Combatting Rain-out

Been at this for about a month...

Now that the weather is cooler, I know rain out is going to occur more.. BUT I have messed with my humidifier levels for the last week to get the rain out to stop... I'm getting it in my barrel. I've been using the barrel cozy by pad-a-cheek.... My humidifier level is either 4.5 - 5.0. I haven't gone higher. But i have to have it that high in order for me to be comfortable and not be miserable the next day with dry nostrils and dry lungs.

I keep my window open at night since its cooler. I also put my hose under the covers with me and my machine is below head level. Do I need to buckle down and invest in the ClimateLine or do those hose covers actually help? Would making my humidifier level higher help or create more rain out? Any suggestions?

Meowser wrote: Do I need to buckle down and invest in the ClimateLine or do those hose covers actually help? Would making my humidifier level higher help or create more rain out? Any suggestions?

Q1:Will the humidifier level higher help or create more rainout... it will create more.
Q2: Do the hose covers actually help? Yes... I used one for a few nights when the temps got cool a little while back, and didn't have any issues with my humidity control turned up to 5.5. I eventually invested in a climateline and I have that thing cranked all the way up and have never had an issue.

Rain out in the barrel of the nasal pillow is from the moisture in our own exhaled breath. Been down this road for 2 winters now and tried all sorts of stuff. The hose cozies will help the long hose and even the short hose to the nasal pillow. They won't do much for condensation in the nasal pillow barrel. The barrel cozy helps some. Since I like lots of humidity from the humidifier and a cool bedroom this is something I know I will fight again this winter.

I am already getting a fine mist of water coming out the vent holes despite the hose and barrel cozy. I am not sure that a heated hose will help for moisture in the barrel itself. Robysue uses 2 barrel cozies. I may try that very soon myself. My machine doesn't offer a heated hose. Wish it did so I could see for sure if it would help.

Despite everything else being well insulated when our exhaled breath enters the barrel and with cooler room temps around that barrel...we get condensation. So far, our choices are to warm up the room temp or add more insulation to the barrel cozy..second coat. Now some people insert a small section of a cotton twine to absorb the moisture. They put it in the barrel cozy itself. I have never tried it myself. I can see where it would act like a wick and soak up the condensation.

Reduction in humidifier setting is not an option for me and I have read where people that don't even use humidifier will still get condensation in the nasal pillow barrel. So I prefer to try to insulate the barrel itself better. The cotton twine placement is an option...it just sort of bugs me...like I might snort it up my nose but I know that is nearly impossible. Since I do like the feel of the barrel cozy next to my skin I am thinking a second cozy on top of the first will be my next trial.

Rain out from our own exhaled breath moisture is independent from humidifier settings, levels of water, hose or anything else. Moisture laden air coming up the hose can sure contribute to it but if someone that doesn't even use a humidifier at all or in passover mode can get condensation in the pillows....the only place it can come from is the moisture in our own breath and the only way to address that issue is directly at the nasal pillow level the best we can.
Hose cozies, heated hoses, and such will greatly impact condensation in the hose but have little impact at the nasal pillow level.

I don't seem to have a problem with rainout and I use a Climateline hose with a cool bedroom all winter long. Last year I had my hose covered will try it with out a hose cover this year. Meawsre how high is the water level in your humidifer? if it gose above the fill line you will get rainout or water in the hose.

I also discovered the Climateline uses more water than the slimline.
Several times last winter, I had to add water to the tank in the wee hours,as it started smelling hot.
So, it was using more than the 14 oz the tank holds.
I'm looking for a room humidifier for this winter--as a supplement to, not instead of my H5i.

I must be quite lucky. I have my setting at the highest setting of 5, I fill above the fill line (at 5 it empties pretty quickly), my machine is close to an open window and I keep the room as cool as possible, the machine is about head level, and I do not have a climateline or hose cover and I do keep the hose under the covers so only about 2' of the hose is exposed. Fortunately (knocks on wood) I rarely ever have a problem with rainout.

jabman wrote: Meawsre how high is the water level in your humidifer? if it gose above the fill line you will get rainout or water in the hose.

I dont fill it above the line... i do add water to my tank every other night. I use about half the tank sometimes less on a typical night pending on how long it runs which is about 6-7hrs...

chunkyfrog wrote:I also discovered the Climateline uses more water than the slimline.
Several times last winter, I had to add water to the tank in the wee hours,as it started smelling hot.
So, it was using more than the 14 oz the tank holds.
I'm looking for a room humidifier for this winter--as a supplement to, not instead of my H5i.

I find that in the winter I am filling my tank every other night but in the summer it is every other week.

Pugsy is giving you very good information. I'm one who uses the cotton twine "wick"....and it works perfectly.

Rainout is not a "flood"...it's just a couple pf pesky drops. You can catch those drops with cotton string....just before they go up your nose.

G

You already have most of the technology for the climateline feature already purchased.

Its sitting there at night waiting to be unleashed for your total CPAP comfort.

I'd get the climateline hose for the complete experience.

Meowser wrote:Would making my humidifier level higher help or create more rain out? Any suggestions?

higher humidity = increased chance of rainout.

Unfortunately

As pugsy mentioned, I've taken to using a second Padacheek barrel cozy on my pillows. It seems to help with the condensation that comes from my exhaled breath, which is where most of my problem seems to come from. I also sleep with the hose and my head under the covers. That also tends to help keep the barrel just a wee bit warmer.

Hubby and I prefer a cool (some say cold) bedroom: We keep the night time thermostat set between 60 and 62 F. (That's around 16C for those of you not in the States). I'd rather deal with the bit rainout that I still get on the coldest nights instead of being hot when I'm trying to get to sleep.

I dont know if I can do two barrel cozies. I can try...

I wish I only had a few drops in the barrel. Some mornings there are a couple, then there are mornings where I wake up and there's quite a bit in there and shake it all out and let the air run through the tube to dry it out.

Gerald wrote:Pugsy is giving you very good information.

Pugsy always has great advice

How do you use the twine? Where do you put it?

robysue wrote: We keep the night time thermostat set between 60 and 62 F.

Oooh thats cold. Brr.... it may drop down that low at night maybe more now...


Thanks guys!

you could try running a low heat i.e warm repti cable between your hose and the hose cover/sleeve/snuggle you are using

i used this one for months

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Repti-Hea ... 043&sr=8-1

I can't tell you "how" to put the string in your mask....because your mask is different from mine. But, the principles are the same.

Simply put a piece of thick cotton string inside your nose piece where it can absorb the offending drop or two...before they can get to you.

On my mask, I thread a stainless steel fishing "leader" into my nose piece....attach a piece of string to it...and pull the string into the mask with the leader. The string can't go anywhere once it's in place....and i replace it every few months.

The "cotton string solution" works great....and I NEVER have rainout caused by exhaled breath condensation.

Pictures of my technique have been posted on this forum...and can be found by doing a search. If I'm not mistaken, Rested Gal posted them for me and searching through her posts would work. If you can't find them, send me your regular email address and I'll transmit them to you.

G