Should the reservoir be cleaned routinely?..photos attached

I am not trying to create any controversy. Just trying to give back some information to this forum that has helped me so much with my own therapy. Members that are mold-allergic may be interested.

I have read with some interest very opposing opinions on the need to clean parts of these machines. I'd like to add my findings to the issue, and hope that this may benefit some members. I need to say up front that I am a retired dentist, and am current on sterilization protocol.

Attached are two photos: one of my Dream Station reservoir, and the other of two cotton swabs. The reservoir shows water beading because I had just emptied it to show the visually clear/clean appearance. Note that this reservoir is only filled with distilled water, and this photo shows the appearance at 1 week after the last "cleaning". The swabs show obvious orange/red mold that was obtained from the sharp internal angles and corners of the reservoir.

When the distilled water was emptied from the reservoir, this reservoir showed no obvious discoloration that might be concerning...IOW, it looked perfectly clear and clean. However, once the cotton swabs were rubbed into the internal corners and sharper angles, the presence of mold was noted.

The ideal environment for mold is heat and moisture, and that perfectly describes a PAP reservoir. The argument that all parts of a PAP machine are ''closed" and do not need cleaned is not valid. You have to open the machine to refill the reservoir, mold spores are commonly found in the air, and unless you are gloved up and in a sterile gown, simply touching the reservoir to fill it may introduce some spores to that surface. Then, you put the reservoir back into the machine and any mold spores are now in a perfect culture medium for growth.

My experience is purely anecdotal, and your machine or experience may be different. If you are comfortable with what you are doing, then disregard everything that I have written. If you are not sure , then try this "swab test" on your own reservoir.

Zack

I posted this a while ago, though don't now have the orig. link.

"Red Substance in Tub, Toilet is Bacteria

Bacteria cause the pink or red substance you may find in your toilet bowl, sink, bathtub or shower stall. If you’ve noticed a pink or red slimy substance forming in your toilet bowl, you’re not alone. It is bacteria known as Serratia marcescens, according to Roxanne Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension Service water quality associate.

You may find this bacterium in moist areas such as toilet bowls, sinks, tiles, shower stalls, bathtub enclosures and even your pet’s water dish. The bacteria will grow in places with materials containing phosphorus or fatty substances such as feces residues in your toilet or soap residue in a pet’s dish or the bathtub, shower and sink. Occasionally the pinkish film appears during and after new construction or remodeling activities. You see it more commonly when you have your windows open during the summer months.

“I have observed this phenomenon form in the toilet bowl along the water line and at the openings where the water enters the toilet bowl, usually when I’m gone for a few days, or in my guest bathroom that isn’t used often,” Johnson says. “The bacteria survive there because the water sits for a period of time, with the chlorine dissipating as it stands,” she adds. “If you have an activated carbon filter on your water line, you are removing the chlorine and may be supporting the growth of the bacteria.”

While the genus Serratia is not known to be a water-borne disease, it has been known to be pathogenic to some people, causing pneumonia, wound infections and urinary tract infections in some hospital settings. The bacteria are difficult to remove completely from your home, although the stains are removed easily with a general-purpose cleanser containing chlorine bleach. You also may add ¼ cup of bleach to the toilet tank, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then flush the tank a few times to remove all of the bleach. Do not leave bleach sitting in your tank because it will damage rubber valves and seals. Johnson recommends you scrub with a brush and household cleaner to clean pet bowls, kitchen surfaces and bathroom sinks, bathtubs and showers. Follow this up with a strong chlorine bleach solution, leaving the bleach in contact with the surfaces for 10 to 20 minutes to disinfect the area. Then rinse well with water.

To prevent the bacteria from developing, wipe down and dry all sinks and bathtubs after using them, and use a cleaning solution that contains bleach."

- As you can see, it's not mold (which you ID'd it as), but a bacteria, and using distilled water doesn't have an effect, because it's not about 'which' water you use, but nature. I imagine that even while your tank looks clean, the Q-tips will show slight evidence of it, but I don't think that means you're at risk of some dire disease... or we'd all be dead by now. If you're someone who feels the need to scour every inch of things you contact (or breathe in - good luck with that) every time you use it, I guess you're free to do it, but it may be a pointless, or at least over-the-top endeavour. I would not want bleach in my tank.

rinse with vinegar solution weekly.

The in ability to clean these reservoirs well is part of their planned obsolescence. The S8 was even worse with only a small opening, you couldn't reach all the corners even with a bent bottle brush.
There is no reason to design the tanks with their hidden corners this way.

OK...I tried the Q Tip test. My humidifier tank has NEVER been washed in the 2 years I have used it...occasionally, if there is little water left, I dump it and refill with fresh distilled water. Usually I just top it off. I dumped all the water in my tank and wiped the corners of the reservoir with a new Q Tip, It came out pure white...no discoloration. Zack must have a problem with the air in his home.

Julie wrote:I posted this a while ago, though don't now have the orig. link.

"Red Substance in Tub, Toilet is Bacteria

Bacteria cause the pink or red substance you may find in your toilet bowl, sink, bathtub or shower stall. If you’ve noticed a pink or red slimy substance forming in your toilet bowl, you’re not alone. It is bacteria known as Serratia marcescens, according to Roxanne Johnson, North Dakota State University Extension Service water quality associate.

You may find this bacterium in moist areas such as toilet bowls, sinks, tiles, shower stalls, bathtub enclosures and even your pet’s water dish. The bacteria will grow in places with materials containing phosphorus or fatty substances such as feces residues in your toilet or soap residue in a pet’s dish or the bathtub, shower and sink. Occasionally the pinkish film appears during and after new construction or remodeling activities. You see it more commonly when you have your windows open during the summer months.

“I have observed this phenomenon form in the toilet bowl along the water line and at the openings where the water enters the toilet bowl, usually when I’m gone for a few days, or in my guest bathroom that isn’t used often,” Johnson says. “The bacteria survive there because the water sits for a period of time, with the chlorine dissipating as it stands,” she adds. “If you have an activated carbon filter on your water line, you are removing the chlorine and may be supporting the growth of the bacteria.”

While the genus Serratia is not known to be a water-borne disease, it has been known to be pathogenic to some people, causing pneumonia, wound infections and urinary tract infections in some hospital settings. The bacteria are difficult to remove completely from your home, although the stains are removed easily with a general-purpose cleanser containing chlorine bleach. You also may add ¼ cup of bleach to the toilet tank, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes and then flush the tank a few times to remove all of the bleach. Do not leave bleach sitting in your tank because it will damage rubber valves and seals. Johnson recommends you scrub with a brush and household cleaner to clean pet bowls, kitchen surfaces and bathroom sinks, bathtubs and showers. Follow this up with a strong chlorine bleach solution, leaving the bleach in contact with the surfaces for 10 to 20 minutes to disinfect the area. Then rinse well with water.

To prevent the bacteria from developing, wipe down and dry all sinks and bathtubs after using them, and use a cleaning solution that contains bleach."

- As you can see, it's not mold (which you ID'd it as), but a bacteria, and using distilled water doesn't have an effect, because it's not about 'which' water you use, but nature. I imagine that even while your tank looks clean, the Q-tips will show slight evidence of it, but I don't think that means you're at risk of some dire disease... or we'd all be dead by now. If you're someone who feels the need to scour every inch of things you contact (or breathe in - good luck with that) every time you use it, I guess you're free to do it, but it may be a pointless, or at least over-the-top endeavour. I would not want bleach in my tank.

Good, thorough report. I definitely stand corrected, and your google skills trump mine. ....it is a bacterium and not a mold.

For the record, I never said that this could cause a "dire disease", or that I am someone that feels the need to "scour every inch of things " that I contact. The clearly stated purpose of the post was to add my own anecdotal experience.

Do I know you, or have I ever offended you in another life? Some of your reply is argumentative, and you are making personal assumptions for no reason(s).

LSAT wrote:OK...I tried the Q Tip test. My humidifier tank has NEVER been washed in the 2 years I have used it...occasionally, if there is little water left, I dump it and refill with fresh distilled water. Usually I just top it off. I dumped all the water in my tank and wiped the corners of the reservoir with a new Q Tip, It came out pure white...no discoloration. Zack must have a problem with the air in his home.

good point. maybe I will change to tap water and see if the chlorine stops the issue, or switch brands of distilled??

that pink slime is found in tap water residue so that is not a solution.
check the label on your bottle it may be bottled spring water or you have already used tap water in that humidifier tub

zack243 wrote:I am not trying to create any controversy.

Statements of this type are commonly followed by long and bitter arguments in this forum.

ChicagoGranny wrote:

zack243 wrote:I am not trying to create any controversy.

Statements of this type are commonly followed by long and bitter arguments in this forum.

Thank you for that information. If that is the norm, then it is disappointing. I still view this forum optimistically, and am grateful I found it.

Guest wrote:that pink slime is found in tap water residue so that is not a solution.
check the label on your bottle it may be bottled spring water or you have already used tap water in that humidifier tub

I appreciate the comments

zack243 wrote:

ChicagoGranny wrote:

zack243 wrote:I am not trying to create any controversy.

Statements of this type are commonly followed by long and bitter arguments in this forum.

Thank you for that information. If that is the norm, then it is disappointing. I still view this forum optimistically, and am grateful I found it.

I don't take it as a reason to be disappointed.

There are less than 20 people who provide 90% of the useful advice in this forum. There are less than 10 problems that make up 90% of the total problems presented to them. So, they are answering the same problems over and over. Most of these problems are mundane. I give this small group of users great credit for addressing these few problems over and over. It takes some patience.

Now, if something comes along out of the ordinary and in the least bit controversial, it's a good opportunity for those select users to participate in a lively diversion. You can ignore them or better yet, join in the fun.

Duck wrote:

zack243 wrote:

ChicagoGranny wrote:

zack243 wrote:I am not trying to create any controversy.

Statements of this type are commonly followed by long and bitter arguments in this forum.

Thank you for that information. If that is the norm, then it is disappointing. I still view this forum optimistically, and am grateful I found it.

I don't take it as a reason to be disappointed.

There are less than 20 people who provide 90% of the useful advice in this forum (not Julie). There are less than 10 problems that make up 90% of the total problems presented to them. So, they are answering the same problems over and over. Most of these problems are mundane. I give this small group of users great credit for addressing these few problems over and over. It takes some patience.

Now, if something comes along out of the ordinary and in the least bit controversial, it's a good opportunity for those select users to participate in a lively diversion. You can ignore them or better yet, join in the fun.

I am no stranger to a "lively diversion"/debate, but I have better things to do than to participate in a " long and bitter argument". I am a big boy, and can deal with dissenting opinions.
Speaking only for myself, I will participte in constructive debates but will avoid the opposite. I am out of this thread, and apologize if I have given any members misguided information.

zack243 wrote:

ChicagoGranny wrote:

zack243 wrote:I am not trying to create any controversy.

Statements of this type are commonly followed by long and bitter arguments in this forum.

Thank you for that information. If that is the norm, then it is disappointing. I still view this forum optimistically, and am grateful I found it.

it's more of the fact that when someone starts out with a statement like that, they know they're lobbing a grenade, otherwise, they wouldn't have opened with that comment.

it's like saying "no offense intended, but" and then saying something insulting... it's going to create controversy.

that said, I don't think there's may people who are actually opposed to cleaning the humidifier tanks. mainly casual rinsers to obsessive cleaners.

I've seen pink slime develop in a tank that'd just been filled with distilled water... *shrug* I didn't freak, I just gave it a good wash with some good hot water out of the faucet.

Zack - just got in from being away - I'm SO sorry you mistook what I said as being personal or anything other than my speculating, etc... about anyone, not you in particular... I used the word dire almost in a joking way (to myself, anyhow) and meant a similar thing about the scouring business. Maybe it was a hangover of trying to straighten out the people who swore by So Clean, and who feel the need to sterilize, sanitize, etc... but it was directed at anyone out there, not suggesting you were one of those people by any means - making a point, maybe, but not at you.

Pink bacteria can occur in swimming pools as well. It seems to survive normal chlorine disinfection levels, and getting rid of this in pools requires very high disinfection levels (shock). The bacteria are naturally present in air, and will reproduce and form a "slime" on surfaces that are warm and moist. You almost never see it in winter.

This is very little to do with sanitation, and can occur in distilled or tap water. Since it develops a protective slime, it is very difficult to get rid of all of it in a humidifier chamber which has tiny recesses that are hard to access to break the slime. I had an infection in the water chamber a little earlier this summer, (as well as the pool), and for the humidifier used aggressive mechanical cleaning, with acid sanitizer, followed by 3% peroxide. That pretty much kicked its butt.

Final note, the pink bacteria is not pathogenic, and poses no risk other than being gross. It can also be an indicator of other contaminates that may be pathogenic.