Humidification

Reduced symptoms of dryness and congestion, and improving comfort. Up to 65% of positive airway pressure users experience nasal congestion and dryness of the nose and throat and these symptoms can be severe enough to prevent people from continuing treatment.

ResMed heated humidifiers add moisture and warmth to the air that is delivered by therapy devices. The humidification provided reduces the symptoms of dryness and congestion, which enhances user comfort. Research also shows that nasal resistance can lead to 'mouth breathing', which in turn leads to additional dryness. Heated humidification can prevent the large increase in nasal resistance that results in 'mouth breathing' and leaks from forming.

Because you can adjust the level of heat, heated humidification offers greater flexibility and reduces more severe symptoms. Both nasal pillows and masks are a viable option when using humidification; however, "rainout" (moisture caused by having the humidifier turned up too high) when using nasal pillows may become more of an issue as the moisture is directed into the nostrils.

Humidification doesn't help with OSA or UARS, but it does help deal with the side effects associated with positive airway pressure treatment. If you are already on treatment and experiencing nasal dryness, then humidification should help decrease any symptoms. The nasal dryness symptoms are due to the increased flow of air through the nasal passages. Humidification adds moisture to the air that you breathe and helps the nasal passages cope with the increased flow of air.

This condensation is called 'rainout' and it can be dealt with. If your room is cold, the warmed, humidified air hits the colder room temperature and cools. When air cools, the amount of humidity (water vapour) that it can hold is reduced, which causes the humidity to 'rain out'.

The amount of water that air can carry varies with temperature: warmer air can carry more water while cold air can carry less. As warm air becomes cooler (particularly overnight), it has less capacity to carry water, so water condenses and forms droplets.

There are several ways to deal with this situation.

1. Use the S9 Climate Control feature.
2. Try turning down the humidity level.
3. Raise the temperature of your bedroom at night to lessen the difference between the room temperature and the humidifier, making sure that your bedroom window is closed.
4. If using a Standard or SlimLine tube, run the air tubing beneath your blankets to keep it warm. Alternatively, you can cover the tube with a ResMed Tubing Wrap or a tube sock. The goal is to keep the tube, and the air travelling in it, warm throughout the night.

This varies depending on temperature, actual room humidity, the humidifier being used, and from one patient to the next. Mouth breathing or 'mouth leak' can make you use more water from a heated humidifier, and the escaped air through the mouth (which can vary from night to night) quickly uses up more water.

The H5i humidifier for example will only use water when it senses that the ambient room conditions require it humidify, whereas an H4i operates differently and will provide continual constant humidification regardless of room conditions. This means that the H4i could use a lot more water in a night than an H5i, yet both humidifiers would be working well.

This depends on the type of humidifier. If you have a standard humidifier tub, it is recommended that you use distilled or deionised water. If you have a cleanable tub, then tap water is perfectly fine for everyday use. Do not use bleach, alcohol, chlorine or ammonia-based solutions, moisturising, antibacterial or glycerine-based soap, water softening agents, or unapproved descaling products, as these will damage your humidifier. Refer to your user guide to check if necessary.

Check first by reading the User Guide. If you are still uncertain check with your healthcare professional. The setting on your humidifier will determine how much moisture you receive to alleviate your symptoms of nasal dryness. The higher the setting, the more moisture you will receive.

You could start your setting at a midway point, and if your symptoms are not resolved, turn it to a higher setting. Continue in this manner until your symptoms are resolved. If you start to experience condensation or 'rainout' in the tube, you need to either turn down your humidifier setting, heat the room, use a ResMed Tubing Wrap or use the S9 Climate Control feature.

Yes this is normal and does not affect performance. The H4i™ is not software-controlled with the heater temperature based solely on the humidifier setting and so remains constant if the humidifier setting is not changed. If set at the same humidifier setting all year round, the H4i uses approximately the same amount of water every night, regardless of changes in ambient conditions or device flow.

The H5i's heater plate temperature is software-controlled. This means that even at a fixed humidifier setting, the heater plate temperature changes to ensure constant absolute humidity delivered to the user. The heater plate temperature changes depending on ambient (room) conditions, the humidifier setting and device flow.

If set at the same humidifier setting all year round, the H5i will use significantly less water than the H4i in humid conditions than it will in dry conditions. Therefore, the amount of water left in the H5i tub after use is not the best indication of the unit's functioning.

Yes. To confirm that your H5i is working well, you can complete the following steps outlined below. Before doing so, Do NOT place your hand on the heater plate if the H5i has been running in the 10 minutes prior to this test, as it may still be hot.

1. Disconnect tubing and carefully remove the water tub.
2. Make sure that the S9TM is not running (and has not been on for at least ten minutes prior to this test, as it may still be hot).
3. Now turn the dial until the 'humidity level' menu is displayed on screen.
4. Set the unit to 'warm-up' mode by pressing the dial and holding it down for 3 seconds to activate, and then allow it to run for one minute. You'll know when 'warm up' is 'ON' when you see a bar at the bottom of the screen that says "Warming Up" and the blue LED light inside the humidifier will turn to orange, after about 5 seconds.
5. Place one hand about 12.5 cm (5“) above the H5i heater plate (do not touch the heater plate as it can get very hot) in order to be able to feel warmth rising. This will usually take less than half a minute, and is a simple way for you to be able to confirm whether the heater plate is working.
6. After testing it is working okay, press the dial and hold it down for three seconds to activate the 'cooling-down' mode.

Undertake a simple test. Under certain conditions it is possible for the S9 to incorrectly display a fault message regarding the ClimateLine tube. An incorrect fault message will occur only when a ClimateLine tube is being used and if the temperature inside the cuff attached to the mask exceeds 32°C (90°F). Typically this will only happen in warm room conditions, or if the ClimateLine tube cuff is placed underneath bed covers during therapy or left in direct sunlight during standby mode.

To assess if the message is valid and the ClimateLine tube is indeed faulty, disconnect power from the therapy device for a few seconds and then reconnect. If the fault message disappears, then there is no fault with the tube. After allowing the tube cuff to cool below 32°C (90°F), turn off the power from the therapy device and this will cancel the fault message. You can then resume using your S9.

If the fault message persists and is visible immediately after the S9 is powered up, then the fault message is valid and the ClimateLine tube should be replaced. In this case, therapy is not possible until the ClimateLine is replaced or the tubing is temporarily switched to a SlimLine tube. You should contact your accredited ResMed outlet immediately.

Your CPAP therapy device should always be placed alongside your humidifier on a stable surface to reduce the risk of water entering the device, either on your bedside table or on the floor is ok. To further ensure that water does not enter your CPAP therapy device, empty the water tub and disconnect the humidifier from your CPAP therapy device before transporting it.

No. There is no need to worry, as the tubing supplied with therapy devices is designed to withstand far higher temperatures than the heat generated by a humidifier.

Note that cleaning instructions are provided in the user guide that accompanies your therapy device.

Daily: ResMed recommends that you wash your water tub in warm water, using a mild detergent. Rinse thoroughly with clean water and allow it to dry away from direct sunlight.

Monthly: First inspect the water tub for wear and deterioration, and replace the water tub if any component has cracked, become cloudy or pitted. If you notice any white powder or deposits in the water tub (caused by mineral build-up from tap water), clean the tub by using a solution of one-part household vinegar to ten-parts water or use an approved cleaning product.

What not to use. ResMed recommends that you avoid using the products and solutions that are listed below.

• Don't use bleach
• Don't use alcohol
• Don't use chlorine or ammonia-based solutions
• Don't use moisturising, antibacterial or glycerine-based soap
• Don't use water softening agents
• Don't use unapproved descaling products