RE: Major rainout with new gear
AvignOn, the tube is lower than body temperature. You have yours set at 86*F and body temperature is 98.6*F, so the tube won't feel warm to the touch. The tube heat is only to raise the wall of the tube to prevent condensation. If you feel dry, just raise the humidity setting to 4. I usually use a setting of 4 with tube temperature at 80*F and find that comfortable and effective at avoiding rainout. I also use the Snuggle Skins fleece tube cover for 6' to 8' tubes, which makes it much softer, quieter and more comfortable, as well as preventing any condensation. This tube covers end to end with left-over material along the tube.
RE: Major rainout with new gear
Granted, it's not warmer than I am, but, it is warmer than objects at room temp (~75 degrees), so will feel a bit warmer than say the bed or wall--I could always feel my DreamStation tubing being slightly warm, and I don't think it went as high as 86 degrees...
I started the Humidity settings at 5, then 4, and now at 3--4 still gave me water in the nosepiece, but 3 is a bit dry...so my thought is for some reason the heated tubing isn't stopping the water from forming (I do have the machine lower than my head, about a foot lower).
I actually ordered a ResMed Tubing Cover (mainly...coz we have two cats...<G>), so, hopefully that'll do the trick.
Thanks!
RE: Major rainout with new gear
The tube cover should help avoid condensation, but for me it's the comfort factor being at the next level. It should help avoid damage from the kittys too.
RE: Major rainout with new gear
I have used heated tubes and humidifiers on auto for several months and have never experienced rainout.
Rainout can only happen due to temperature difference between the inside of the tube and the outside. Seeing that the air flow cools down the inside of the tube, the auto setting maintains a constant temperature in the wall of the tube, to match that of the outside.
If you deliberately keep your bedroom temperature very cold, then you must choose a "manual" setting for the tube that is warmer than the outside. This way the water vapor from the humidifier will not condense as it travels through a cold tube, resulting in rainout.
So increase the tube temperature and if your humidifier is set very high, drop it a couple of notches and "Bob's you uncle" as they say in Canada.
RE: Major rainout with new gear
Our bedroom is ~74-76 degrees at night, when I first got the AirSense 11, it was set to Climate Control=Auto, and I had a lot of rainout. I then set the Tube Temp to 86, but still had a lot of rainout, so I set Climate Control=Manual and 3 (4 gave me slight rainout), and Tube Temp to 86, but I feel dry in morning.
Thing is--I'm using the same mask I used with the DreamStation, and NEVER had rainout in my bedroom--only change was machine and tubing.
Thanks!
RE: Major rainout with new gear
You are welcome to post a daily details chart from Oscar. Perhaps your leak rate has increased causing a dryer airway.