Leaking M Series Humidifier

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 6:33 am

My Remstar M Series humidifier has leaked at least three times since I got it two months ago. Initially, I thought it might be because I didn't seal both halves completely before adding water.

However, last night it leaked again, and I'm sure it was completely sealed. As far as I can tell, all leaks occurred when the humidifier was filled more than half way (but never overfilled).

Is anyone else having a similar problem?

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:26 am

I haven't had this problem.. When you seal the two halves is the rubber gasket (light grey) tubing straight? Maybe it's getting twisted?

Have you tried just putting less water in? Or could it be that the reservoir isn't being pushed in all the way and maybe it's leaking from the two silicone holes on the top of the reservoir?

Regardless, I believe that it has a two year warranty. Have you tried contacting the place where you bought it or the company?

Kimberly

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:37 am

After the first two leaks, I've been careful to check the rubber gasket.

I think (not sure why) the problem may be with the metal base, even though it only seems to happen when the water level is above the half way point.

Thought I check with other users before calling cpap.com

jskinner · Post by **jskinner** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:47 am

I've had this happen 2-3 times in the 2 months that I have had my machine. I've been unable to figure out why...

fujiinator · Post by **fujiinator** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 2:01 pm

If it is only leaking when you have it jut past the halfway point then my guess would be an issue with the rubber o-ring. I take mine apart each morning and sometimes when I do not seat the clips at the one end right the o-ring will be twisted a little. I also notice that if I have a little more resistance then normal in closing it that I had it mis-aligned a little and the o-ring gets twisted.

The reason for my thinking is that if it only leak a little past the halfway mark then it is in the gasket area. Otherwise the metal base would leak all the time not sometimes. I also do not take the metal part of it apart. It could even be the water sloshing out when it is placed into the unit as the water moves around.

These are just my opinions of what might be happening.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 3:44 pm

fujiinator, I believe you're right about the metal base not being the source of the problem. It would, as you say, leak all the time if that were the problem. That leaves the silicon connector or the "hinge" as the remaining possibilities, and I'm suspecting the "hinge".

However, I'm still surprised there are any leaks since the humidifier is filled only up to the 3/4 fill mark and the setting is at either 1 or 2.

fujiinator · Post by **fujiinator** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 4:50 pm

I had a thought on how to check. Next time it happens, do not take the chamber apart and just dump out the water. Then fill the sink with water and try submerging the chamber at different points to see where water seeps back in. Of course I do know it will fill up at the intake and output ports (just a joke).

Anyway this might help solve the mystery. Since I have mine on the floor which is carpet, I have not checked or noticed the carpet being wet in the morning. Of course it is kind of dark at 5:00am.......

good luck!

byront · Post by **byront** » Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:18 pm

I've never had any leak problems, but I very seldom take it apart. I found it easier to fill by not taking it apart and just tipping it vertically and filling through the inlet or exhaust port straight from a gallon bottle of distilled water - there is a second set of fill lines on the tank for just that purpose. This eliminates any wear and tear on the tank gasket. The only time I ever take it apart is to clean it every week or so. I think you should probably see about getting the tank replaced if it continues. --- BT

IBTeri · Post by **IBTeri** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:29 am

Did anyone ever figure this problem out? Because I am having same problem.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:42 am

I hate to say this for fear that I'll jinx myself, but I haven't had a reoccurence of this problem for almost two months. However, I've been extremely careful to make sure that the two halves of the humidifier are really pushed together tightly and that the o-ring isn't twisted. But then, I also thought it was tightly sealed when I had the humidifier leaks.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:44 am

correction - I haven't had the problem for about one month.

greyhound · Post by **greyhound** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:45 am

that last guest was me.

KimberlyinMN · Post by **KimberlyinMN** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:56 am

When I moved my M series CPAP machine to pack it up to bring it back to the DME, I found that mine had leaked some too. (The wood table beneath was all water-stained.)

I don't recall ever seeing any water leaks at all. I mentioned this to the technician and she said that it could be from the elbow swivel connection at the back of the unit where the hose hooks on. Condensation in the hose would drain back to the elbow connection and it could drip out the swivel!

I haven't had any leaks with my Bi-PAP machine, but it has a different humidifier unit that attaches to the front. I made a little "tray" out of aluminum foil that covers the bottom of the machine and folds up to make 1/4" sides. No leaks YET, but I'm sure one of these days I won't get the humidifer tank put together right.

Kimberly

Catnapper · Post by **Catnapper** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:29 am

Yesterday I was talking to the DME owner and he told me he is considering discontinuing selling the RemStar machines because of leaks. He gave that as a reason I should not consider getting one of those machines. (He prefers the ResMed. No surprise there.)
If a person knows it may leak, then it should be possible to take measures to protect furniture, carpet, etc. I have no problem with that. My question is whether the leaking might harm the machine in some way. The warranty should cover that problem for some time.
The DME owner said he believes the problem is the baffle and that condensation occurs under the reservoir. He further said that all the (8 or 9) machines he has had returned to him had the same pattern of leaking, which was directly under the reservoir. Does this make sense to any of you who have had the problem?
Another thing the DME guy said was that if I wanted that machine I would have to pay an additional $150 above the insurance coverage to get it (refering to the M series). I thought that the insurance companies had a contract with the DME as to what could be allowed for a machine. How would a charge up front fit with the contract?
Catnapper

Leaking M Series Humidifier

Leaking M Series Humidifier

M Series Humidifier chamber

M Series Humidifier chamber

DME told me that the Respironics machines leak