Should we dehumidify? Use water in CPAPS?

[Guest guest]

I don't think anyone in Las Vegas needs a dehumidifier. They might need to be sure they turn on the bathroom vent when taking a shower. I also do not think it is safe to use humidifiers or breathe in steam. Generally the humidifiers cannot be kept clean enough to be safe.

As to CPAP - using a water tray - it is almost impossible to sleep here without the moisture added having extremely dry air pushed into your lungs for 8 hours. The tray must be cleaned every day and only distilled clean water should be replaced every day. Tubes and filters should be cleaned probably once a week. Actually this system of clean, filtered moist air tends, over time, to relieve virtually all airborne allergies and is one of the great aspects of a CPAP machine. This has been my experience as well, except when traveling and staying in mold contaminated and chemical contaminated hotels - most are.

Here are stats on good levels of humidity and the level of relative humidity in Las Vegas, NV. You will note that our humidity level is so low we don't even have to worry about dust mites.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency cites the ASHRAE Standard 55-1992 Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy, which recommends keeping relative humidity between 30% and 60%, with below 50% preferred to control dust mites. At high humidity sweating is less effective so we feel hotter; thus the desire to remove humidity from air with air conditioning in the summer. In the winter, heating cold outdoor air can decrease indoor relative humidity levels to below 30%, leading to discomfort such as dry skin and excessive thirst.

Rrelative humidity level averages in northwest Las Vegas

Monthly Averages

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Rain Inches

..50

..50

..40

..20

..25

..15

..40

..50

..30

..25

..40

..35

Humidity %

30

26

20

15

13

10

15

18

17

19

27

33

Days of Sun

24

22

25

26

27

28

27

26

28

27

24

24

a Carnes

Las Vegas, NV

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