Humidier runs out of water

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Sat May 13, 2006 6:22 am

Hi
Having sorted a number of problems out my latest is a bit of a teaser.
I fill my humidifier to the maximum mark and with the humidifier set to 1 the lowest setting the water is all gone after about 6.5 hours (not scientifically tested its when I wake up) is this normal?
The second part of the question which humidifier has the most capacity.

Billy

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:09 am

hi billly--

welcome to mouth breathing! An empty humidifier, unless it is malfunctioning, usually means you are mouth-breathing. You have several choices: learn to keep your mouth shut all nite (there are archived posts on locating the sweet spot with your tongue to help you; tape your mouth shut (many posts on that, too) or switch to a full-face mask if you can't/won't do the above. Mouth-breathing means serious leak, and you're losing lots of your cpap benefits; it's not a question of getting a bigger water container.

Caroline

chdurie2 · Post by **chdurie2** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:14 am

hi again billy-

one addition to above--check to see if your humidifier is turned up all the way. if it is, it will run out of water faster than if it is on a medium or low setting. but even a humidifer set on high should not run out of water in one night if you are not mouth-breathing. so, yes, you can turn your humidifier down if you are concerned, but it still shouldn't run out of water.

caroline

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:01 am

Thanks Caroline
Would the other signs of mouth breathing be a mouth so dry that your tongue feels like its made of leather thats been hung out to dry in a desert for year.
I guess this means that the chinstraps not working.

Billy

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:19 am

puffing billy wrote: Would the other signs of mouth breathing be a mouth so dry that your tongue feels like its made of leather thats been hung out to dry in a desert for year.
I guess this means that the chinstraps not working.

Absolutely, on both counts.
You might also see your mouth leaks in the details screen of the software a a plateau in the leak graph.

By the way, where is the "maximum mark" on the H2O? I have the same humidifier, and don't see a mark on mine.

O.

john5757 · Post by **john5757** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:33 am

puffing billy wrote:Thanks Caroline
Would the other signs of mouth breathing be a mouth so dry that your tongue feels like its made of leather thats been hung out to dry in a desert for year.
I guess this means that the chinstraps not working.

Billy

You hit it mostly but in my case it was mouth leaking. In the begining my chin scrap did not work because my tongue will not stay up near the upper back of teeth, I wear a dental appliance to keep the tongue on the roof off the mouth but after a period of time I was able to prevent mouth leaking without wearing a dental appliance. I still wear a chin scrap.

Ellen · Post by **Ellen** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:08 am

Easiest way to see if you are mouth breathing and, if so, if that is why your humidifier is using all water IS TO TAPE LIPS CLOSED for one night. This sounds horrid, but is not. Find a good medical tape and make first piece long enough to cover closed lips and about 1 inch beyond corners of mouth. Just that one piece does it for many people, but if your pressure goes very high, it can "blow" through that one piece. I had to place another piece above this one and another below this one to hold in a pressure of 14.

Try it just one night and see how your mouth feels. You also need to understand that if the pressurized air that is supposed to be going down your throat to keep airway open is coming out your mouth, you are getting no CPAP treatment.

One night of "taping" will tell you the story - just make sure at least the first time to use enough tape to insure you have no "mouth leaks" - also be sure to wash area you are taping first to be sure tape sticks - and do not panic that you won't be able to breathe, as you have pressurized air going through your nose - and most of us remove our masks many times in beginning of learning CPAP..........

Good luck and let us know your results

Snoozin' Bluezzz · Post by **Snoozin' Bluezzz** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:13 am

puffing billy wrote:Thanks Caroline
Would the other signs of mouth breathing be a mouth so dry that your tongue feels like its made of leather thats been hung out to dry in a desert for year.

Yup! And it made me feel like crap! Any leak, in general, makes me feel like crap.

SB

Peterau · Post by **Peterau** » Sat May 13, 2006 6:44 pm

Hi Billy,

I use the same equipment as you and am a mouth breather. Currently I use a full face mask and am experimenting with a breeze. One thing I have noticed with my humidifier is if I let it heat up before use I will empty the humidifier overnight. If I start the humidifier when I start the CPAP I end up with about 1/4" of water left after 8hrs use. Some testing of the water temp in the humidifier (at least with mine, using just my finger) would suggest when you let the humidifier heat up before use it overruns the running temp by quite a margin which increases the water use quit a bit in the first 1hr, until the air moving over the water brings the water temp down to normal operating temp. BTW I live in OZ in Canberra which is 3,000' above sea level and at this time of year is very dry humidity wise. Normally run the humidifier on 3. When I go to the coast and use my machine I use less water during 8 hrs of use. Actually when on the coast I turn the humidifier down 2 settings. (Learnt what rain out is the first time I stayed on the coast).

Hope this helps as well as all the suggestions above.

Ozij My H20 has a maximum line 1.25" up from the bottom of the tank when measured with the tank sitting on the table out of the humidifier.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:51 pm

Peterau:

I'd call a rep from cpap.com if i were you - it sounds like you are leaking air like heck, even with the full-face mask (very possible to do--a full-face mask is not a savior if it doesn't fit/isn't adjusted right.) Whether you're heating the water up ahead of time or not, that sounds to me like too much water to use up -- a non-leaking nite uses up very little water.

Caroline

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat May 13, 2006 8:38 pm

My experience with the integrated 420 humidifier is
A. it doesn't hold as much water as the free standing hc 150
B. It often leaks, the puddle may be under the base where you aren't noticing it, take a look.
C. It seems to leak more at higher temps and/or pressures.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 14, 2006 8:04 am

Hi All
Thanks for the feedback.

Ive been doing a bit of experimenting.

The taping idea I would try but with a full beard is not easy.

So prior to APAP I used an anti snoring device (MAD) this stopped mouth breathing. I tried this and guess what I had a great nights sleep.
Therefore I get a tick in the box for mouth breathing.

But the water tank on the H2O was still empty on the lowest setting.
Also I still had rainout (more like dampout) even with a heated hose.
A second conclusion is my H2O is faulty and the control knob is not changing the temperature so the machine overheats and turn itself off. This can be reset from underneath.

Anyone else suffered similar problems with an H2O.

Billy

puffing billy · Post by **puffing billy** » Sun May 14, 2006 8:34 am

Sorry Guest was me.
A powercut wiped my auto sign in off.

Billy

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