Does the humidifier make the air warm/hot?

A HH warms the air some because it's heated, but it's function isn't warm the air flow. Warmer air can hold more moisture. Jim

The humidifier will add moisture just from the air traveling over the water surface in the tank, if you need more moisture increasing the heat warms the air so it puts off more moisture in the air.

A heated humidifier doesn't really warm the air (warms the water).

A problem a lot of people have in the winter time is they think the heated humidifier will warm the incoming air, so they crank up the heat and all that does is add more moisture to the air to the point where they get rainout. Rainout is where the moisture condenses in the hose and mask into larger droplets, since the hose can be like a P trap under the sink that moisture condenses at the lowest point then air pressure blows it towards the mask, if those droplets of water hit you in the face they will wake you up because they can hurt.

I don't use the heat on the humidifier just pass-over, I use a aussie heated hose and it warms the incoming air from the machine and puts it at a very comfortable temp. If you use those nasal prong/pillow style masks that warmer air can make things much more comfortable.

http://www.sleepzone.com.au/index.html

Nasal Obstructions:
I highly recommend you seriously consider any correction to relieving nasal congestion, if there is a polyp have it removed, if turbinates are large have them reduced. While their is some discomfort from the surgery it is one with a high success rate. They now use lasers for most of the surgery and your recovery time is much better than years ago. Correcting it surgically you don't have to waste your time with spray and drugs that never work. Breathing impacts your health 24 hours a day, for CPAP to be a success you have to be able to breathe through your nose. If you have a deviated septum you will have difficulty with masks that push on the end of your nose, because all that does is collapse the nasal valve then you don't get any air. The obstructions that have grown in your nose happen so gradual over the years you don't notice it other than your voice may change to a "nasally" voice. When they pull the packing out after the first few days from surgery it is like the exposed your brain to fresh mountain air, the difference is amazing. Once the swelling goes down you will on breathe better.

Make sure your ENT is experienced and uses lasers and latest techniques.

Shez: On my machine there is just a button that I push to turn the heat on, or I can choose to leave it off. I dont understand how all this works, but I do much better with the heat on. We burn wood all winter, so it gets pretty dry in the house. I'm pretty new to all this, but the warm moist air sure helps me...

Sleepy Boy wrote:Shez: On my machine there is just a button that I push to turn the heat on, or I can choose to leave it off. I dont understand how all this works, but I do much better with the heat on. We burn wood all winter, so it gets pretty dry in the house. I'm pretty new to all this, but the warm moist air sure helps me...

The heat level is adjustable on your machine from 1 to 5. Jim

Jim: I have my setting on 2 I woke up in the night with my nostrils "flamin' Do I Need to set it higher? I'm also sneezing, runny nose, the whole thing.. If I turn it up a little more, will it give me more moisture?? Thanks, Larry

I can't say much about the m-series humidifiers. I used one for about 2 months on a trial basis. I thought the tank was too small, even though it was easy to take out and clean and refill with water. This is the fourth one I've used, and I'm keeping this for my permanent one.
The Humidaire H3i is, in my opinion, a very good one. Its easy to take out, clean and refill also, In fact, I've only been cleaning it every 3 or 4 days, even if the user's manual says every day. I just open the lid, put in my funnel, and add the distilled water up to the line each day.
I keep the adjustment a little less then 2, and I haven't had any problems with moisture, or a dry mouth. I recommend it.
Jay

I agree packitin, the tank on the M series is too small. Sometimes. I don't really understand the humidifier, as sometimes it runs out of water even on a setting of 1, and sometimes it uses almost none when it's on 2. (Anything more than 2 and I get rainout.)

Shez, as to whether humidity can make sinus problems or upper respiratory infections worse, so far I've had no problems. My nose is stuffier than normal but my sinus infections are still at bay 3 months after a round of antibiotics, which is better than it has been in 2 years. No chest infections, either, but we'll see how this winter goes. I'm on a full face mask and if my stuffiness continues I'll press my doctor for a referral to an ENT.

Not to get too much into the physics, but evaporation requires heat. That heat has to come from somewhere.

If you don’t add heat, the water/air will get cooler as water evaporates. The heat in the air and water is used for converting liquid water to water vapor. This is the same principle as when your body cools itself by perspiring and having the moisture evaporate. If you use your humidifier as a passover, it will make both the air and the water in the tank cooler.

Adding heat to the water in the humidifier tank provides an alternative source for the heat necessary for converting liquid water to water vapor, i.e., evaporation. If you added enough heat, it would eventually make the air delivered to your mask warmer than the room air, but you’re unlikely to feel like you’re breathing hot air. Mostly you will get more moisture, not more heat.

Wayne

WNJ wrote:Not to get too much into the physics, but evaporation requires heat. That heat has to come from somewhere.

If you don’t add heat, the water/air will get cooler as water evaporates. The heat in the air and water is used for converting liquid water to water vapor. This is the same principle as when your body cools itself by perspiring and having the moisture evaporate. If you use your humidifier as a passover, it will make both the air and the water in the tank cooler.

Adding heat to the water in the humidifier tank provides an alternative source for the heat necessary for converting liquid water to water vapor, i.e., evaporation. If you added enough heat, it would eventually make the air delivered to your mask warmer than the room air, but you’re unlikely to feel like you’re breathing hot air. Mostly you will get more moisture, not more heat.

Wayne

I agree with what have you said! Physics a natural science, is the study of matter and its motion through spacetime and all that derives from these, such as energy and force.



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Aprilaire