sales rep says plastic has pores that harbour bacteria

I've just been to purchase my second machine and the sales rep I spoke with indicated that the plastic top of my water tub needs to be replaced yearly because the plastic has "pores" that harbour bacteria.

Is this true?
Do the plastic parts of the humidifier also have pores?
If so does that component also need replacing yearly?

Sounds strange...I have been using the same humidifier tub since I got my current machine in June 2014 . Since I use distilled water, it is as clean as the day I started using it. I see no reason to change it...I think others have had the same experience.

Ask him what his commission percent is.

Sales reps have no code of ethics.
Remember that.

And no degrees in Science.

Have him prove it.

I think almost every surface can harbour bacteria. Where did they come from and how did they get there .... the only thing going through you humidifier and cpap and hose is air (filtered first) ... the same air you breath all day long.
If you only open the water chamber for a short time to add DISTILLED water to it and it is closed the rest of the time .... not much chance of getting anything in it.

Knowing how plastics are made, the rep has simply been badly misinformed and honestly, this is a widespread belief. If indeed plastic had pores, your bin wouldn't be safe to use after a week, much less 6 months. Do you replace all your plastic cups, saucers and plates every 6 months because hey, the same thing would be true of those items as well? No you don't because it's nonsense. If you are washing things regularly, you are no more at risk for bacteria than if the item is new. The exception is if you start seeing a black accumulation - that could be a mold and I simply would throw it away at that point.

The issues about bacteria in small, unseen cracks refer to OLD plastic - stuff that is 15-20 years or older. This came about because a lot of folks were using plastic stuff that they used as children for their own children and someone wanted to make a buck and sell a book that said..oh dear, this stuff has breaks and stuff that could make your kid sick. In reality, the problem with the old plastic and children eating off it was that old plastic leeches some of their chemical and the leeching increases the older the plastic is. That's how plastic becomes brittle over time. Interestingly, your Mom's Tupperware is probably still perfectly fine. They used pretty high quality plastics for that stuff made in the 70s and early 80s.

So, if you feel compelled to explain to your DME why you aren't replacing it, just tell him/her that you don't buy that explanation without some proof especially when the manual says that the bins are intended to last 2-2.5 years. It's just marketing goop. I do AGREE that the bins on the new machines are a little harder to clean in that they have a lot more crevices, (I say this having just cleaned my brother's Respironics Legacy bipap where there aren't any) but if you have a concern, then just get some Control III and you are good to go.

grayghost4 wrote:I think almost every surface can harbour bacteria. Where did they come from and how did they get there .... the only thing going through you humidifier and cpap and hose is air (filtered first) ... the same air you breath all day long.
If you only open the water chamber for a short time to add DISTILLED water to it and it is closed the rest of the time .... not much chance of getting anything in it.

unless you do it in an absolutely sterile environment, anything (sweat, dirt, spores, dust) could get in, I think

Jack Burton wrote:I've just been to purchase my second machine and the sales rep I spoke with indicated that the plastic top of my water tub needs to be replaced yearly because the plastic has "pores" that harbour bacteria.

Is this true?
Do the plastic parts of the humidifier also have pores?
If so does that component also need replacing yearly?

Use some common sense with regard to all that you've been told.
"Bacteria" is EVERYWHERE......lots of it is actually good and with some "not-so-good" ones, you build up resistances to it.
If you NEVER clean ANYTHING, then maybe you could get sick if your system hasn't built up an immunity.
But, like I said......use some common sense.


Den

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If the dealer is correct, maybe he is selling COUNTERFEIT supplies!
The FDA has minimum requirements for materials in cpap equipment.

Ever seen champagne bubbles in a glass? Doesn't happen without microscopic pores in the glass surface. The body has lots of bacteria, many pounds of it, you are the alien. Like others have said, you are taking in bacteria and mold every day. It is nothing new to your body. There can be a problem with extremely large colonies. If you smell it it is time to clean it. A very effective cleaner is hydrogen peroxide available at any drug store for $1 a bottle. It is what hospitals use. Buildup of minerals on the heating plate can be eaten away with the acid in white vinegar. I don't even bother with distilled water.