I burnt my tank.

that's the tank in my M-Series Humidifier.

A few nights ago, there was a funny smell in my mask. So, I made a note that I should clean it more thoroughly that night. It reduced a bit, but it was still there the next night. At first it lessened, but by morning it was bad again. So, I started looking further.

Seems I've been running my integrated humidifier dry too many times. Adding water absorbs the smell until the water becomes saturated with the smell.

At the beginning of the year, I would only get dangerously close to running dry. But, with nose all plugged up from cold/flu/whatever, I've been using a FFM and needing more humidity.

So, running dry is bad. Hope I didn't inhale too much burnt plastic.....

I tried cleaning the tank, even ran it through my ultrasonic cleaner a few times (though didn't try dishwasher, which somebody suggested this morning in another forum). Didn't remove the smell. Been back to nasal mask and passive from HC150, so I survived the weekend without the integrated humidifier attached. But, I'm going on a trip this weekend, so I want my integrated humidifier working again....

Popped over to the DME this morning and was able to get a new tank.

The Dreamer.

Nice you were able to replace the tank. What setting resulted in drying out the reservoir?

My preference is to fully empty the tank each day and refill (with tap water).

When I was in Edmonton Alberta last month where it is very dry, my humidifier would run almost dry every night and it wasn't even cold yet - no heating on. I don't think they are designed well for "dry" climates. I am getting concerned about winter here in Quebec - apartment humidity is lower then the desert , with heating going.

I'm in AZ, humidity is 25%, and noticed my tank was 1/8 inch from being empty, after 8 hours at 2.5-3. Thanks for the warning. Glad you could get a new tank easily.

Last winter I came real close to drying mine out via use as I found it with only a few drops of water left in it. I have since put a room humidifier in my bedroom to supplement the one installed on the furnace and I always have water left in mine now, since I don't have to turn it up so high.

Gerry

One of the extra benefits I've had from using the Aussie heated hose (Sleepzone heated cpap tube) is that I've been able to keep my humidifier heat turned down very low and still get enough humidification to do me fine.

I think that keeping the main air hose warm is allowing more humidification to reach me, therefore I've not had to turn the heat up as much as I would have without the heated hose.

Lower heat setting on the humidifier = less water being used, so less chance of the plastic water tank going dry.

That integrated M series water chamber you're using, Dreamer.... that tiny thing doesn't hold much water anyway. I notice in your signature you mentioned you also have a separate humidifier -- the Fisher & Paykel HC 150. That's what I use. It holds a LOT more water than the M series integrated one does. Have you considered using your F&P humidifier instead?

My comparison of the amount of water several humidifier chambers can hold.
viewtopic.php?p=206305

an old fashioned way of removing small was to spread butter on which gradually absorbs the smell
a humidifier in the bedroom can perhaps be a substitute

as an older CPAP user, Ive never used a humidifier or felt the need for one and Im in a fairly low humidity area, its only recently that humidifiers have become the fashion with CPAPs

KatieW wrote:I'm in AZ, humidity is 25%, and noticed my tank was 1/8 inch from being empty, after 8 hours at 2.5-3. Thanks for the warning. Glad you could get a new tank easily.

Yes go careful. I slept just over 5 hours on setting 4.5 last night and was almost empty this morning. I have been ramping up my humidifier setting ever since i have been heating my hose using the Repti heated cable.

Some nights i can sleep for 9 hours and with our 25% humidity i think i better fall back to at most a setting of 3.