Extra Humidifier Water in Arid Climates

[DFWdude]

I live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  It's a semi-arid climate, with less humidity than my previous northern abode alongside the Mississippi River.  

Although I fill the humidifier reservoir on my ResMed Aircurve 10 to the max allowed, in a typical night it uses all the water available before morning.  The dry reservoir -- and the burning smell of the air before the heater turns off -- often wakes me up.  Not ideal for a full night's sleep.

In contrast, when I travel north where the ambient humidity is higher, I often awake with the reservoir half full of water remaining.  Adjusting the temperature to a cooler setting doesn't seem to help.  I imagine if I lived in the Arizona desert, I would have real problems.

However,  I finally got around to buying a SoClean purifier, which has a replacement upper lid for the humidifier.  This lid also has an air port used in the SoClean process.  I quickly realized I could use this "feature" to add reservoir capacity, with a standard Rubber Bulb Syringe.  Now, I fill the reservoir to capacity, then suck about 3 oz of water into the syringe, then top off the water in the reservoir.  This added capacity now provides enough water for a full night's sleep.  HTH others.

[mesenteria]

Clever!  It doesn't apply to me in the PNW, Vancouver Island, where my reservoir lasts at least three days.  But, my temp and humidity settings are at rock bottom.

Have you experimented with a lower hose temp and less humidity?  If not, it might be worth two more crappy nights' sleep to check it out. Start with half-reduction, and then incrementally raise it by 20% until you find it working for you.

[DFWdude]

I think my reservoir water consumption is a product of the very high VPAP pressures I require (17-22).

[RainbowFish]

I think you are right about the pressure, etc.  I live in a high altitude arid climate with the temp 74 and humidity up to 6 and my reservoir will last 10 hours of use easily as a comparison measure for you

[Homerec130]

I live in the desert of AZ at just shy of 3000' and have never had issues with my tank running dry. But then, I run my humidity at 0 and just let the air flow over the water. Never had any issues with dry sinuses and the like.

The was a post some time ago where the poster had made a supplemental water reservoir for his tank. I can't even begin to figure out how to search for it. Maybe one of the other old timers here can remember the series.

Homer

[Jeff8356]

There are a couple of different threads from users who increased the capacity by adding external water supply:

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid428540

http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...#pid150794

The second link is fairly old (2016) but it's another option.

Both require modification of the humidifier tank, so proceed with caution (and have a spare tank handy just in case! )

[DFWdude]

As noted in my first post, I don't need someone else's solution, as I posted MY solution... to share with everyone else.

It's simple, requires ZERO modification -- other than a simple substitution of the original reservoir top with the SoClean top -- and the bulb syringe is an item anyone can acquire at Walmart. The other options are much more complicated.

Thanks for the replies, but I do wonder if any of you actually read my initial post.

[mesenteria]

I did, honest, but I did wander off a bit into the weeds.  Sorry.

Just something to keep in mind: doubling and tripling the capacity also has the effect of concentrating more dissolved solids and salts by the time you get down to the dregs, and over time this might begin to show as a deposit.  If you really do empty pretty much every day, and rinse, or if you use RO or distilled water, it really doesn't matter.

[DFWdude]

I use distilled water exclusively. I don't experience any deposits if the reservoir doesn't run dry.

[Whitenoise]

However,  I finally got around to buying a SoClean purifier, which has a replacement upper lid for the humidifier.  This lid also has an air port used in the SoClean process.  I quickly realized I could use this "feature" to add reservoir capacity, with a standard Rubber Bulb Syringe.  Now, I fill the reservoir to capacity, then suck about 3 oz of water into the syringe, then top off the water in the reservoir.  This added capacity now provides enough water for a full night's sleep.  HTH others.

DFW,

I too have a problem running out of water too soon in the night and after seeing the other humidifier tank mods on this board yours looks like the most elegant and simple of all of them to add more water to a tank reservoir that is not optimum for me

I have an extra tank I'm willing to drill the right size hole in and did buy myself a couple of the large bulb syringes like yours. I'm assuming the placement and tightness of the syringe tube into the water is the key, yes?

Where should the tube end up? I'll cut a small hole at first and widen as needed to get the depth and fit right.

Anxious for feedback and very much appreciate your wishing to help out like you did,

Let me know,

Jim W