Sudden Odor

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:19 pm

When I turned on the BIPAP last night, there was a bothersome smell coming through in the air...like the smell of cut grass combined with dirt...that yicky smell you get when you pass by a commercial lawn mower that is mowing the mostly dead grass along the road. (Do only Texans mow dead grass, or is it universal? )

Anyway, I thought it was my mask, since I skipped washing it a couple of nights over the weekend when I was out-of-town. Maybe I can just switch to the other mask, I thought. Took the mask off and sniffed the hose. Nope, the smell was coming through the hose...

I gave up, just couldn't cope with this problem late at night. I slept all night without the machine, and yes, today I could tell the difference.

This morning I washed EVERYTHING with soap, then pulled out the filters. The washable filter smelled faintly of the same odor, even after washing.

Put it all together again tonight, and now it seems fine, but with a NEW washable filter.

I am relatively new to this. Is it normal for a filter to just suddenly start stinking? It didn't look dirty at all.

I am a frequent changer of air-conditioner filters due to my allergies. I thought I was a good judge of filters, and I had eyeballed this filter a week or so ago, and I thought it was doing fine. I have the disposable filter under it, so NOTHING should be able to get through.

I can't imagine how I could have exposed my machine to something so smelly....When I went out of town, I carried it in the case, plus I wrapped it in a clean towel for extra padding.

How often do the rest of you wash your filters?

Moogy

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:23 pm

I know the smell of Texas dead grass ..

But you should not be getting an odor from your machine, I don't think. In 3 years, the only time I had an odor was once from my humidifier. I think that was the one time it has scum in it -- kidding. But the water did smell rancid, so I changed it and washing it out with vinegar water.

Just watch it closely - hopefully you won't have any more trouble. I think you're doing wonderfully, and a great addition to the forum.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:37 pm

Make the dog sleep in the other room! Old water in the HH caused me trouble. One thing to watch is when you wash the pollen filter (black) make sure it dries completely before you put it away. I set mine on The D-Link network, for my computers, it's always nice and warm and it dries it out fine, but first I squeeze it dry in a white towel. I let it dry all day, before I pack it away.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:44 pm

[quote="Linda3032"]I know the smell of Texas dead grass ..

But you should not be getting an odor from your machine, I don't think. In 3 years, the only time I had an odor was once from my humidifier. I think that was the one time it has scum in it -- kidding. But the water did smell rancid, so I changed it and washing it out with vinegar water.

Just watch it closely - hopefully you won't have any more trouble. I think you're doing wonderfully, and a great addition to the forum.

Moogy · Post by **Moogy** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:13 pm

If you put a couple of Carp in the HH they will keep it clean, I am not sure how much extra food you have to add each day.

You can put a small light at the side of the HH and watch them swin, very peacful.

ROTFL! Gotta love those fishies!

Moogy

Darth Vader Look · Post by **Darth Vader Look** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:32 pm

Goofproof posts - If you put a couple of Carp in the HH they will keep it clean, I am not sure how much extra food you have to add each day.

Okay so now I'm confused Where do the Carp go to do their business (putting it nicely) and does it smell like dead cut Texas grass .

unclebob · Post by **unclebob** » Tue Mar 28, 2006 11:42 pm

Hi Moogy,

May seem strange but you do have a good thing going for you. You just need to make a small adjustment and all will be well. Actually, better than you ever thought possible.

Regarding the grass, it really is better not to let it die and then mow it. What you should do, and this is based on tried and true methods we use here up north, is to not mow it at all. Yep, best thing is to just pull it up by the roots when it's lush and green. You may actually want to wait until the seeds are produced - for future cultivation you understand.

Once you pull the grass plant up by the roots, you must then hang it upside down and then let it dry out. Kind of letting it die but you skip the mowing part. At this point there are a number of things you can do. For example, do your friends like tea and brownies? There are a number of good recipes for these delicacies.

In your case you may just want to keep it simple. What you need to do first off is simply discard the all the filters on your xPAP. Then take a good quantity of the dried grass and place it in a container just under the air intake vent on the xPAP where the filters used to be. You should feel much better in the morning and will soon get over the unusual aroma of the grass. For even better treatment, place a few of the grass roots right in the heated humidifier and don't bother to wash it out - even after several weeks of use.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your treatment!

All the best,

Bob F

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:05 am

Welcome back, unclebob!

goofproof wrote:If you put a couple of Carp in the HH they will keep it clean, I am not sure how much extra food you have to add each day.

You can put a small light at the side of the HH and watch them swin, very peacful.

Like this: Managing your humidifier

More seriously;
I wash my washable fliter once a week (try to...) and alternate two (thanks, snork) so that the washed one has about a week's time to dry .

Could your filter have picked up the smell from the bag the machine was packed in?

O.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:30 am

unclebob! I've missed you and your zany stories!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:14 am

unclebob wrote:In your case you may just want to keep it simple. What you need to do first off is simply discard the all the filters on your xPAP. Then take a good quantity of the dried grass and place it in a container just under the air intake vent on the xPAP where the filters used to be. You should feel much better in the morning and will soon get over the unusual aroma of the grass. For even better treatment, place a few of the grass roots right in the heated humidifier and don't bother to wash it out - even after several weeks of use.

Hope this helps, and good luck with your treatment!

Ah, how we've missed these helpful hints from unclebob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be filling my humidifier with grass later today. Tell me, does this work with ALL types of grass?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:17 am

ozij wrote: Like this: Managing your humidifier

Love that picture!!!!!!!!!

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:36 am

Ah, how we've missed these helpful hints from unclebob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And also neversleeps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O.

RobertinTX · Post by **RobertinTX** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:37 am

I just love my CPAP..
I was on a deer lease with my oldest son and several other guys.
At night the smell of natural gas from some of them was terrible.
But, I'd put on my CPAP and sleep like a baby, it filtered the smell out.
I consider myself the "lucky" one even if they do call me "Vader"...

Wulfman · Post by **Wulfman** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:06 am

Mine sure didn't filter out the "fragrance" last summer when a skunk passed near our house early in the morning......(and apparently got startled by something) UGH!
And you think dead grass smells bad???!!!

Den

Linda3032 · Post by **Linda3032** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:13 am

Den, been there done that .

I don't know how that smell filters into the house - sure lets a homeowner know he if his house is sealed well or not. And the smell lasts for about 3 days.

BTW, I have a great formula for getting skunk smell out of dogs or cats if anyone wants it. I've had to do 3 dogs in 5 years, and that's not fun either.

Mask