Hose

[Hawthorne]

I have had my CPAP machine for just over 2 years. Last night something strange happened. About 3 AM I was up and when I went back to bed and put on my mask, I heard something hit the floor. It was the hose. It has slipped off the mask. I put it back on, thinking I had not been careful when I attached it at bedtime. At 6 AM I woke up quickly because it fell off again. I stayed up then since I would have been up in a half hour. Long story but wondered - is the hose wearing out at the connection? I don't know what the life expectency of the hose is. Any help?

[rested gal]

As a "fix" until you get a new hose, you might try swapping ends. Just turn your hose around, attaching the "mask end" of the hose to the machine and the "machine end" of the hose to the mask. I have no idea how long hose connections are supposed to last, but two years sounds like a long time for the rubbery end to hold up well if a mask has been taken on and off it a lot. The "machine end" of the hose probably hasn't been subjected to as much twisting and turning, and may still have more bounce to the ounce left in it.

[christineu]

You can try putting a piece of tape around the end whatever you put into the tube. I've done this on a few mask like my Breeze that didn't want to stay hooked into a quick disconect I use on the ends of my hoses (makes hooking up easier and less stressful on the hoses). I've found electric tape works the best- start with a 1/2" piece and see how it works...if its still loose use a longer piece. The black electrical tape seems to stand up to the repeated pushing/pulling of hooking the hose- I replace it as needed every couple of months. I also use it on one of the set of nasal pillows on my Comfortlite that the little plastic connection hook broke off where it connects onto the mask hose....it was a lot cheaper then new pillows would be. The tape is never in contact with the presurized air in the tube so it shouldn't be an issue- heck, I'm so allergic to adhesive that the only medical tape I can use cost over $25 per roll and I haven't had any problems.

2 years is pretty old for a hose- Medicare pays for new one every month...which is way more then anyone probably needs but your insurance should pay for a new one at least once or twice a year with standard DME coverare and even without insurance a new hose is around $12 from CPAP.com. I would recomend finding out how often you can get a new one and get a backup hose as soon as possible- you never know when something will happen to your main one and at 1 am and having a backup is real handy.

[JeffH]

I had a hose split one time and I used duct tape until I could get a new one. The tape held up just fine and seemed to seal it tear OK.

[birdshell]

<snip>
I've found electric tape works the best- start with a 1/2" piece and see how it works...if its still loose use a longer piece.

<snip>

I also use it on one of the set of nasal pillows on my Comfortlite that the little plastic connection hook broke off where it connects onto the mask hose....it was a lot cheaper then new pillows would be.

This is actually a bit off-topic, but I did the exact same thing this week with my CL 2 direct seal. That little bit just flipped off, and the only thing that I thought of to use for a repair was the black electrical tape. It has worked like a charm.

When I read this, it was an amazing coincidence! I am due for a new direct seal, but just wanted to sleep well until I could get it. My backup wasn't to be found that night, but I did find it the next day. However, the electrical tape is working so well, that I have had no reason to switch to the backup.

I guess this is a recommendation for electrical tape repairs on xPAP equipment. It may be worth picking up a roll should one not already have one in the house.