In doesn't take much to get the humidifier to stink!

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:15 pm

Granted, the M series humidifier is too small, but even so, I still never ran out of water--until yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon, I pulled out my new mask to try. Put it on and turned on the machine. I though, "Oh, this mask smells bad, I better wash it first." I usually do anyway, but was anxious to try it! Mind you, I'm very sensitive to odors, good or bad. The mask dries and I try again as I'm getting ready for bed. Same smell. Then I put on my UMFF and get the same odor. All of a sudden it dawns on me that it must be the machine. I turn it off quickly and pull out the humidifier chamber--bone dry.

First, I couldn't believe it was dry, as I always have it on 4 and I didn't sleep any longer than usual. Didn't smell when I woke up that morning either. Not leaking anywhere either. The smell was instantaneous as soon as I turned the machine on. And it still smelled after putting water back in it, with the humidifier turned off. Had to wash everything at 2 a.m.

Just watch it guys, with this small humidifier. It can really smell bad if it gets empty, and fast, too. And I'm sure it could damage it if left that way too long. Love the machine, but still have problems with this humidifier!!

Pam

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:51 pm

run them dry and I'm sure it will put off a pretty good smell. If you haven't been using distilled water it could get pretty rank. You might try putting a 1/2 teaspoon of bleach in a glass off water and pouring it in slosh it around and let it set for 20-30 minutes, the bleach will kill just about anything growing in there then rinse it really well several times.

If you want it to smell better, get some Dawn Citrus Anti-bacteria liquid hand soap and squirt some of that in a sink of hot water and wash and rinse it in that. It will smell like fresh cut oranges next time you use the machine. I use that to clean mine and my masks never had a problem. I also clean the foam inlet filter with the same and dry it in a hand towel.

I would NOT separate the humidifier tank itself, doing so will only lead to problems down the road from a leaky tank. I never take mine apart to clean it, I just clean as mentioned above.

I only use mine in passover mode (no heat) and I go through a 1/2 tank of water per night. So I refill it every other night.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Thu May 17, 2007 4:43 pm

Thanks, Snoredog, for the suggestions. I've always used distilled water. And I did use an orange anti-bacterial hand soap when I cleaned it out last night! That really helped. I put it on 1 last night and it worked pretty well and used about 1/4 of the water.

RichCMH · Post by **RichCMH** » Thu May 17, 2007 7:51 pm

Even distilled water can get stagnate. I got lazy and didn't wash my tank for 2 weeks, just topped it off every night. I noticed this odd mildew-like smell. It was the water! I wash the tank every week now in hot water and dish soap.