My $.02 or yours. Humidifier problems. Pink, green gunk.

Happy Thanksgiving

I conducted a highly scientific experiment to see just how much water my humidifier used and how much the daily cost was.

My S9 Auto with H5i humidifier and ClimateLine hose set on the default setting of Auto mode, (temp. 80 deg. and hum. 80%), was used in an area with an average relative humidity of 64%.

It averaged a daily use of 2.5oz/74ml.

I purchased a gal. of distilled water at K-Mart for $1.00

When you do the math it comes out to $.02/day.

I will leave my fellow forum members to make comments and draw conclusions as I have a problem which just cropped up and I have to solve immediately. Someone is singing the Star Spangeled Banner at the Patriots-Lions game AND the temp. probe in the turkey just started to beep. Problems, problems, problems.

You have got too much time on your hands!!!!!!!

The title of your post doesn't entirely reflect the content of the post, so I'm guessing that at 2 cents per day from Kroger, you're getting pink gunk growing in the tank of your S9 humidifier. Is that correct? You might be surprised to find that not all bottled water is as pure as is advertised. Then again, you might not be surprised, seeing what lovely bacteria Kroger brought you. Distilled water shouldn't contain enough food to breed bacteria, right? What else is in there? Yikes.

I know I didn't do a good job explaining myself and I'm sorry for that.

I have has three different machines so far and have used only distilled water in them. My humidifiers have stayed just as clean as the day I got them without ANY washing.

I travel a lot and I make it a priority to pick up some distilled water as soon as I can after landing.

I remember reading that some forum members were using tap water to save money so I did this little experiment just to see how much it cost/day.

In my experience, generally speaking, people can save all the gunk headaches for $.02/day.

Ed

I've been weighing all the advice on this forum, and as a newbie, am cautiously travelling a middle road as far as cleaning, humidifier water etc.

Firstly, I AM a germaphobe, so this is still a bit of a dilemma for me, but this is what I'm currently doing.

My humidifier just gets topped up every day with distilled water. Then once a week I empty it and let air dry, then refill that night. I'm only 6 weeks into this but so far the tank and water has remained crystal clear.
It makes absolutely no sense to me, to wash my tank with tap water (which is possibly contaminated, and DOES contain chemicals, minerals and gunk), but I will do so with the recommended vinegar or bleach if ever necessary.

My hose gets hung over a hook every day to dry/air, but either in my bedroom or the kitchen (only if I'm not cooking as the cooking smells DO get into the hose and mask even with a powerful extractor). So far I have washed this in hot soapy water once - again it makes no sense to wash it in contaminated water, when all it's doing is carrying filtered air and clean humidity TO me not from me.

My mask - I take the mouth cushion off (but don't remove the nasal pillows) and wash all parts in hot water and Ivory or Dr. Bronner's every morning, and the headgear once a week in Woolite. Perhaps I should be washing my mask parts in distilled water, or at least rinsing but am trying not to be too obsessive.

I NEVER put any of my CPAP components in the bathroom.

Cheers,
Xena

Xena, The purpose of washing in soap and water is to remove the "big chunks" of contamination. This should be followed with a "sanitation" rinse.

After washing with soap and water, you can rinse with distilled water to remove residual, then follow that with a rinse with your bleach water.

This 3 step process of washing, rinsing, and disinfecting, results in clean equipment.

Hosecrusher talk about aver kill! I wash my pillow cushions and head brace with Dawn dish soap the foamy kind then drain my humidifier tank daily I keep my hose connected and may wash once a month . I have been doing for over two years and no crud anywhere noted . The only time I really cleaned everything was last winter I got bronchitis . I replace my hose about every six months and my tank maybe twice a year. Keep life simple. I do change filters bi weekly.P.S. I replace my pillow cushions every two weeks.

Iamsleepynomore, Obviously you are not a germaphobe...

I have no problems with people becoming germaphobes only when they are ill, but some people prefer prevention to avoid illness. I don't believe having clean equipment would have made your bronchitis worse.

You do bring up a good point. Following the general replacement schedule should eliminate most of the issues.

FoxNewsFan wrote:... In my experience, generally speaking, people can save all the gunk headaches for $.02/day...

Thanks for the clarification. I agree - distillled or reverse-osmosis water is an excellent way to reduce or even perhaps prevent bacterial growth. I have washed my tank twice since I bought it in February, and that's only because I sometimes feel guilty about not washing it more often. I just figure it's probably okay if there is no smell, no residue and no growth.