicle?

Why do you think peeing became urgent. They had to dive out because the air velocity was carrying their splash down vehicle away. The vehicle most likely was smashed to bits as it exited the vent, but they were able to land in the pool...

[Hose_Head]

I try to keep my resmed S9 machine clean. I used to wash the tank every few days but notice just after a day or two there is a white film on the bottom and white particles floating in the water. I only use distilled water. I dust the machine and i change the filter more than it likely needs changing.
Anyone else notice this or have any ideas?

I've read the replies to your problem and don't think anybody has mentioned the possibility that what you are seeing might be caused by a biofilm of mildew/mold/bacteria that is growing in the tank. From what you've described, this is exactly the same condition that I see in my tank when I haven't cleaned and sterilized it in a while. You know it's a biofilm because the inside of the tank (below the waterline level in the tank) feels very slippery.


Don't worry, the solution is simple. Give your humidifier tank a good wash with soap and water, rinse with hot tap water and then fill and soak in a 50-50 mix of vinegar and hot tap water for at least a couple hours. Follow that with a thorough rinse in hot tap water and (not necessary but if you wish) a final rinse with distilled water. Let dry.

My thought would be to also clean and soak your hose with vinegar. Den's comments aside, IF the spores that seeded your tank to cause the biofilm growth have been introduced by airborne particles (i.e. that were too tiny to be caught in the cpap air filter), then they also can leave the tank via the hose. It is also possible that the spores were introduced in the distilled water that you are using (distilled water is necessarily sterile).

Have you been experiencing a runny nose, too? If yes, it could be related.

My regimen to prevent recurrence of this gunk in my tank is to dump the humidifier contents every morning, give it a quick rinse, and leave the tank open to air-dry. Air drying is the important step. I wash and soak the tank in vinegar whenever the inside of the tank starts to feel a little slippery - that's the onset of the biofilm (it gets slippery long before anything becomes visible). Biofilms are extremely difficult to completely get rid of. I end up washing and soaking my tank every couple of months or so. It's a weekly chore if I don't rinse and dry the tank on a daily basis.

Once a biofilm is established, it's extremely difficult to remove it completely such that it won't re-grow. Others have posted to the board their experience with sterilization using hydrogen peroxide or with a product called Control III Disinfectant (available from cpap.com). My understanding is that they work very well but I have no personal experience with either.

Alternately, you might just try replacing your tank (and hose). This won't prevent a recurrence, but it might put off having to deal with the biofilm for another 4 years!

Good luck. Let us know what you finally do and how it works for you.

[Elle]

Once again i struggle with a dilemma and then come here and problem is solved. I am so glad i asked. I actually have what feels like a sinus infection ( no fever but congestion) and i bet it is related. I was washing with soap and hot water but nothing else. I am going to order new tank and hose and until they come will do the wash rinse with vinegar. Thank you so much.

[hyperlexis]

Yes, unless the plastic was just damaged by cleaning chemicals and has fogged over, or there is some other breakdown in the plastic itself, it could be a fungus growing, a biofilm sticking to the tank. I'd open it up and if the dishwasher-safe model, run it through the dishwasher on the sani cycle with detergent.

Otherwise, if that wont work, toss the tank into the recycling bin and get a new one. And for good measure replace the hose and filter.

[hyperlexis]

Once again i struggle with a dilemma and then come here and problem is solved. I am so glad i asked. I actually have what feels like a sinus infection ( no fever but congestion) and i bet it is related. I was washing with soap and hot water but nothing else. I am going to order new tank and hose and until they come will do the wash rinse with vinegar. Thank you so much.

Vinegar just removes minerals, like in a coffee pot. If you are using distilled water, this isn't the problem and, in fact, the manufacturers state clearly: no bleach, no vinegar, no boiling water, no X, Y, Z chemicals in the tank because it can harm the plastic. Use 'Control' if you wish to kill any bacteria or fungi, or run it through the dishwasher if the tank is the dishwasher-safe model.

[Hose_Head]

Vinegar just removes minerals, like in a coffee pot. If you are using distilled water, this isn't the problem and, in fact, the manufacturers state clearly: no bleach, no vinegar, no boiling water, no X, Y, Z chemicals in the tank because it can harm the plastic. Use 'Control' if you wish to kill any bacteria or fungi, or run it through the dishwasher if the tank is the dishwasher-safe model.

Thanks. This probably explains why the biofilm in my humidifier tank always returns after a while. From what I've found on the web, vinegar IS a disinfectant, albeit a weak one. So much for the cleaning advice I received from my DME.

Does anyone know of a good source of Control disinfectant in Ontario? I'd buy some from cpap.com, but the $17 shipping charge to Canada is a non-starter for a small item such as this.

I also think I'll replace my tank the next time I order supplies (just got a new set of supplies three weeks ago, so it will have to wait for a few more months).

Once again i struggle with a dilemma and then come here and problem is solved. I am so glad i asked. I actually have what feels like a sinus infection ( no fever but congestion) and i bet it is related. I was washing with soap and hot water but nothing else. I am going to order new tank and hose and until they come will do the wash rinse with vinegar. Thank you so much.

We BOTH learned from the board!

[palerider]

Thanks. This probably explains why the biofilm in my humidifier tank always returns after a while. From what I've found on the web, vinegar IS a disinfectant, albeit a weak one. So much for the cleaning advice I received from my DME.

someone suggested a bit of salt and alcohol, swish around a bit and dump out. the salt helps to destroy the biofilm both by it's saltyness and abrasiveness.

may work, may not, may be worth a try.

[Elle]

Just came back from dme and he said i don't need new tank. Told me he has heard from a lot of people just recently about this and wonders if the distilled water is indeed distilled.

Soaking now in vinegar.

Appreciate all the tips.

[Hose_Head]

Just came back from dme and he said i don't need new tank. Told me he has heard from a lot of people just recently about this and wonders if the distilled water is indeed distilled.

Soaking now in vinegar.

Appreciate all the tips.

Very unusual to have a DME who won't take your money!

Buy a new tank, anyway. That's what I plan to do at first opportunity.

[Elle]

I'm hoping not to need it. Don't want to charge insurance if i don't need it. Rates going up and too much crap in the environment and all that.

Had the best sleep with this new mask....FP Eson.

[Guest]

I get the same residue in my humidifier--tasted it and its salty! I use Meijer brand distilled water. Think I will boil some away on my stove and see if the same salt precipitates

[chunkyfrog]

Some retailers sell water which is incorrectly labeled as "distilled".
When you observe residue from so-called distilled water, stop buying it from that seller.
This might be a matter for the FDA, but I have doubts that any action will be taken--
unless there is a documented health hazard.
You can complain to the company's management, if you like, but I would just shop elsewhere.
I use a countertop distller for now; and if it eventually dies, I may build one from a stovetop pressure cooker.
Beats the heck out of hauling jugs around.