Rainout, Condensation--Solutions

socknitster wrote: .......
But sleeping with the hose tucked in with me really does work .

Jen

It is the only way to go as far as I am concerned.

It allows you to avoid having the extra expense of an Aussie heated hose and the inconvenience of another appliance complicating your CPAP setup.

Besides eliminating condensation, it is the best way for hose management. Posters here are unnecessarily making life more difficult with some of those Rube Goldberg hanging devices.

K.I.S.S.

As has been noted so many times, we're all different I sleep best with the hose routed over my head ... which doesn't work too well with routing it under the covers. So for me the Aussie hose is a good solution. If I could do it well the other way, I would because it's cheaper!

Mindy

Rooster wrote:Besides eliminating condensation, it is the best way for hose management. Posters here are unnecessarily making life more difficult with some of those Rube Goldberg hanging devices.

K.I.S.S.

Now there, Rooster!

"Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped."
Elbert Hubbard

Sleep is unnecesaarily more difficult for me when I can't hang the hose.
O.

ozij wrote: .....
Now there, Rooster!

"Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped."
Elbert Hubbard

...........
O.

I worked a long career where I had to be smart everyday. Being retired and no longer having limits placed on my stupidity is a great way to live.

I hope all of you make it to my position.

Have a good evening O.

I'm so glad someone mentioned the smell of the heated hose. I also have a very sensitive nose. Does this smell ever go away or is it constant when the heat is on? And I was almost sold on the heated hose... I wonder if it gives of toxic chemicals when it heats? Has anyone checked that out? I'm also wondering about the lifespan of this heated hose. How long will it last when used every night? The heat must limit the lifespan of the hose...? And do you still have to wash the hose? How would you do that with all the exposed wires? I'm just looking for all the info before I invest.

rooster wrote:I worked a long career where I had to be smart everyday. Being retired and no longer having limits placed on my stupidity is a great way to live.

I hope all of you make it to my position.

And I'm getting stupider the closer I get to retirement (and that's *very* close). Can't wait to discover how that's a great way to live!

Thanks, Rooster

O.

Karla1958 wrote:I'm so glad someone mentioned the smell of the heated hose. I also have a very sensitive nose. Does this smell ever go away or is it constant when the heat is on? And I was almost sold on the heated hose... I wonder if it gives of toxic chemicals when it heats? Has anyone checked that out? I'm also wondering about the lifespan of this heated hose. How long will it last when used every night? The heat must limit the lifespan of the hose...? And do you still have to wash the hose? How would you do that with all the exposed wires? I'm just looking for all the info before I invest.

I've never noted a smell with the Aussie heated hose. The heat is *very* low so I would be surprised if it gives off toxic chemicals. My first heated hose lasted just 1 year but that wasn't the hose, it was the "brick" which I dropped and it shattered. I took it to Radio Shack but they said they didn't have anything to replace it. So I bought another Aussie hose, this time from a US supplier (but made by the same Australian company). The brick is much sturdier. I've heard others mention having a heated hose last at least 3 years, possibly longer.

You can wash the hose though they recommend covering the outside with a plastic bag. Easiest way to wash (for me) is to pour some soapy water into the hose, then connect the 2 ends of the hose with an inexpensive little adapter I purchased from our host and slosh it around a few times, then empty, rinse and let dry. I typically do that once a year at the end of the cold weather season.

Mindy

My $0.02 worth.
I started with a hose cover, and quickly went with the Aussie hose afterwards. When I got it, I put my hose cover over the Aussie hose. Even though the hose is covered, I opted to add the cover anyway so that it has extra insulation. I used the cover to enclose most of the tubing from the swift lt mask. This keeps the last 100-150 mm of the entire set up covered.

I have been able to increase humidity at will to the max in my cold room at night without issues. For the smell, I would recommend running some mouth wash into the hose to clean out any residue and to add a pleasant smell to it.

I also plug in the hose a few minutes before I start the CPAP. I do this while I am getting ready. This is more of a check list feature. I feel that connecting the power to the hose first is better than forgetting about it and waking up a few hours later with a nose full of water. If that happens, don't bother connecting the hose to power and expect the condensation issues to go away. What you need to do in this circumstance is take the hose off of the machine and shake out the water or spin the hose around in the air to force any remaining water out of it.

LINKS to discussions about the Aussie heated hose - to prevent rainout
viewtopic.php?t=5305

One more question for you brainiacs...actually a question for the folks out there with a heated hose and CATS! Yes... cats! I was wondering if your cats have ever found the heated hose. My cats will migrate to something heated. I have a heated blanket that they love but sometimes it gets shut off and I was wondering if the hose give off enough heat to attract my heat loving cats. They haven't bothered my regular hose yet, but I usually get to them before they touch it... I don't know what they would do if they found a heated hose. They would probably both crawl up on it and sleep on top of it. That sure would lessen the life span of the hose. My one cat is pretty big (ok, fat!) I tried to pick her up the other day and I actually hurt my back! She felt like she weighed 20 pounds or more. She has very long and very sharp claws and I just haven't been able to get her to the vets to get those things clipped. She also likes to fluff up things with her hands. If she tried to fluff up a hose she'd rip it to pieces! I also tried to clip her nails and now my belly is scarred for life! It looks like Freddy Kuegger left a hand print on my belly. Very painful for weeks! One more question- If the cats would bite at the Aussie hose do you think it would electrocute them? They bite and tug at the cords that run through my electric blanket and they haven't broke any yet, but I always catch them and give 'em hell. I guess those cords bother them when they try to get comfy... spoiled brat cats! I saw an electrocuted cat on the Animal Planet's Emergency Vet program and it wasn't pretty. The cat bit into a cord from a stereo and it messed him up. I wouldn't want to do that to my two cats (or even one cat) and I couldn't afford that vet bill either. I think I remember them saying that it cost over $3000 to fix the electrocuted cat but he would never be the same. I think it fried his brain. Oh well, anyone have any experience with cats and CPAP machines? Now I'm just curious. Someone should start a new subject called Our animals vs CPAP machines! I'd love to read about peoples experiences with their dogs, cats, birds, whatever?

I have 2 cats and they've never shown any interest in either my regular or heated hose (they both sleep on the bed with me). As I noted previously, it's hard to feel the warmth but you do notice the difference with rainout. Sometimes people worry that it's not working because it doesn't feel warm so they even have directions with it on how to check that it's working .... put it in a plastic bag and plug it in.

There may be other cats that would be a problem but mine aren't. Try a search of the forum using "hose" and "cat" or something similar as search words to see of others have had problems.

Mindy

Three cats presently (usually 4, but you know how that goes) and none have ever shown any interest in the hose other than the humongous cat likes to lay on it during the night. They've never messed with it at all...
I generally don't use humidifier during the winter so I don't have a rainout issue during that time. I sometimes get it in the summer. No heated hose (can't afford), but I do have a fleece cover that was donated by a forum member that I tend not to use in summer - it's on all winter. I keep my humidifier at 2 when it's on......it's not bad enough that I stress over it.....

Jen. Did I read the post correctly??? You're expecting again??? Congratulations is in order if so!!!
Now Charlie is 9.5 months...how old is Harry??? Sorry, I've lost track......memory's not all that good!!!!
It's good to hear from you!!!!!

Take care
cheers
goose

JEN! A THIRD BABY????? Seriously honey, when will you ever leave the house again?

I sure hope you haven't been watching John and Kate Plus 8 and getting inspired. Don't make me call you "Octu-Mom"!

LOL,
Babs

goose wrote:Jen. Did I read the post correctly??? You're expecting again??? Congratulations is in order if so!!!
Now Charlie is 9.5 months...how old is Harry??? Sorry, I've lost track......memory's not all that good!!!!
It's good to hear from you!!!!!

Take care
cheers
goose

Uh. NO.

I'm never going thru this again if I can help it. I love my kids to pieces and tell them so all day long, but I am not willing to go thru pregnancy and the newborn phase again. I am, however, considering adopting an older child out of the foster care system in a few years. Once both boys are older. Unfortunately my husband and I create collicky babies and I'm already in my late 30's. I've lost enough sleep!

Jen