Humidifier running dry on PR Resmed System 1 Auto

ETA: it is a REMstar not Resmed. I can't figure out how to edit the title.


Last night was my second night with my new APAP, and second night for therapy. The first night I didn't use the humidifier. I have dry nose issues because we live where there is practically no humidity. (The Teton Mountains of Idaho).

Last night I set the humidity to 1. (I am afraid air that is too warm will cause me claustrophobia issues, cool air is fine though.). I am using the Quattro Mirage full face mask. I have issues with exhaling and feeling warm air on my face...so didn't want warm air coming in also.... It's not just the APAP causing them though. I am a nurse and have a very hard time when I have to wear a mask too. Feeling like I can't breathe even though I know I am. It's the warm air exhalation so close to my face that does it to me!

All that to say, even only set at 1 my humidifier tank ran dry. It was full when I went to bed. It ran about 8.5 hours. I am not sure when it ran dry, it was empty when I checked everything this morning and removed my mask to clean it. Will that cause issues with breaking/cracking it? Do I need to fill it during the night? Not use it? Will it automatically cut off when the tank is empty! I do use the heated hose also.

Any advice?

The only thing I can suggest is a room humidifier or, if you have a heated hose you could try using a regular hose... FWIW, my tank runs dry or nearly dry every night. A lot depends on where you live and the air in the room. I live in Minnesota, where the polar vortex made its home this winter. In cold weather climates, there is not much humidity in the winter so more of it is required when a humidifier is running. Now that spring is here (supposedly) I find that there is a tiny bit of water covering the bottom of the tank, and as we move into summer maybe there will be more water left over. I'm a newbie, just 3 months into xpap, but maybe more experienced people will be along with other ideas for you.

I run my PR in the humidifier in the optional 'classic mode'. Search this site for more info on how to do that by typing in classic mode. It makes the humidifier run much warmer and gets plenty of moisture into one's mouth and throat, which can be nice for FFM mouth breathers. You indicated you don't like a lot of humidity so this is mostly directed at other CPAP'ers reading this. This next part may be useful to you. On the downside of 'classic mode' I have to keep a small water bottle of distilled water next to my bed which I use to top up the tank when I go for a pee in the middle of the night. Not too cool, but in classic mode you have to do it. Even in regular mode I still had to do that sometimes if I slept in.

9forus

You need to fill out your equipment profile to get decent answers.

Even in an arid climate you should not use a full tank of water on a humidifier setting one one.

Without more information, I will just guess:

1. You are using a nasal mask and mouthbreathing much of the night (bad!).

- or -

2. You are using a full face mask and have massive unintentional leak (bad!).

In either case your AHI of 1.3 could be way understated.

Fill out your equipment profile.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:I run my PR in the humidifier in the optional 'classic mode'. Search this site for more info on how to do that by typing in classic mode. It makes the humidifier run much warmer and gets plenty of moisture into one's mouth and throat, which can be nice for FFM mouth breathers. You indicated you don't like a lot of humidity so this is mostly directed at other CPAP'ers reading this. This next part may be useful to you. On the downside of 'classic mode' I have to keep a small water bottle of distilled water next to my bed which I use to top up the tank when I go for a pee in the middle of the night. Not too cool, but in classic mode you have to do it. Even in regular mode I still had to do that sometimes if I slept in.

It's not so much the humidity I have a problem with as the heat.

OhHelpMe wrote:

9forus

You need to fill out your equipment profile to get decent answers.

Even in an arid climate you should not use a full tank of water on a humidifier setting one one.

Without more information, I will just guess:

1. You are using a nasal mask and mouthbreathing much of the night (bad!).

- or -

2. You are using a full face mask and have massive unintentional leak (bad!).

In either case your AHI of 1.3 could be way understated.

Fill out your equipment profile.

I stated in my original post I am using a Quattro Mirage Full Face mask. I have no leaks, the machine says no leaks and I feel no leaks from anywhere around the seal. I have the PR Remstar System One Auto A Flex with heated humidifier and heated hose. I am using the Quattro Mirage FFM.

@ 9forus: Since it's the heat that bothers you, I'd suggest getting a regular hose...

@Sir Noddinoff: I appreciate your mention of topping off the humidifier when you get up in the night. I will do that, as I use a smaller bottle daily to fill the humidifier. I have a lot of arthritis in my hands and wrists, and it is hard for me to handle the gallon jug... so I keep the quart bottle filled and use that daily...

I use the AquaPod water bottles for my Respironics machine, This bottle contains exactly the correct amount to fill the chamber. Of course, I drink the AquaPod water the first time and then refill the bottle with distilled water. It makes it very easy to fill the chamber as it is just dump in the whole bottle. I have seven of these bottles and refill them once a week from a gallon jug and I'm good to go for the next week. With the gallon jug, one way to limit the effect of arthritis in your hands is to use the edge of the sink as a pivot when filling the little bottles. Most of the weight is supported on the sink edge and very little stress goes into your hands.

If you are using a whole tank of water with the humidifier set to System One with a setting of one, then your room humidity must be extremely low. I suggest that a room humidifier is one answer to the issue. Get one that is evaporative and not either heated or the spray mist type. The heated ones run up your electric bill and the spray ones leave a fine white dust everywhere. I think the dust is so fine that it will pass through even the white fine filter. The one we use has an evaporative filter in the back that needs to be changed from time to time since it gets ucky after a while.

The humidity is crazy low out here. My nose gushed blood daily for 6 months when we first moved out here. We moved from an extremely humid climate in the Deep South to the mountains of Idaho. Huge humidity difference!

If the heated hose is connected then the only choice available when you turn the knob on the top of the blower unit is for temperature of the air in the hose.

You need to go into the clinical setup menu and check to see if the humidity selection is 1, 2 or 3. Sounds like it might be at 2 or 3 which is a higher humidity. With your dry air where you live and a higher selection on the humidity to be delivered the machine worked it's little butt off trying to add moisture to the air and used up all the water.

"This humidifier offers three levels of humidification (70, 80 or 90 percent) and the heated tube has five levels of temperature available, ranging from 4 to 16 degrees above the room temperature. These two features work together to deliver the optimum humidification level at the mask. "
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/pr-sys ... ifier.html

One final thought that I will mention...if leaks excessive more water will be used but I saw on your other thread where you are reporting 0% large leaks...so we can't blame leaks.
I think likely it is the combination of the dry air where you live and the humidity selection...and you need to go into the clinical setup menu to verify what that setting is.

Yikes! How do I get to the clinical section?

First of all go here and request a copy of your provider/clinical manual...there's information in it that explains your machine's features as well as how to get to the clinical setup menu.
http://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap-p ... tup-manual
Be sure to request this exact wording for the request...instructions down near the bottom of the page but this is the model you have
Respironics PR System One 60 Series REMstar Auto with A-flex
BTW...the Remstar part...useless as that has been used on all models made in the last 20 years.

Here are the generic instructions for how to get to the clinical set up menu and there's a little video at the bottom of the page
http://www.apneaboard.com/pr-system-one ... structions

Thank you. I will give that a try.

@JDS74: good idea about pouring from the big jug.. And I'm currently living in a place where I can't do the room humidifier thing... sold my home in Nov. but on a waiting list at an apartment building, where I have finally made it to the TOP of the list. Once I find out what the heating/humidity situation is at the apartments I will decide whether to get a small humidifier..