PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
JohnO
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:52 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by JohnO » Sat Nov 11, 2017 11:16 am

Greetings All,

I haven't been visiting this forum regularly for a couple of years. In September I passed my five year CPAP anniversary, and thankfully it still is working.

My Phillips Respironics System One Auto-CPAP is still working well, but my wife and I have noticed it getting noisier over the last few months. As the noise varies with my breathing (inhalation/exhalation), it is not easy to ignore. Is there any simple cleaning or maintenance that I can perform? I'd like to wait until January when my new HSA kicks in to purchase a new machine, if I can hold out.

Thanks,

John

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Zeo Bedside, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter

shaina
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2016 1:12 pm

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by shaina » Sat Nov 11, 2017 1:50 pm

I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I logged in to ask a similar question. I find the varied nature of the system one noise really disturbing, and it got much worse (louder) when I tried the heated humidifier and tube. I wondered if this is normal and I guess it is. My old apap had constant white noise, which was much less disturbing.
Using a Phillips System One Apap with an Airfit P10 for her. Pressure 10-14. Ramp 4.

JohnO
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:52 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by JohnO » Sat Nov 11, 2017 2:22 pm

shaina wrote:I find the varied nature of the system one noise really disturbing, and it got much worse (louder) when I tried the heated humidifier and tube. I wondered if this is normal and I guess it is. My old apap had constant white noise, which was much less disturbing.
For the first 4 and a half years, mine was nearly silent. Only in the last few months has it become a problem. Not sure if I got lucky for 4.5 years, or if most are like that.

John

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Zeo Bedside, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter

rick blaine
Posts: 614
Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2015 7:30 am

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by rick blaine » Sat Nov 11, 2017 4:11 pm

Hi JohnO,

I have a Philips Respironics System One 551. After 8700 hours, it began to make the noise you describe - a noise which particularly and clearly accompanied inhalation and exhilation. I was worried that the unit might fail. So I bought a 561, rather than wait for the 551 to go completely and leave me with nothing.

A couple of months later, I sent the 551 to Philips Respironics UK for inspection, and they said "unit found to have a noisy blower". The cost of replacing the blower was something like 100 dollars. That seemed a reasonable amount to rescue an otherwise still-in-good-order machine - and to provide a back-up.

Then, after only 4500 hours as my main machine, the 561 began to make the same noise. So I dug out the 551 while the 561 went in for inspection. Similar report from Philips Respironics UK - "blower found to be noisy on test". And similar cost to fix it.

I've read here on the forum of people getting 10,000 hours out of their various machines - but that doesn't seem to be likely in my case. On the other hand, the cost of replacing the blower each time, I can just about live with.

So ... to answer your questions:

1. I don't know if your unit will "hold out" till January - it might do, it might not. And even if it does, it's unlikely to get any quieter.

2. I don't know of any maintenance or servicing that you can do that will guarantee you thru to January. My experience sez nothing short of blower replacement - or a new machine - will fix it.

Is there any way you can bring forward the replacement?

JohnO
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:52 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by JohnO » Sat Nov 11, 2017 8:12 pm

rick blaine wrote:
So ... to answer your questions:

1. I don't know if your unit will "hold out" till January - it might do, it might not. And even if it does, it's unlikely to get any quieter.

2. I don't know of any maintenance or servicing that you can do that will guarantee you thru to January. My experience sez nothing short of blower replacement - or a new machine - will fix it.

Is there any way you can bring forward the replacement?
Thanks for the detailed reply.

I could get a machine now, but the cost would have to be paid with after tax dollars instead of untaxed dollars. If it gets noisy enough, I might have to do that.

I was just thinking about hours of use: 5 years and 2 months (~1860 days) * 7 hours of machine usage a night = 13,020 hours of usage!

I guess I got my money's worth.

John

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Zeo Bedside, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter

User avatar
Captain_Midnight
Posts: 761
Joined: Sat Jan 28, 2006 8:10 pm
Location: The Great State of Idaho

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by Captain_Midnight » Sat Nov 11, 2017 10:56 pm

JO, my PR-1 had the same noise symptoms (intermittently) for over a year. Oddly, the one thing that would quiet the contraption was moving it. Sliding it around a bit on the night stand. When the length of ownership time was sufficient, I got a new machine, courtesy of Medicare.

Parenthetically, as a happy user of Resperonics machines since 05, I'm now a new owner of a airsense autoset 10. My only complaint? It's too quiet. (I grew to like gentle whooshing noises, sort of like ocean waves lapping at the beach.)

_________________
Machine: DreamStation Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: ComfortGel Blue Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: APAP range = 10 - 12.5 In H20

shaina
Posts: 27
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2016 1:12 pm

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by shaina » Sun Nov 12, 2017 2:41 am

Captain_Midnight wrote:JO, my PR-1 had the same noise symptoms (intermittently) for over a year. Oddly, the one thing that would quiet the contraption was moving it. Sliding it around a bit on the night stand. When the length of ownership time was sufficient, I got a new machine, courtesy of Medicare.

Parenthetically, as a happy user of Resperonics machines since 05, I'm now a new owner of a airsense autoset 10. My only complaint? It's too quiet. (I grew to like gentle whooshing noises, sort of like ocean waves lapping at the beach.)
My husband grew very fond of the white noise from my cpap. He has to substitute when I'm away.

I wonder if the inhalation/exhalation noise from mine is sufficiently noisy to be fixed under the warranty.
Using a Phillips System One Apap with an Airfit P10 for her. Pressure 10-14. Ramp 4.

JohnO
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:52 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by JohnO » Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:36 am

Captain_Midnight wrote:JO, my PR-1 had the same noise symptoms (intermittently) for over a year. Oddly, the one thing that would quiet the contraption was moving it. Sliding it around a bit on the night stand. When the length of ownership time was sufficient, I got a new machine, courtesy of Medicare.
Funny that you mention that. I added water last night, and moved the unit a bit. It did seem a bit quieter last night.
Captain_Midnight wrote:Parenthetically, as a happy user of Resperonics machines since 05, I'm now a new owner of a airsense autoset 10. My only complaint? It's too quiet. (I grew to like gentle whooshing noises, sort of like ocean waves lapping at the beach.)
For many years, I've used a small room fan for white noise. In the summer, it also helps to cool things, but when I first determined I'd turn it off in the fall, the irregular noises in a quiet house (refrigerator compressor, water softener regeneration, etc.) bothered me too much, so now I run with it every night. When I travel, I turn on the room "FAN" mode in heating/cooling unit. It's only lately that the CPAP machine seems loud enough to "break through" the white noise of the fan.

Interesting, too that you switched vendors. I hadn't considered that, as I figured it would "breathe differently" enough to bother me. Maybe not. I guess I should consider both machines.

John

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Zeo Bedside, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter

User avatar
Jason G
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2016 9:47 am

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by Jason G » Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:17 am

I'm getting the noise after just under two years... any recommendations for a replacement machine that lasts longer? Thanks.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: Eson™ Nasal CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Started treatment Feb. 17, 2016, lost weight, stopped, gained it back, started again. I never use the humidifier.

JohnO
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:52 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by JohnO » Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:46 am

Jason G wrote:I'm getting the noise after just under two years... any recommendations for a replacement machine that lasts longer? Thanks.
If your machine is getting noisy in just two years, that seems to be unusual. I would contact the seller and see if they would repair/replace it under warranty.

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Zeo Bedside, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter

User avatar
dadbar1
Posts: 50
Joined: Tue May 13, 2014 1:22 pm
Location: Boston area

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by dadbar1 » Fri Jan 19, 2018 11:16 am

I used to have an old Respironics Remstar machine that started getting noisy...it was a machine I used as a travel/backup unit.

This is probably a no-no but I decided to open it up to see what had actually happened and I found 2 easy to fix issues- the motor was mounted on a shock mounting plate that had come loose and just needed to be tightened....and the actual motor impeller had shifted slightly on the shaft (it was a press-fit) and was hitting the side of the housing, creating an annoying buzz. I just needed to reset the impeller back on the upper part of the shaft.

A year later, the membrane button for on/off failed (they don't last forever) so I used some silver ink (normally used to repair rear window defoggers) to short circuit the on-button to be continuously on.....now the machine comes on when it's plugged in so the switch has been rendered irrelevant.

I would suggest trying a self-service thing if it's not your prime unit. Other than the electronics, these units are not really that complicated.
PR System One Auto A-flex
ResMed Mirage Ultra Mask
Sleepmapper for Android
No humidifier (I take my air shaken, not stirred)

D.H.
Posts: 3467
Joined: Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:07 pm

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by D.H. » Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:26 pm

Five years is time for a new machine anyhow. I think most insurances (maybe all) recognize this. Years ago, I had to prove that my old machine was broken beyond repair, but that was long before Obamacare.

_________________
MachineMask
Additional Comments: Auto PAP; 13.5 cmH2O min - 20 cmH2O max

Southerngent1
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2016 9:40 am

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by Southerngent1 » Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:16 pm

I have only had my machine for a year but would never have been able to get used to the sound of my inhaling/exhaling. Therefore, we run our a/c fan every night to drown out the sound. When traveling I have used foam ear plugs.

User avatar
Wulfman...
Posts: 6688
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:41 pm
Location: Nearest fishing spot

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by Wulfman... » Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:36 pm

My original Pro 2 ( acquired in May 2005 ) developed a slight "wheeze" as the fan changed speeds on C-Flex exhale at about a year of use. It was still under warranty, so I bought another machine before sending mine back to CPAP.COM to be sent back to the factory for inspection and/or repair. When I got it back a few weeks later it was totally silent again and has been ever since.


Den

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

JohnO
Posts: 573
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:52 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA

Re: PR System One getting noisy (5 years old)

Post by JohnO » Sat Jan 20, 2018 9:44 pm

Wulfman... wrote:My original Pro 2 ( acquired in May 2005 ) developed a slight "wheeze" as the fan changed speeds on C-Flex exhale at about a year of use.
That is a good description for what my machine is doing now. But for me, it's been over 5 years. I'm ready for a new machine. My only question now, is whether to try to get it from the local DME, and use insurance (which is now a new high deductible plan) or just go with cpap.com. I'm leaning towards CPAP.com but just want to make sure there is no benefit to me to try to "use up" my deductible.


John

_________________
Machine: PR System One REMStar 60 Series Auto CPAP Machine
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Zeo Bedside, CMS-50E Pulse Oximeter