A10 makes noise during inhale

[TimeToSleep]

Hey all,

First of all -- thanks again to everyone for the wealth of knowledge here. Crazy to think I had my study just a few weeks ago and how quickly everything changes around.

Anyway thanks to the plethora of good information here and elsewhere, I was able to start my CPAP therapy last night with my shiny new AirCurve A10 Auto. And pull the data into SleepyHead this morning. And change the clock this afternoon since the DME had it set 2 hours off

So far so good, actually. DME tried I think 6 or 7 masks on me to find a comfy one and last night I took a 5 or 10 minute "break" ("or" -- SleepyHead tells me it was 6 minutes 39 seconds) from the machine and then pulled it off / shut it down when I woke up about an hour before my normal wakeup time. Pretty good for a first night, as best I can tell.

Anyway my question is this:
My machine makes a noise whenever I breathe in! I'm not sure what's causing it. We used my machine at the DME's office and I don't recall it making the noise there. It's some kind of low frequency vibration. It almost sounds like a bow being drawn across a string on a bass -- but not nearly as loud thank goodness. It's coming from the left hand side of the machine -- fan/filter area.

I was playing with it a bit this afternoon and noticed if I lifted the left side of the machine up, even just ever so slightly, noise went away completely. So it seems to be like the bottom of the machine vibrating against my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table? For now I have a very thin foam drink coaster (Also, ironically, Ikea) "shimming" that side of the machine and we'll give that a shot tonight.

But has anybody experienced something similar?

Thx!

[palerider]

My machine makes a noise whenever I breathe in! I'm not sure what's causing it. We used my machine at the DME's office and I don't recall it making the noise there. It's some kind of low frequency vibration. It almost sounds like a bow being drawn across a string on a bass -- but not nearly as loud thank goodness. It's coming from the left hand side of the machine -- fan/filter area.

I was playing with it a bit this afternoon and noticed if I lifted the left side of the machine up, even just ever so slightly, noise went away completely. So it seems to be like the bottom of the machine vibrating against my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table? For now I have a very thin foam drink coaster (Also, ironically, Ikea) "shimming" that side of the machine and we'll give that a shot tonight.

since it's brand new, I'd suggest taking it back.

it shouldn't make humming, vibrating noises.

make sure the humidifier tank is seated properly first though.

[OkyDoky]

The only time my machine makes any noise is when the humidity tank isn't closed good on the seals or not seated well on the seals inside. I usually just push down or in, on it and it stops the noise. Now there may be breathing noises in the mask that may take a little time to get used to but not long.
If that's not where you are hearing it like PR says take it back.

[ChicagoGranny]

since it's brand new, I'd suggest taking it back.

But, if it is "my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table", then it might make no noise at the DME counter.

[Sleeprider]

I just had my first night of use on a new Aircurve 10 Vauto. The machine was completely inaudible! I can hear a little bit of air at the mask vent, but that's it. I have been using a PSR1 Auto BiPAP until last night, and each breath was audible as a different pitch for inhale and exhale, but honestly, nothing from the Vauto. I keep the machine in a lower drawer of a nightstand next to the bed and this suppresses any sound, however it was pretty quiet, but not silent when I tried it on top of the stand. If the noise is very noticeable, I'd have to say it's probably not normal and your should ask the DME.

[palerider]

since it's brand new, I'd suggest taking it back.

But, if it is "my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table", then it might make no noise at the DME counter.

and, if it doesn't, then that's indication that it's not a bad machine. but the machine should not have ANY vibration that would be bothered by "my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table". so, what if it is?

[ChicagoGranny]

the machine should not have ANY vibration that would be bothered by "my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table". so, what if it is?

[GettingBetter]

Hey all,

First of all -- thanks again to everyone for the wealth of knowledge here. Crazy to think I had my study just a few weeks ago and how quickly everything changes around.

Anyway thanks to the plethora of good information here and elsewhere, I was able to start my CPAP therapy last night with my shiny new AirCurve A10 Auto. And pull the data into SleepyHead this morning. And change the clock this afternoon since the DME had it set 2 hours off

So far so good, actually. DME tried I think 6 or 7 masks on me to find a comfy one and last night I took a 5 or 10 minute "break" ("or" -- SleepyHead tells me it was 6 minutes 39 seconds) from the machine and then pulled it off / shut it down when I woke up about an hour before my normal wakeup time. Pretty good for a first night, as best I can tell.

Anyway my question is this:
My machine makes a noise whenever I breathe in! I'm not sure what's causing it. We used my machine at the DME's office and I don't recall it making the noise there. It's some kind of low frequency vibration. It almost sounds like a bow being drawn across a string on a bass -- but not nearly as loud thank goodness. It's coming from the left hand side of the machine -- fan/filter area.

I was playing with it a bit this afternoon and noticed if I lifted the left side of the machine up, even just ever so slightly, noise went away completely. So it seems to be like the bottom of the machine vibrating against my (Particleboard Ikea) bed side table? For now I have a very thin foam drink coaster (Also, ironically, Ikea) "shimming" that side of the machine and we'll give that a shot tonight.

But has anybody experienced something similar?

Thx!

Hi TimeToSleep,

Congratulations on taking good care of yourself and your sleep problem. I hope this good start continues for you.

About this little problem I can offer two possible solutions: one highly probable and one less likely.

First, something highly probable. If the machine or your nightstand surface is not level for the machine and its interior workings, try placing a few business cards, playing cards or folded paper under the machine to mimic the ever so slight lifting up you did during your diagnostics. I have a framed oil painting in my dining room that will vibrate, ever so slightly (like a rosined bow gently across a string), only when the heating/air conditioning fan (which is in the attic, but positioned on the same framework) is on. While the painting is vertical, a couple of business cards allowed the frame to hang flat against the wall an not vibrate. So - Before returning the thing - try some business cards to level that thing up.

Second, when you changed the time on your machine, you may have breached the time-space continuum, creating a rent that is trying to find equilibrium. The hum may be the machine's way of trying to reset. You may find yourself in a continuous loop, like that movie Groundhog day very soon - only it might be St. Patrick's Day because Groundhog's day has already passed. If you suspect this is the case, I would return the machine or reset the hours to the DME settings.

Hope this helps, but of course you probably could have figured it out on your own.

Kind regards,
GB

[TimeToSleep]

Hey GB, you might be onto something there with the time space continuum! Actually it was humming BEFORE I changed the clock. So hm.

Actually I took a closer look at the bottom of the machine (Humidifier removed!) and noticed that there aren't any rubber "feet" on the bottom of the machine, but rather a series of moulded rubber lines that the machine rests on. They are very very low profile. I'm thinking either the machine wasn't sitting totally flat on the side table, or the side table is slightly warped or something -- such that a very slight vibration in machine (There ARE moving parts in there) was getting transmitted to the side table.

I went ahead and left the coaster under the left side (Roughly the thickness of a CD/DVD) and the machine was utterly silent save for the almost inaudible sound of air in the hose.

I was going to try on some different surfaces in my house today just to validate / confirm but I didn't -- I'm going to bed now (CPAP Time!) so I'll try tomorrow.

I'll report back just in case somebody else has the same thing happen to them but in this case it looks like much ado about nothing + first night jitters.

[OkyDoky]

Some people sit the whole machine on a mouse pad or thicker kitchen shelving liner.

[Baja]

I have two A10s with the same problem. Both have folded towels under them to reduce the noise.

Also the pressure makes a big difference. My wife's unit in the 5 to 10 range is much quiter than mine at 11 to 13. I even swapped the units and pressure settings, same noise on both.

That is probably why there is such a disparity in people noticing the sound.