Avoid CPAP rainout with a heated hose

Posted on 22 February 2024
By The Oxigo team
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Heated hoses and more anti condensation solutions!

Rainout (condensation) in the CPAP tubing and mask is a common problem among users of a CPAP machine. In this blog post, we discuss the causes and give you useful tips to prevent rainout. We also present our anti condensation products such as heated CPAP hoses and hose wraps. Would you like to experience more comfort during your sleep apnea treatment? Continue reading!

What causes rainout inside the CPAP tubing?

Rainout occurs when there is a temperature difference between the warm air generated by the CPAP machine and the cooler ambient temperature in the bedroom. This temperature difference causes the moist air in the tubing to cool and condense, leading to discomfort.

What are the risk factors?

Condensation inside the tubing can occur all year round, but especially in autumn, winter and early spring when you are using the humidifier. The warmer the humidified air is and the colder the air in the bedroom, the more chance there is of condensation inside the tubing. Some people hear a bubbling sound in the hose and water may even enter the mask, causing you to wake up with a wet face.

Tips for avoiding rainout

Fortunately, rainout is a problem you can solve yourself, for instance with one of our anti condensation products. The tips below will help you out.

✅ Use a heated hose

An effective solution against rainout is a heated CPAP hose, for example a ResMed heated hose or a Löwenstein heated hose. Around the hose is a heating element that keeps the temperature of the air in the hose constant. This keeps the air from cooling down and prevents condensation.

With some CPAP models, the power cable of the heated hose can be connected directly to the device, with other models you’ll need to use a hose with separate power supply (e.g. the Plastiflex Hybernite Superday Rainout Control System). The heated hose must be used in combination with a humidifier. There are CPAP machines that automatically adjust the humidity level and temperature to the environment. Are you going to place an order? Make sure that the hose you order is suitable for use with your CPAP machine.

✅ Use a hose wrap

Another solution against condensation is a hose wrap that you put around your CPAP tubing. The cover insulates the tubing and helps reduce heat loss, thus avoiding rainout. It also allows the tubing to glide more smoothly over the sheets and bed edge. Hose wraps are available in several varieties and materials, such as fleece or nylon. In most cases, though, a heated tube is more effective against condensation than a hose wrap.

Please note: Never use a hose wrap with a heated hose. It can only be used with a standard CPAP tubing.

✅ Use the humidifier on a lower setting

Using a humidifier provides comfort if you suffer from a dry nose or throat during your CPAP therapy. At the same time, a humidifier also causes rainout in the tubing if the humidified air is warm and the ambient air is colder. You can try to use the humidifier on a lower setting and see if that helps.

✅ Increase temperature in the bedroom

In general, sleeping in a cool bedroom is good for our health. But if the difference in temperature between the air in the hose and the ambient air is too great, condensation lurks. Do you normally sleep with the window open? Then close the window and see if this reduces condensation. In addition, it may help to heat the bedroom before sleeping.

✅ Clean your tubing and mask on a regular basis

Dirt increases the risk of condensation. Therefore, make sure you clean the tubing and mask according to the manufacturer's instructions. You can usually find these in the manual. Allow the tubing to air dry thoroughly after each night so that there is no moisture left in it when you use it again.

Our anti condensation products help you avoid rainout effectively. Check out our range and take the first step towards a night's sleep without rainout!