CPAP Noise

[barrybd]

I have had a Philips Respironics System One 560P RemStar Auto with A-Flex, for 2 years and it seems very noisy. Both my wife and I sleep with ear plugs because of it. I mentioned the noise to the RT at the sleep Dr and was told the new CPAP should be noisier than the old one, which was a REMstar plus with cFlex. I recently changed CPAP equipment suppliers and so I asked the Tech person from that company about. She is not a CPAP users, so she was not sure about the noise, but offered to send it for repairs. Before I do that I wanted to check on here about the noise level. As an experiment, I took the old CPAP and set the pressure to 12, which is where the minimum pressure is on the relatively new one. I then took a sound meter and measure noise levels for both machines. The new machine is a bit noisier than the old one, at a pressure of 12. The difference is not as much as I had expected.

Just to be clear the machines are noisiest on an inhale. My AHI has steadily improved over the last year without any change in settings so overall the machine is doing what it is supposed to. Just want another opinion on whether a new machine should be noisier than a 10 year machine?

Thanks!

[CapnLoki]

I have two 560's and both are essentially silent, certainly not loud enough to require earplugs. If I don't use a humidifier however, I can get "Darth Vader" breathing sounds so I use a "muffler" available from cpap.com. There are also certain masks that can cause excessive noise, and if the exhaust port on the mask gets too close to the pillow it can make noise.

[Pugsy]

Every "newer" model machine I have ever had has been less "noisy" than the previous model.
And I have been through several machines in the Respironics line and 3 in the ResMed line.

I have found that Respironics machines do seem to be a bit noisier on inhale...and the ResMed's a bit noisier on exhale. It's been that way through all the various machines I have used.

Of course YMMV but having a newer machine be noisier than an older machine is not what I would consider normal.
Is 12 decibels worth fixing or trying to fix? I don't know.
If the bulk of what you are "hearing" is the inhale/exhale darth vadar sounds those may be more related to conducted noise where you are hearing your own breathing than it is actual machine motor noise.

As an experiment put your mask on and start up the machine so that you hear whatever it is you are hearing that bugs you...then stick your fingers in your ears and see if the noise level decreases.
If it decreases then the noise is most likely external but if it increases the noise is probably internal or what we call conducted noise and there's a good chance you would hear that noise no matter what machine.
It gets conducted up the hose and amplified a bit.

There are some ways to reduce conducted noise...put the machine on something to help absorb the sound waves..like a mouse pad or rubber mat or what I have done..just a towel folded.
Sometimes getting the hose up off the mattress will help or even a hose cozy.

I don't buy the "newer machines are louder" rationale...at least from my experience with probably 6 to 8 different Respironics machines starting out with the M series APAP. Noise levels have gone down and not up with each progression to newer.

[ChicagoGranny]

CPAP Noise

We were just discussing this with another user, and I wrote:

Placing the CPAP machine just below the top of the mattress reduces noise significantly. Putting a thick mouse pad underneath the machine also helps. Use a pad that helps stop the machine from sliding off the nightstand.

If your CPAP tubing is placed near your ears, noise is increased. Move it if possible.

A hose cover on the tubing also helps reduce noise. You can make one or buy one - https://www.cpap.com/productpage/snuggl ... cover.html

I would add that ear plugs can sometimes make the noise sound louder because your breathing sounds louder.

[chunkyfrog]

Since rollerball mice are becoming more and more scarce, you may have trouble finding a thick mouse pad.
If you do not know of a hoarder of these useful items, you may use craft foam, stiff craft felt,
or a layer or two of spongy shelf liner. Just avoid blocking the bottom vents with any non-porous material.

[ChicagoGranny]

you may have trouble finding a thick mouse pad

People throw them away???

[Cannuck 1]

The lower you keep it from the top of mattress height is uaslly better it seems.
I have a drawer beside my bed and I place cpap in one of the drawers there to lower the noise.(I had a Remstar auto Aflex m series and it was loud at times.)
When I traveled I would just leave it in the carry case with out zipping the case to let heat out.
My new resmed A10 makes noise also when you breath but the newer models are quieter no doubt.

[Janknitz]

I have the PR 550 model, and sometimes it is noisy. It's not so much the machine as the conducted noise from the hose.

I did find that turning the A-flex to 1 helped. I really don't need it anymore, and it's quieter without it. Also, even if you don't use your humidifier, it's quieter with the tank filled. My humidifier hasn't worked in a few years except for Passover mode, so I don't always notice when it's empty. Earlier this week it was loud--then I realized the tank was empty.

[barrybd]

Thanks for all of the ideas. I learned a lot.

Now for an update. The DME tech came today and brought a replacement CPAP, so that she could send my CPAP off for repairs. While mine was clearly noisy. Her machine was not significantly less noisy. We tried adjusting the Aflex to 1 (from 2). My machine got noisier. Hers got quieter. Anyhow, we are sending mine for repair. Thanks for all the help.

Just to be clear. I do keep my CPAP below mattress level. It sits on a towel, although I will try a mousepad (I have lots of old ones I use an humidifier and heated hose. The noise is really coming from the CPAP (not the hose). It is loudest on the inhale.

[Air Jordan]

The noise is really coming from the CPAP (not the hose).

But the noise seems to travel down the hose. I'm going to make a soft, thick cover for the hose and see how it helps.

[chunkyfrog]

you may have trouble finding a thick mouse pad

People throw them away???

Some people throw everything away!
They think the rest of us are hoarders!