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Heated humidifiers are intended to resolve the symptoms caused by the effects of dry air, cool air temperatures, and pressure, created by CPAP, on the tissue in the nasal passage and upper airway. Those symptoms are usually one or more, but not always, of the following: Nasal congestion, sinus congestion, nasal tissue bleeding, dry throat, dry mouth, excessive dried mucus, and the numerous arousals caused by the foregoing symptoms.
Heated humidifiers are effective in resolving the symptoms listed. However, environmental conditions within the sleeping area can severely effect the entire system. Conditions such as placement of the CPAP flow generator, room temperature, the breathing circuit (tubing, mask or nasal pillows/seal) and the length of the air tubing are key factors.
Temperature at the ceiling is higher than at the floor. For every foot of height there is about 1 degree temperature increase. If your CPAP is on the floor it will be drawing intake air that is about 3 degrees cooler than the air at your nose level and about 5 degrees cooler than the temperature at the thermostat level. If you sleep in a 65 degree (at thermostat level) bedroom, the temperature on the floor is closer to 60 degrees; nose level about 63 degrees. Remember, air entering your lungs is 98.6 degrees and 100% relative humidity. It is the job of the nasal tissue and the tissue in your upper airway to warm and humidify the ambient air to body conditions. If the air flow is to dry and/or to cool it can cause the symptoms listed previously.
We've learned that warm air can hold more water vapor than cool air. We also learned that a lower atmospheric pressure allows more water vapor to form than higher pressure.
Applying these two principles to CPAP and heated humidifiers we can reason that the lower the pressure and warmer the water in the heated humidifier chamber, the higher the relative humidity in the air flow. Increasing the pressure increases the air flow rate and has a squeezing effect on water vapor, lowering the relative humidity. In simple terms, if you are on high CPAP pressures you need to run higher temperatures in your heated humidifier. This can lead to rain-out and gurgling in the air tubbing. To increase the relative humidity the temperature of the water in the humidifier must be increased so there is more water vapor available for absorption into the air stream.
Secondly, your breathing circuit dissipates heat rapidly. Every part of the mask or nasal pillows, and tubing is made as light weight as possible. The tubing dissipates temperature very rapidly. As the warm moist air coming through the heated humidifier contacts the cooler walls of the tubing, water vapor condenses into droplets (rain-out) and begins to collect at the lowest point in the breathing circuit. When a sufficient amount collects, the air flowing through the tubing, reacting on the collected water, causes a gurgling sound that will wake you.
Additionally, the higher your pressure setting, the more rapid the air flows through the tube. The faster the air flows through the tube, the more effect it has on the condensation in the tubing. It will have a tendency to make a higher pitch sound than slower moving air. The result is the same--a gurgling sound that wakes you.
In order to eliminate condensation in the tubing and to deliver a warm humid air flow to alleviate the symptoms caused by CPAP, the simple solution is to insulate the tubing. Fisher & Paykel offers a vinyl sleeve that goes over the outside of the tubing and is held in place by wide, heavy rubber bands. It forms a dead air space around the tube. Helps, but not much according to the patients I've provided it to.
"You can significantly lower the likelihood of upper respiratory infection while using a heated humidifier by using coper Choregirl scouring pads in the water chamber. It assist in controlling the proper temperature by acting as a heat exchanger.
They also, by contact with the reservoir water, creat a very mild solution of copper hydroxide which is a rather effective anti-bacterial agent. Since the humidifiers operate by evaporation, there is little or no transfer of the coper hydroxide to the vapor which the patient breathes."
Make sure you degrease them by washing them in Dawn dishwashing detergent and rinsing them throughly. Be sure to remove the paper labels on the pads before you put them in your water chamber. (This is not a recommendation from the CPAP Man or The CPAP Store.)
The CPAP Store offers
an insulation sleeve made of nylon and dacron that insulates the tubing
from the ambient air conditions. The insulation sleeve is made out of the
same material found in insulated coats and vests. Appears to be the most
effective and is relative inexpensive-$12.13 for a 6' sleeve (SLV6).
This sleeve, using it in a bedroom at 68 degrees at the thermostat, on a
12' hose, has been successful at a setting of 6 on a Fisher & Paykel
heated humidifier with out condensation forming.
What Else Can You Do?
Set your CPAP unit at thermostat level or nose level.
Use shorter tubing--10' rather than 12'; 6' rather than 8' or 10'; etc.
Set your tubing so all condensation drains into the humidifier's water chamber. Incidentally, this is nearly impossible to do unless you sleep at the ceiling level.
Put the tubing under the bed covers with you. You will always have exposed tubing and the tubing will be cold to the touch. One lady said it was like sleeping with a snake. One gentleman set his tubing, using 2-6' sections of tubing, so it went almost to the ceiling. The lowest point in the circuit was his mask. He didn't have any gurgling but his mask filled up with water.
 1003757 for the older REMstar M Series |
 1003758 for the latest REMstar M Series |
| REMstar Heated Humidifier M Series | $280.00 | |
| Water Chamber for Older REMstar M Series Heated Humidifier | $37.50 |
| 1003758 | Water Chamber for Current REMstar M Series Heated Humidifier | $39.84 |
 Prescription Required |
| Heated Humidifier for REMstar Plus | $273.00 |
| Silicone Coupling with Metal Washer for REMstar Heated Humidifier, Each for water chamber item number 1008619 | $5.87 | |
| Water Chamber Kit for REMstar Heated Humidifier. | $23.53 |
 Prescription Required | |
 Prescription Required | |
Specifications without water chamber |
 Prescription Required |
| HC150 Heated Humidifier heater plate base only, 115 VAC | $194.70 | |
| Disposable Water Chamber, each | $16.95 | |
| Permenant Water Chamber | $119.52 |
| Description | ||
| Concha Therm 2000 Heated Humidifier, 115 VAC, 60 Hz, Heater Base Only | $241.66 | |
| Humidifier, Cold Pass-over Basic System with Single Patient Permenant Water Chamber, Tubing, and Tray | $72.81 | |
| Gasket for 500-20 Water Chamber, 2/pkg | $25.24 | |
| Single Patient Permenant Water Chamber, 540 ml | $55.12 |
| TMS-6052 | Velocity Humidifier and Velocity Heater Base | $198.57 |
| TMS-6002 | Velocity Humidifier | $84.24 |
| TMS-6050 | Velocity Heater Base | $160.00 |
Respironics H2 Heated Humidifier Will work with any other CPAP, Bi-Level or Auto-Titrating machine Size: 13.25" L x 6.5" W x 2.125" T, 1.85 lbs. Water Capacity: 1 2/3 cups (400 ml) Power: 100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 1.0 A max Heater Setting: 1 to 5 (104 to 149 degrees F Humidity: 15% - 95% Non-condensing |
 Prescription Required |
| REMstar H2 Heated Humidifier with water chamber | $207.05 | |
| REMstar and H2 Heated Humidifier water chamber only. (This item is being replaced with item 1035162) | $30.80 |
 Prescription Required 420H20 Heated Humidifier shown with a 420 Series CPAP machine |
 |
| GoodKnight 420 Series Heated Humidifier | $212.25 |
| M-414600-05 | Silicone Rubber Coupler between GoodKnight 420 and Heated Humidifier, each | $11.28 |
| M-314600-11 | Water Chamber for GoodKnight 420 Series | $39.82 |
| Special Note: If the ambient temperature in your sleeping room is above 68 degrees, a single thickness polyester insulation material sleeve should be sufficient. If the ambient temperature in your sleeping room is below 68 degrees a double thickness polyester insulation material sleeve would be required. |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 10' | $13.87 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 12' | $15.97 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 15" | $8.67 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 18" | $8.67 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 2' | $8.67 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 3' | $9.67 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 4' | $10.67 |
| SLV5 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 5' | $11.27 |
| SLV6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 6' | $12.13 |
| SLV6.5 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 6.5' (For ResMed Tubing) | $12.13 |
| SLV8 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, 8' | $13.00 |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Double Thickness, 5' | $17.87 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Double Thickness, 6' | $18.99 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Double Thickness, 6 1/2' | $18.99 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Double Thickness, 8' | $20.11 | |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Double Thickness, 10' | $23.47 |
| SLVW18 | Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 18 inch | $15.95 |
| SLVW3 | Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 36 inch | $16.95 |
| SLVW4 | Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 48 inch | $17.95 |
| SLVW5 | Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 60 inch | $18.95 |
| Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 72 inch | $19.95 | |
| Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 96 inch | $21.95 | |
| Wrap-Around Type Insulation Sleeve, 120 inch | $23.95 |
| SLVPFB-6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Polar Fleece, Lt. Blue, 6' | $15.00 |
| SLVPFP-6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Polar Fleece, Pink, 6' | $15.00 |
| SLVPFW-6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Polar Fleece, White, 6' | $15.00 |
| SLVPFNB-6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Polar Fleece, Navy Blue, 6' | $15.00 |
| SLVPFRB-6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Polar Fleece, Royal Blue, 6' | $15.00 |
| SLVPFTG-6 | Tube Type Insulation Sleeve, Polar Fleece, Teal Green, 6' | $15.00 |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve for Early Style Breeze SleepGear | $10.95 |
| Tube Type Insulation Sleeve for Breeze Sleep Gear with new style hose guide | $10.95 |
 Shown on a Respironics Contour Deluxe Nasal Mask |
|
 Shown on a ResMed Mirage Ultra Nasal Mask |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, Serenity | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask,Reusable Silicone Contour, Petite | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, Reusable Silicone Contour, MS | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, Mirage Ultra | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, Contour Deluxe, Large | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, Contour Deluxe, Small | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ComfortSelect, Small | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, Mirage | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ComfortSelect, Medium | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ComfortSelect, Small-Wide | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ComfortClassic, Medium | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask,Contour Deluxe, medium | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ComfortClassic, Small | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Petite | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Medium Small | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Medium | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Medium Wide | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Large | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Large Narrow | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Nasal Mask, ProfileLite, Small | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Comfort Full Full Face Mask, Small | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Comfort Full Full Face Mask, Medium | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Comfort Full Full Face Mask, Large | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask, Small | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask, Medium | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask, Large | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Fisher & Paykel HC406/407 | $8.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Mirage Series 2 Full Face Mask, Small | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Full Face Mask, Mirage Series 2, Medium | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, Full Face Mask, Mirage Series 2, Large | $14.95 | |
| Insulation Cover, ResMed Mirage Micro Nasal Mask | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, ComfortGel, Petite | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, ComfortGel, Medium | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, ComfortGel, Large | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, ComfortGel, Small | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, Fisher & Paykel, HC401A | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, Fisher & Paykel, HC405A | $8.95 | |
| Insulated Mask Cover, Fisher & Paykel, HC407A | $8.95 |
| Heated Humidifier Base, 115 VAC | $194.70 | ||
| Humidifier Gaskets, 4/pkg, Pass-over (Fit most pass-over humidifiers | $1.70 | ||
| Humidifier Adapter, Tubing for HC300 humidifier chamber by Fisher & Paykel | $7.92 | ||
| Humidifier Chamber, Permanent with removable stainless steel base, tubing, and adapters | $119.52 | ||
| Humidifier Mounting Tray, Multi-purpose | $43.34 | ||
| Humidifier Tubing, 12" | $26.00 | ||
| Humidifier Tubing, 24", replacement for HC300 humidifier chamber for Fisher & Paykel | $15.60 | ||
| Humidifier, Disposable Chamber Kit for Fisher & Paykel, each | $$16.95 | ||
500-00 |
Permenant Water Chamber for ConchaTherm
2000. Will fit Fisher & Paykel HC100 and HC150 heater bases. ConchaTherm2000 Heated Humidifier Base only |
$55.12 | |
| Tank seal 'O' Ring for HC300 water chamaber | $28.85 | ||
| Elbow, 90 degree, CPVC, 3/4" | $1.00 | ||
| Shelf for Oasis Humidifier | $36.40 | ||
| Humidifier, Oasis, 24" tubing | $141.54 | ||
| Humidifier, Replacement Gasket for Oasis, 2/pkg | $9.53 | ||
| Humidifier, Replacement Latch Kit for Oasis | $6.93 | ||
| Humidifier, Replacement Tubing for Oasis Humidifier, 24" | $14.73 |
| Gasket/Seal for REMstar Passover Humidifier | $4.77 | ||
1008619 |
Silicone Coupling for REMstar Heated Humidifier Water Chamber for REMstar and H2 Heated Humidifier. (This item is being replaced with item 1035162) |
$3.02 |
| 1028116 | Inlet/Outlet Seal for REMstar Heated Humidifier Water Chamber | $9.16 |
| 1029358 | O-Ring Seal, Blue, for REMstar Heated Humidifier Water Chamber | $4.44 |
| Humidifier, Heated for use with REMstar Auto/Pro/Plus | $184.04 | ||
| Humidifier, Cold Pass-over, REMstar | $76.68 | ||
| Humidifier, Heated, REMstar H2 for use with any CPAP Device | $207.05 | ||
| Coupling with metal washer for REMstar Heated Humidifier | $4.20 | ||
| Gasket/Seal for REMstar Cold Pass-over Humidifier | $4.77 | ||
| Humidifier, Cold Pass-over, Integrated | $99.69 |
| Water Chamber for REMstar Heated Humidifier. (This item is being replaced with item 1035162) | $30.80 | ||
| Base Plate with Gasket for REMstar Heated Humidifier | $10.40 | ||
| Gasket and Shim, Healthdyne Pass-Over Humidifier | $10.57 | ||
Machines |
Machines |
CPAP Machines |
Masks/Interfaces |
Straps |
Connectors |