Questions for F&P HC150 Humidifier users?

How effectively does the "Ambient Tracking" prevent rainout?

If you prefer a cooler ambient room temp for sleeping it seems the "Ambient Tracking" would defeat the benefit of the heated humidifier by lowering the temp of the heater relative to the cool room air. Has anybody experienced this condition?

How well do the insulated hose sleeves work to prevent rainout?

Thanks to all for any input

How often do you have to replace the water chamber? I read somewhere that they are not washable.

The water chamber of any humidfier can be cleaned...some easier than others, but you certainly can slosh a vinegar solution or soapy water around in the chamber.

I've been using a Fisher & Paykel HC150 heated humidifier (with "ambient tracking") since Feb. I did still get rainout (not bad, but some) if I turned it up more than halfway. My house has central heat/air and is kept at about 72 year round. Since I had not used any other brand of heated humidifier, I don't have anything to compare it too. If I'd been using another that didn't have "ambient tracking" I might have experienced more rainout than the little bit I got sometimes...dunno. There have been a few mornings when the water chamber was cool to the touch, as though the ambient tracking feature had turned the heat off. What the "ambient tracking" feature does NOT do, though, is prevent rainout completely.

To really, really eliminate rainout, get the Aussie heated hose to use along with (not "instead of") your heated humidifier. Using an insulated cover around a regular hose helps a little, but nothing like using the heated hose. The "heated cpap tube", as they call it, is available at: www.sleepzone.com.au There probably will be heated hoses in the U.S. in the near future, but for now, that's the only place you can order one, as far as I know. I sure like mine.

The price shown at that site is in Australian dollars, so it's actually a bit cheaper in U.S. $. Then there's shipping and the fact that you need an adapter for it. Radio Shack has an adapter that works with it - 12 volt 1000 mA for about $17.00. By the time you buy the heated hose, have it shipped from Australia and buy the adapter, you'd probably have around $150 in it. It's well worth the money if rainout is a problem. Water dripping or spraying on your face, or gurgling in the hose ... a guaranteed sleep disturbance!