Condensation Buildup

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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sleepingatlast
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Condensation Buildup

Post by sleepingatlast » Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:14 am

The past 2 nights, I have been getting significant condensation buildup in the tubing. So much so that it creates a "gurgling" sound that wakes both me and my wife up. Does anyone have any ideas? I am new here, so if you need more info, let me know.

TIA, Jon

Mary Z
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Re: Condensation Buildup

Post by Mary Z » Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:22 am

Jon, just a couple of simple ideas. You can get a hose cover, if you don't know where to find one just ask, or your wife can make you one- it's just a cover that goes over the hose to insulate it a bit. Turn down your humidifier and/or make sure you're not overfilling.
Good Luck.
Mary Z.

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sleepingatlast
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Re: Condensation Buildup

Post by sleepingatlast » Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:29 am

Thank you. I will try to reduce the amount of water in the chamber. I only have it filled to the recommended line but I don't use all of it in the course of a night. I only have the humidifier on 1. Maybe try just using it as a blow over with no heat?

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LSAT
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Re: Condensation Buildup

Post by LSAT » Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:54 am

Make sure that your CPAP machine is lower than the bed so any water in the hose runs back to the humidifier

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Hueffenhardt
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Re: Condensation Buildup

Post by Hueffenhardt » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:14 am

Alternatively, you could purchase an Aussie heated breathing tube (Google it). Warm air can hold more moisture than cold air. A heated humidifier heats up the air and adds moisture to it, but the air cools as it travels the length of an unheated tube. As the air cools it releases some of its moisture onto the surface of the tube. So, to prevent condensation, you could lower the temp of the humidifier, raise the heat in your bedroom, insulate the tube with a cover, run the tube under the blankets, buy a heated tube, or lower the humidity coming from your humidifier.

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GumbyCT
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Re: Condensation Buildup

Post by GumbyCT » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:46 am

sleepingatlast wrote:The past 2 nights, I have been getting significant condensation buildup in the tubing. So much so that it creates a "gurgling" sound that wakes both me and my wife up. Does anyone have any ideas? I am new here, so if you need more info, let me know.

TIA, Jon
Jon you have been given some really good ideas that will help. I will add if water is collecting in the tube such that you are hearing gurgling (and enuff to wake you) - try raising the hose so that any water in the tube will run back into the humidifier. Do this now or before bed. Watch to see how much is going back into the chamber. Then follow the ideas above.

"Rain out" is dependent on so many variables in our homes and also depends on the season. I always suggest if too much condensation go back by half - if not enuff go up by half. So if 2 is too much go back to 1. If 1 in not enuff go up to 1.5 (you remember that 2 was too much right?). If 4 is not enuff go back to 2 - if 2 is not enuff go up to 3.

Also, I don't know which mask you are using but some are more prone to condensation than others.

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HoseCrusher
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Re: Condensation Buildup

Post by HoseCrusher » Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:59 am

I am just having an "off the wall" moment, so feel free to ignore this...

If warm air holds more moisture, and you have your setting on 1, you may find benefit by raising it to a higher number. Depending upon how the humidifier works, the additional heat may get transferred to the air rather than causing more moisture to be added to the air.

If nothing else helps, you may think about giving this a try.

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