Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Parmenides3 · Post by **Parmenides3** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:47 pm

I'm tired of refilling my ResMed water tank every few hours. What's the highest capacity water tank I can get on a free-standing heated humidifier? Recommendations? Thx, Parmenides3

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:55 pm

I don't know if this is the most water capacity of a free-standing humidifer to use with CPAP machines, but it's the free-standing heated humidifier I've used for years and really like:

Fisher and Paykel HC 150 heated humidifier.

In an old post I wrote:

viewtopic.php?p=206305

rested gal wrote:I measured the water capacity of some water chambers I have, filling each to their "fill line":

Respironics M series humidifier - 11 ounces
I wouldn't try to overfill this one at all.

Respironics non-M (classic) humidifier - 14 ounces
Can be overfilled another two ounces without problem - to 16 ounces.

Puritan Bennett Goodknight H2O humidifier (for the PB 420E,S,G machines) - 14 ounces

ResMed H5i humidifier (for the S9 with "climateline" hose) - 14 ounces

Fisher & Paykel HC 150 separate humidifier - 16 ounces
Can be overfilled one more ounce without problem - to 17 ounces.

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Those "overfill" numbers I'm using are from my own experience using cpap pressures in the range of 8 - 16 cm. If a person is using more cpap pressure than 16, you probably wouldn't want to overfill a humidifier chamber much, if any. The greater force of air hitting the water is going to cause more turbulence on the surface of the water.

You know you've overfilled a humidifier tank if you hear splashing, spitting, or gurgling sounds when you turn on the air. Need to pour a little out and not fill it that much next time. Been there, done that!
Note: Water collecting in the air hose can cause gurgling sounds, too.

When I use an M series machine, I never use the integrated humidifier for it. I always use my good old F&P HC150 humidifier connected to the M machine. Holds a LOT more water than the M humidifier.

Such a handy humidifier to have, that F&P HC 150. Can be used with any brand/model machine.

My edits: Included more humidifiers.

tillymarigold · Post by **tillymarigold** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:04 pm

Every few hours?! I live in the desert where the ambient humidity is frequently at or below 10% and my 350mL Sandman humidifier (set to 8 of 10) lasts me 2 full nights!

roster · Post by **roster** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:30 pm

tillymarigold wrote:Every few hours?! I live in the desert where the ambient humidity is frequently at or below 10% and my 350mL Sandman humidifier (set to 8 of 10) lasts me 2 full nights!

Good point. I also suspect there is something wrong with Parmenides3's therapy besides the capacity of the tank.

I would first ask Parmenides3 what type of mask are you using and what is your leak rate?

The type of water consumption you report makes me think of someone using a nasal mask and continually mouthbreathing while the humidifier is set at the highest set. This can be giving you a very poor therapy and you may continue to have many apneas.

pdean44 · Post by **pdean44** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:42 pm

I just wish my Aussie hose would hurry up and get here. If i try to use the humidity level that would help me i have have rain out.

parmenides3 · Post by **parmenides3** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:25 pm

I don't know how leak rate is measured, but I use a ResMed Mirage Quattro mask and my pressure is 12.8. As an experiment, I covered some of the exhaust holes with my finger, and the humidity inside the mask rose dramatically over the next minute. Too bad the mask isn't adjustable for leak rate. Anyway, I guess this means another trip to the doctor. Thanks all, for your input.

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 9:05 am

parmenides3 wrote:I don't know how leak rate is measured, but I use a ResMed Mirage Quattro mask and my pressure is 12.8. As an experiment, I covered some of the exhaust holes with my finger, and the humidity inside the mask rose dramatically over the next minute. Too bad the mask isn't adjustable for leak rate. Anyway, I guess this means another trip to the doctor. Thanks all, for your input.

This forum has helped many people save time and money by reducing the number of trips they have to make to doctors and others in the medical industry. But you have to be cooperative and provide some information.

Which humidity setting are you using, what is the climate where you live, what is your approximate bedroom temperature, what model CPAP machine are you using and is there anything unusual about your therapy, health or sleeping conditions?

Parmenides3 · Post by **Parmenides3** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:40 am

Sorry, didn't mean to be uncooperative. I just don't know much about these things.

Machine: ResMed Elite II EPR set for pressure 12.8
Humidifier and setting: ResMed H4i at maximum humidity, with a ResMed insulator on the hose
Mask: ResMed Quattro Mirage (medium-size, covers nose and mouth)
Climate: Philadelphia, PA (temperate)
Average temperature of room 70 to 75 degrees F in the spring, 60 to 65 degrees F in winter

Last night, I plugged half of the vent holes on my mask with beeswax. The humidity was perfect and the water in the tank lasted 7 hours. So I'll clean the wax out and super-glue those holes (unless there's some reason I shouldn't?). Reducing the leakage seems to be the answer.

Hawthorne · Post by **Hawthorne** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:14 pm

I'm not sure I would alter the vent holes in a cpap mask in any way. They are desigend to let the excess CO2 get out of your mask so that you don't reinhale too much of it and causes problems.

If you have the QuattroFF mask, there is a graph somewhere in your mask manual that will tell you what the leak rate is for your particular mask at your particular pressure.

I would suggest you cut your humidity setting in half instead, with room temperature like you have.

In the summer, when your room temperature is 70 to 75 degrees, I might put my humidifier in pass over mode ( water in the chamber but no heat).

I live in Southwestern Ontario and I have my humidifier set at 1 or 2 during the winter months and use pass over mode at other times of the year. Our climate would be considered moderate.

I do have the F & P stand alone humidifier, that Rested Gal tells us has the highest water capacity. When I set it at 1 or 2, it uses about 1/3 of the water in a night. In pass over mode it hardly uses any water a night.

dave21 · Post by **dave21** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:16 pm

It's possibly that either your S8 is setup with the wrong mask type and that's allowing it to heat and consume more water, or there's excessive leaks or there could be something wrong with the machine/humidifer.

When I had my full face mask on the S8 AutoSet Spirit the water reservoir would only get down to about a quarter but most times didn't get passed half way.

You should be able to check on the machine which mask is configured and what the leak rate is in the morning. I wouldn't block the vent holes, they are there for a very good reason. Blocking the vent holes means you will not be able to let out the carbon dioxide that you exhale which means you could ultimately get carbon dioxide poisoning.

It’s very important that a mask have a vent to clear exhaled carbon dioxide. Never cover the mask vent with bed covers. Allow it to vent. When you get the mask, ask the technician to show you the vent. Vents may be hard to see. If you don’t know where the vent is, put on the mask, turn on the machine, and feel where air is coming out.

http://smart-sleep-apnea.blogspot.com/2 ... blems.html

dave21 · Post by **dave21** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:35 pm

Just another thought, make sure you do have the Ports cap installed firmly into the mask, if air is leaking out of here that might then have the net result of using more water in the humidifier.

roster · Post by **roster** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 3:13 pm

Parmenides3 wrote:Sorry, didn't mean to be uncooperative. I just don't know much about these things.

Machine: ResMed Elite II EPR set for pressure 12.8
Humidifier and setting: ResMed H4i at maximum humidity, with a ResMed insulator on the hose
Mask: ResMed Quattro Mirage (medium-size, covers nose and mouth)
Climate: Philadelphia, PA (temperate)
Average temperature of room 70 to 75 degrees F in the spring, 60 to 65 degrees F in winter

Last night, I plugged half of the vent holes on my mask with beeswax. The humidity was perfect and the water in the tank lasted 7 hours. So I'll clean the wax out and super-glue those holes (unless there's some reason I shouldn't?). Reducing the leakage seems to be the answer.

You are getting some good advice on some things to check before you go back to the doctor. Besides, the doc probably won't know these issues as well as the CPAPers here.

To repeat:

1. Do not tinker with the exhaust vents. They are sized to allow sufficient turnover of air so that you are not rebreathing air low in O2 and high in CO2.

2. Do make sure there are not significant leaks elsewhere in your hose or connections or mask.

3. You are setting your humidifier the way I make spaghetti sauce. I figure if two cloves of garlic are good, then eight cloves must just be great. Ain't true, as my wife will tell you. Turn the humidifier setting down to two now, and one later as the weather gets warmer. You may not need the humidifier at all during the warm summer days. If you could purchase an inexpensive hygrometer for your bedroom, I could give you some more precise advice on the settings.

Good luck.

Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

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Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

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Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Re: Highest water capacity available in free-standing humidifier

Machine

Additional Comments: Running AirSense 10 AutoSet CPAP, previously S9 AutoSet and S8 AutoSet Spirit