humidifier questions

1. I have a heated humidifier. If I want to run the autopap without having the humidifier on, how do I do that? It looks like the 6 ft hose doesn't fit directly in the hole where the humidifier normally is connected, so would I just continue to connect the hose to the humidifier itself but NOT fill it with water? This won't hurt the humidifier will it?

2. Also, is it correct that it WOULD hurt the humidifier or the autopap itself if I pushed the heat button and didn't have water in the humidifier? OR is it ok to push the heat button w/out water in the humidifier, just to warm the air before it gets into my lungs? I'm thinking this could cause the base to overheat and damage the whole works of the humidifier.

3. For those of you who talk about clearing the water droplets and moisture out of your hose by running the machine for awhile, does that mean w/the heat on and the humidifier (obviously) empty or with the heat off and just cold room air blowing through the hose????
Thanks, Terry

[quote="flower51 Terry"]1. I have a heated humidifier. If I want to run the autopap without having the humidifier on, how do I do that? It looks like the 6 ft hose doesn't fit directly in the hole where the humidifier normally is connected, so would I just continue to connect the hose to the humidifier itself but NOT fill it with water? This won't hurt the humidifier will it?

First of all, HI TERRY!!! Where have you been hiding? Hope all is well. Missed you.

Now, if you want to run the machine without the hh, you remove the tank and where the hh normally connects into the machine, on mine, which is a Remstar Auto, there is a rubber gasket which just pulls off. Once you take that gasket off, like an O ring, sort of, you place the hose that goes to your mask directly into the fitting where the hh used to connect. You CAN use the machine with the humidifier in place, with water in it, but not turn on the heat. I think it was the heat that really bothered me about it. But running it cool is not bad, IMHO. I think that's what they refer to as a passive humidifier.

2. Also, is it correct that it WOULD hurt the humidifier or the autopap itself if I pushed the heat button and didn't have water in the humidifier? OR is it ok to push the heat button w/out water in the humidifier, just to warm the air before it gets into my lungs? I'm thinking this could cause the base to overheat and damage the whole works of the humidifier.

I don't know about hurting the machine itself unless it heats it up and the heat has no where to go, but the tank that holds the water, I would think, may get ruined over time because technically the water heats up and takes the heat from the rest of the tank. The bottom is metal and is made to withstand the heat, but I don't know about the plastic sides. I wouldn't suggest it, anyway. And as far as your lungs, dry heat can't be great, I don't think, let alone good for the tank.

3. For those of you who talk about clearing the water droplets and moisture out of your hose by running the machine for awhile, does that mean w/the heat on and the humidifier (obviously) empty or with the heat off and just cold room air blowing through the hose????

I never did this as I hardly used my hh, but I would think you would be removing the tank, perhaps, and not using a mask at the other end of the hose. I can't think of how else to do it if the water was still in the tank and you ran it that way. Seems more moisture may entre the hose. Just my guess.

Hope this helped in some way. Glad to hear from you.

If it is a Resmed machine they have a special cover that you had to take off to put the integrated humdifier on. If you kept your original box the DME probably put it in there. You can always leave the humidfier on the unit just turn the heat off and leave it empty.

Running the Humidifier without water really won't do anything. The air flowing through will not heat up. Humidifiers really don't get all that warm.

To clear out a hose turn the dial down to zero and run your unit wiht the empty humidifier.

flower51 Terry wrote: 3. For those of you who talk about clearing the water droplets and moisture out of your hose by running the machine for awhile, does that mean w/the heat on and the humidifier (obviously) empty or with the heat off and just cold room air blowing through the hose????
Thanks, Terry

Terry,
I have dried my hose and mask even with water still in the tank (no heat). There is very little moisture that goes through when the heat is off and the air flow is enough (even on 7) to dry out the hose. Many empty the tank daily so that would be the time to do it, but for those who don't empty every day, I have found that it dries OK even with water in the tank.
Esther
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Bummer. Did it again. That guest was me.
I'll never catch up to Rested Gal and Lori if I keep doing that.
Esther

Born Tired wrote:Bummer. Did it again. That guest was me.
I'll never catch up to Rested Gal and Lori if I keep doing that.
Esther

Sure, you will, Esther. I'm probably this close to cpaptalk.com burnout...NEVER!!!!!

Thank you all! Where've I been? Here! I haven't been spending much time on the net....been doing some concentrated One on one time
seeking God's direction for somethings, studying the bible and praying.

I'll have to try what you suggested Lori. I did look at my remstar auto before where the humidifier attaches to the autopap but didn't know I could remove the ring and just put my hose directly into it. I thought I'd have to attach something to it to get it to go inside....I'll check it out when I get upstairs. Thanks hosehead sisses and bro! Terry

Terry,

Yes, that rubber ring just pulls right off. Not necessarily easily, but that's what you do. Pull that ring off and the hose fits perfectly around the connection.

Glad all is well by you. Hope your "one on one" time gave you the answers or guidance you were seeking. Good to hear from you again.