Empty humidifer every day?

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:42 pm

My humidifier is about 1/2 full in the morning (I'm using steam distilled water). Is there any good reason to empty this everyday? I'm thinking you can just leave the water in it and top it off for the next night. I don't want to empty out this water when sould be clean. Only filling it 1/2 way isn't something I feel good about as I don't want the thing to go dry.

What do y'all do?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:21 pm

I just top mine off everyday.

Marie · Post by **Marie** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:57 pm

I have a passover humidifier, and according to the instructions, I am supposed to empty everyday and let it dry out. I use distilled water.
But, after a while I have started emptying it every other day and letting it dry out. Once a week I clean it with vinegar or diswashing liquid, then let dry out.

Marie

rock and roll · Post by **rock and roll** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:03 pm

I'm with Wader, I just top off every night. Occationally I let it run out.

biggziff · Post by **biggziff** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:13 pm

OK..I feel better about just topping it off then. I'll clean it once a week or so.

Thanks...you guys/gals are awesome!

frostman · Post by **frostman** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 6:25 pm

Just top it off when you need it, mine may go 3-4 days before it needs more water

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:42 pm

I top it off too, with distilled water. I do that for weeks at a time before ever dumping it out and starting over.

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:55 pm

Same as rested gal and frostman.

Den

nanamar · Post by **nanamar** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:25 pm

I've been empting mine every evening and rinsing it out and
filling it up again....and taking it apart and soaking with vinegar
once every week....I have been going through distilled water like
crazy...Next time I get low I will just top it off and clean the chamber
when I feel it needs it.....thanks all...

Mar

susanhhill · Post by **susanhhill** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:35 pm

Yep, same as rested gal and frostman! For a while at the beginning, I didn't know to use distilled water and I changed it and cleaned it way more often, but the distilled water makes a huge difference!

Jere · Post by **Jere** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:00 pm

Got to hop on over to the general store and get me some of dat der distilled water!

I have been rinsing and cleaning like a lunatic. I should have known ...

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:47 pm

I fill my humidifier and it takes two days to almost empty...then I give it a good cleaning and start all over again...maybe when I become an old pro at this I will not clean as much either...LOL LOL

neversleeps · Post by **neversleeps** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:58 pm

I also just top it off every night and have never taken it apart since the day I got it.

WillSucceed · Post by **WillSucceed** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 6:31 am

There has been lots of debate about this dump/don't dump humidifier issue on this forum. I know that many users don't dump the water and have had no problems; I hope it stays that way for them.

My opinion is that you should follow the instruction given in the humidifier manual and DUMP THE WATER EVERY MORNING, allowing the humidifier tank to dry out during the day. Here's why:

1) Distilled water is NOT sterile.
2) Nasty things (bacteria, moulds, fungus, etc.,) can, and do, grow in warm, moist environments. Dumping the water and letting the tank dry out creates a hostile environment for nasties that might grow.
3) When the CPAP is not blowing, moisture from water in the tank is, to a small degree, finding its way back into the CPAP machine. Do you want moisture in your expensive CPAP machine?
4) Whatever is in the humidifier tank is being blown straight into your lungs while you are sleeping. For the sake of the cost of throwing out a bit of unused water, and the inconvenience of dumping the tank/refilling it, do you want to be breathing whatever nasty thing may have gotten into your tank and grew during the day/days that it sat there?

Some on this forum have complained about the cost of distilled water and object to throwing water out in the morning; fair enough, buying distilled is an expence. So, use a measuring cup and put an exact amount of water in the tank, 200mls, for example, and see how much is left in the morning. This will give you an idea of how much water you need during a night. In this way, you will figure out how much you need for a regular night and can then only put this amount in the tank. Also, you can microwave the water for 10-15 seconds before you put it in and, voila!, you get warm humidified air with your first breath.

snowloft · Post by **snowloft** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:01 am

Numerous people have told me repeatedly and with emphasis that it is important to drain and dry the humidifier on a daily basis. The problem is that the heated water makes a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If the water is not allowed to dry, that bacteria will begin to grow and fester, and could make you very sick. I personally would not go any longer that 2-3 days without draining and drying the unit. You don't want bacteria getting blown straight into your lungs. Just my opinion.

Mask