Humidifier Problem

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 8:12 am

Just wondering if anyone else has this problem....when I put my humidifier back together after cleaning it, it doesn't seem to fit the same anymore. I have the HumidAire 2i....when I fit the rubber seal back on and put the cover on, I then turn it up to fill it....the water seems to run along the back of the rubber seal and the next thing I know there is water coming out the hole that fits in the machine. I try drying it and even when it is sitting up the right way the water still keeps seeping along the rubber seal...I don't want water to get into my machine. It is so annoying. It never did this at first....only the last month or so. Alot of times I take it all apart...let it dry again and start over....only to have it happen again. I check it all over and make sure I fit it all together the right way. I only had it for 4 months and it has to last me 5 years. I hope I explained myself right....anyone have any suggestions why this is happening.

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:26 am

Hi Linda,
I don't have the same humidifier as you so I'm not sure I can be helpful. I used to take my humidifier apart every morning...wash it...let it air dry...reassemble and fill with water. One morning I woke up to find water all over my night table. Apparently, I didn't get the bottom attached well enough to the rest of the humidifier. Since then, I NEVER take the humidifier apart. I empty it every morning and then let it air dry. It hasn't leaked so far and it's been a couple of months already. RG, and several other people, told me they never disassemble their humidifiers so I followed their advice. Why don't you call your DME and tell them what's happening. Tell them the humidifier is defective. Do you know if it has a warranty? I would put the problem in their hands and make them fix it. Don't admit to do anything wrong (because you haven't done anything wrong). Good luck!
Amy

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:40 am

Linda,

I have a 2i on my Spirit but am just about to tuck in for the night else I rip it apart & give you an assesment of what might be happening. I did take a quick look but with it closed, I can't even see the seal.

Hopefully someone can post from their long time experience - I have only played with this unit for 3 nights.

Cheers

DSM

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 1:08 pm

yawn wrote: RG, and several other people, told me they never disassemble their humidifiers so I followed their advice. Why don't you call your DME and tell them what's happening. Tell them the humidifier is defective. Do you know if it has a warranty? I would put the problem in their hands and make them fix it. Don't admit to do anything wrong (because you haven't done anything wrong). Good luck!
Amy

I was thinking of calling them. I just wanted to see if others had that problem too. If I don't disassemble my humidifier...I wouldn't be able to wash it with soap. And would it dry good enough if I don't take it apart...I better call them. Thanks Amy...

dsm...you posted at 9:40am and you are about to tuck in for the night...do you work night shift? What do you mean you can't see the seal....isn't your humidifier a clear color?

yawn · Post by **yawn** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 4:58 pm

Linda,
Ummmmmm, I don't wash mine with soap anymore . I had a hard time adjusting to that idea but I figured, if it's good enough for RG, then it's good enough for me. Again, I don't know what your humidifier looks like but mine has 2 holes. One on the top (where I put the water in), and one on an elbow type arm (that fits into the CPAP. Each morning, I dump out the water and then turn the humidifier on it's side to air dry. By night-time, it's all dry.

Hope this helps!
Amy

snork1 · Post by **snork1** » Tue Oct 25, 2005 5:56 pm

Not with THAT humidifier, but similar ones.....
I took apart a humidifier ONCE....That just didn't look like a good idea with that funky seal they all seem to use.

What I do is use distilled water, and swish around and out whatever is left in the morning and let it air dry, which is usually does NOT completely dry.

In a few years I have NEVER had a mold problem and in the soggy Northwest that is saying a LOT.

I also make sure I keep my air filters fairly clean so not much is ever actually in that water. I would think the soap could introduce more problems than it would solve.

And RG NEVER changes her water and doesn't seem to have a problem. I can't go THAT far myself....yet. Although traveling I bring along a Platypus TM bag filled with distilled water and use it up without tossing any of it.

sleepyboy · Post by **sleepyboy** » Fri Oct 28, 2005 11:17 pm

I have the same humidifier and have noticed the same thing. Here is the solution:
Do not fill the humidifier with water the way the manufacturer recommends. Instead of assembling the whole tank and seal and then pouring water into the hole, put the water into the bottom half of the plastic tank, then put the seal on, then put the top on and lock it. Do not tip the humidifier, just insert it into your machine. No water gets into the seal that way.

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 3:28 am

sleepyboy wrote:I have the same humidifier and have noticed the same thing. Here is the solution:
Do not fill the humidifier with water the way the manufacturer recommends. Instead of assembling the whole tank and seal and then pouring water into the hole, put the water into the bottom half of the plastic tank, then put the seal on, then put the top on and lock it. Do not tip the humidifier, just insert it into your machine. No water gets into the seal that way

Good idea....now why didn't I think of that... Thanks sleepyboy..

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 4:12 am

Just caught up with this thread - re me going to bed at such an odd hour - in Australia we do strange things like that - such as sleeping while you are waking

Also, I did pull my 2i apart the next day & had a good look.

The seal looks pretty effective but I can say now that there is *no* way I would pull this unit apart more than once a week just because of its design - but to be honest, I feel the same about the 3i, the RemStar h/h & the PB420 h/h. The 2i looks more prone to problems if pulled apart repeatedly.

But just wanted to say that in 7 nights of using the Spirit & 2i, on 3 occasions I ended up with water on the bedside table after filling it. But that was all.

I would rate the 2i as the weak link in a S7/Spirit + 2i combo but tolerable none the less.

Cheers

DSM

Severeena · Post by **Severeena** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:48 pm

Make sure that the seal is back the same way it came off.

I rinse my tank out once a week with soap and water, then flush all pieces with distilled water. Put the humidaire 2i back together after the two pieces are fully, and then put the distilled water in the place where the hose attaches. You must make sure that the latches are secure.

I have no problem with mine.

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:16 am

[color=red][u]dsm[/u][/color] wrote:I would rate the 2i as the weak link in a S7/Spirit + 2i combo but tolerable none the less.

Cheers

DSM

Oh great...and I am stuck with this for 5 years.

The 2i looks more prone to problems if pulled apart repeatedly.

dsm....what makes you think this? Do you think the problem is with the rubber piece? Or maybe the clips at the side?

I tried sleepyboy's suggestion and it did the trick....it quite easy to put together that way.

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:27 am

Severeena wrote: Make sure that the seal is back the same way it came off.

I rinse my tank out once a week with soap and water, then flush all pieces with distilled water. Put the humidaire 2i back together after the two pieces are fully, and then put the distilled water in the place where the hose attaches. You must make sure that the latches are secure.

I have no problem with mine.

Severeena...I am very careful how I put it back together...sometimes I have a hard time putting the top hard plastic piece on after the rubber piece is on....it pushes the rubber piece down the wrong way...it's just a pain to me... I don't know why but I have a problem with only cleaning it once a week....it bothers me if I don't clean it every second day...I'm scared to get mold in it. This summer I left water in a jug for a few days and when I noticed it there was mold in the jug...maybe I'll try just emptying it of water and not taking it apart....and check to see that it stays clean...that way it won't have be taken apart as much...like dsm said.

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:39 am

Guess I'm gonna mess up the party here! I fill mine up each night by unclipping the sides and removing the top cover. I never remove the rubber seal though. Once filled to the water mark, I replace the top, clip it shut and place it back on the Spirit. Been doing this a year now. No problems at all!

lindas88 · Post by **lindas88** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:52 am

inacpapfog wrote:Guess I'm gonna mess up the party here! I fill mine up each night by unclipping the sides and removing the top cover. I never remove the rubber seal though. Once filled to the water mark, I replace the top, clip it shut and place it back on the Spirit. Been doing this a year now. No problems at all!

Now that may be a good idea too...and maybe that will help air dry it too without taking that rubber piece off. One question though....do you ever clean it with soap or do you just let it air dry?

inacpapfog · Post by **inacpapfog** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 8:22 am

Every weekend, I pull the humidifier off of the Spirit, unclip and empty contents. I use a paper towel, distilled water and baby shampoo to wash the chamber. After a good rinsing with distilled water, I allow it to air dry until use that evening. Water and chamber stays crystal clear! (Note: I do make it a point to keep my unit out of sunlight in order to prevent "red" mold from occuring. Seems like I read about it here or on another forum. I know that when I read about the "red" mold, I immmediately took my humidifier apart and wiped with a paper towel. Paper towel turned pink! There was "red" mold occuring and I could not see it at all! Turns out that too much light can cause this to happen in a closed water chamber. Now, I simply cover my Spirit with a small towel during the day! Have not had the problem since!)

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