Rainout Rainout Go Away

When I ordered my RESMED S9 Elite with Climate Control, I was optimistic that I was on the road to solving the rainout problem I had been experiencing for some three-plus years with my Remstar M-Plus. Although the problem has gone away yet, I may still have success when I eventually come up with the right setting(s). The S9 shipped with temp. set at 80 which I left alone for a couple of weeks. I then tried a higher setting (85) but the problem seemed worse. Most recently, I am trying a temperature slightly lower than the ambient room temperature (upper 60's). I think it may be better, but I've only had a couple nights at that temp. Seems like "lower" is better than "higher." I am using a full face mask ("Mirage Quattro") and the condensation occurs on the lower portion (left or right, depending on which side I'm sleeping on). The ultimate solution my be to disable the "Auto" setting on the Climate Control, allowing me to independently set temperature and humidity. Has anyone had experience with this???

Sorry, my best solution for condensation was to put my Respironics Auto on a short stand in front of my bedside table so any condensation would flow downhill back to the reseviour

BakeryMan wrote:the condensation occurs on the lower portion (left or right, depending on which side I'm sleeping on).

Are you sure you're not drooling?

Linda

I finally turned off the humidifer on my S9............it goes through about half as much water as before and I hardly ever have rainout. It hasn't been a problem here in humid MN...........but this may change in the winter. My climatehose has a snuggly cover on it for my comfort when it's in contact with me at night.

BakeryMan........

For the last two or three years, I've equipped my nasal mask with a "moisture absorbing wick" (a double strand of thick cottom string) on the inside of my nose piece. My problem was "exhaled breath condensation"....not "hose condensation". The problems are different....but somewhat related........and require different solutions.

I've never had experience with the Mirage Quattro......but, here's a suggestion.

Build small absorbant cotton wicks....sew each to a small piece of female Velcro.....attach a small piece of industrial adhesive backed male Velcro near where the moisture condenses....attach the wicks....and experiment.

My wick solution absolutely solved my "exhaled breath condensation" problem. I've had no rainout for over three years.

I never had "hose condensation" because I was careful to set my humidifier on as low a setting as possible....I insulated my hose with a flannel cover.....and I use an overhead hose suspension system (so that the hose is in a sort of "upside down p-trap").

Hope this helps.

Rainout occurs because the air in the tube cools below the temperature at which the relative humidity is 100%. The two solutions are:

1. Do not allow more water to be vaporized into the airstream than the end temperature will support. You can do this by turning down the humidifier.
2. Do not allow the temperature of the airstream to fall below the condensation point. You can do this by insulating the airstream.


I use a combination of:
1. Preheating the air (winter only)
2. Running the hose beside my body (winter only)
3. Heating the hose with a repti cable (all but the hottest nights)
4. Heavy insulation, including a tube cover as well as a series of doubled up socks. (year-round)
5. Making a tent from the sheet or blankets over my head so that the mask is insulated, as well (whenever I feel like the air is cold)
6. Turning down the humidifier (summer only)


Or you can use a wick as Gerald described to deal with condensation after it occurs, but prevention is probably better.

Sure do like my Aussie heated hose and my separate Fisher & Paykel heated humidifier.

Both those can be used with any brand/model machine.

LINKS to discussions about the Aussie heated hose - to prevent rainout
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