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Stick to distilled water only, empty and clean it with soapy water daily - let dry.

Every one or two weks (subject to your preference) disassemble tank from base and soak in a mix of vinegar and distilled water for appx 1/2 hr then clen with soap & water. (Not sure if the last step is necessary but I don't like any residual vinegar odor) and you're good to go.

Mask, hose and HH needs regular maintenance to insure a healthy enviroment. A HH, hose or mask is a great place for bacteria to grow - you don't want that to happen.

MY forum associates above have covered the bases.

Best,

Tom

But you don't have to be that badly worried:

http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/sleep-dis ... humid9.htm

Humidification in CPAP Therapy
The following information is provided by Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it possible for a patient to catch an infection from a humidifier?
A. The environment in the heated humidifier chamber under most operating conditions is such that the majority of pathogens are rapidly killed.
Even if pathogens were able to exist in the humidification chamber, they would not be able to be transported to the patient. The humidity travels from the chamber in vapor form, which is too small for a bacteria or virus to travel in.

O.

Regarding adding salt to the humidifier water, I would agree that it wouldn't be a smart thing to do. I do believe that some of the salt would get to your lungs though. As an example you know when you are close to the ocean because you can smell the salt air. The humidifier temperature is going to be a lot warmer than the ocean so I would say that you would get the salt smell or even taste if there was enough mixed in. I would think though that this would not be a smart thing to do under pressurized conditions.

pharmwoman:

if you used up a whole "tank" of water in one night, i'd say you had some serious mask leakage or you must have slept for at least 24 hours or a mix of something like both! never done that, although i've come close on one of those days when i wake up and find the mask on my bed with no clue as to how long it has been there. if you're really curious, try filling your tank and run the humidifer and machine without wearing the mask and see how long it takes to use up a tank of water--i think it's a while.

caroline

Adding salt will be a waste of time. How do you think they get salt in the first place? By evaporation of the water which leaves the salt behind.

As an example you know when you are close to the ocean because you can smell the salt air.

With due respect Darth Sodium Chloride does not have a smell of its own. Nor can it get in the air by simple evaporation, such as with a HH. If there is salt in the air by the ocean it's from the physical motion of the water, probably waves hitting rocks etc. creating a fine mist of salt water dissolved in the air. There is nothing close to this happening in the HH of a xPAP. Tt least this is my understanding of this. Rain would be salty by the ocean if what you're saying was correct. That is not the case.

What a plethora of insight and content .

I would like to add that suggestions for disinfecting HH, Mask & hose go beyond concerns of bacterium but also to mold & mildew.

COnsidering that masks and hoses catch and hold moisture - I believe it is just good hygiene to err on the side of cleanliness.

It's a holdover habit after my being part of a government regulatory agency in charge of air & water pollution. I got to work with water in a top lab - after seeing what we are drinking/breathing - I take the extra few minutes - also after participating in lab procedure on handling toxic water and waste - some in our water and oceans, rivers - I take the err on the side of disinfection.

This is not to say it will make any substantial difference if you don't but after years of seeing what the public doesn't know - I suggest an ounce of caution is worth a gallon of cure.

Tom

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