Apnea Forum Posting

Posted by Cue Miller on July 26, 2000 at 08:09:56:

In Reply to: RAIN OUT!!! posted by Duffy on July 26, 2000 at 06:05:08:

The amount of rainout (if any) varies with the temperature and the relative humidity in the room. When the temperature of the room is lower, and the air is therefore dryer, more condensation forms in the hose. When the humidity in the room is higher, there is also more condensation that forms in the hose.

If you are currently getting a lot of rainout at 5, turn the humidifier thermostat DOWN to around 3 and see what happens. If that's not enough, turn it down to 2 or even 1. The idea is to find the setting where rainout begins, and set the dial 1/2 point lower. Trial and error is the only way. There is no fixed setting, no matter what the DME says and no matter what setting someone else uses. There is even some evidence that the thermostats vary from one machine to another.

If the temperature commonly varies in the room, you will find that the rainout comes and goes. If you sleep with the AC on some nights and without it other nights, for example, the rainout will vary. In the fall, unless you live in the tropics or subtropics, the temperature will vary and so will the rainout. It's hard to keep the room temperature steady in many homes.

In addition to the rainout caused by the heated water in the humidifier chamber, there is rainout that comes from condensation of your exhaled breath through your nose. This is especially noticeable in nasal pillows, because the nasal "chamber" is smaller than a regular or full-face mask. If the room air is cool, you might get condensation no matter how low the thermostat. Most of us, including me, just get used to a small trickle of water now and then (it's just water, by the way).

Here are two hints:

1. Buy a hose insulation tube. There is one brand that is better than others. Policy forbids posting the URL, but if you would like to email me I will reveal the deep, dark, dastardly secret.

2. Buy a new synthetic sponge at the grocery store, clip a small piece off it, and put it into the nasal shell that holds the pillows. Obviously, make sure it doesn't block the pillows. The sponge will soak up the (very) small amount of water in the shell. Be sure to clean the sponge from time to time. You can even boil it if you are a clean freak like so many are.

Of course, if you get rainout, be sure to simply hold up the hose and allow it to drain back into the humidifier chamber after you turn down the humidifier. Be careful you don't let it drain into the CPAP!

Follow Ups:

• Re: RAIN OUT!!! John Len 19:19 7/26/00 (2)
  • Re: RAIN OUT!!! Cue Miller 08:42 7/27/00 (1)
    • RAIN OUT John Len 10:41 7/27/00 (0)

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