M series humidifier tank leaks

[NyNurse33]

Have mine for over a month now and no leaks....probably b/c all the water is going up my nose....lol....just kidding, for now I've solved that problem, but seriously no leaks here.

[rested gal]

Well, I lifted my new 4 day old M series Auto w/Cflex last night to get the serial # off the bottom and there was this huge puddle of water, and on an antique night stand no less, and in an apartment I am renting!! So, I made sure last night, that I did not overfill it, which I had checked the first 2 nights to make sure it was not being overfilled, and also made sure the seal was not bent etc.....I had a NEW puddle of water under the machine this morning. What a mess. I have written Respironics and Cpap.com and I should be receiving a new tested humidifier container soon. The antique night stand, which now has a huge water spot, I am supposed to take up with Respironics....will see what happens with that scenario.

Excerpt from JeffroDoe's post at:
http://www.talkaboutsleep.com/message-b ... hp?t=18532

1. --- there is a problem with M series water chamber leaking water due to the little seal it has being pulled out of alignment as it is closed. I’ve seen a few of these problems and have had to exchange about 8 or 10 water chambers as a result. Respironics apparently has had to pay for several tables due to this issue, so they are working on an updated water chamber design that is less likely to leak. (bold emphasis mine)

JohnD, I sure hope Respironics does the right thing for you regarding the antique table...and for everyone else who has had that happen. Geeze.

[Guest]

The water chamber has a small round band seal that goes all the way around it. I looked at it closely the other day and saw what I think is causing the problem. The opening to the water chamber is a very tight fit. As such, it looks to me like the seal is pulled out of place in 2 or 3 locations around the opening once the two halves are pressed together to close it.

Then, when the machine is running, I guess water splashes up against the seal, and water leaks out. Respironics is working on an updated water chamber design to combat this, but who knows when it will be out. Seems like the wise thing to do is redesign the seal and issue a general recall of the water chambers. Respironics has had to pay for several tables that this leakage has damaged, so they are acting to rectify this issue asap.

In the mean time, the best thing you can do if you experience leakage is go to your supplier and do a water chamber warranty exchange, and put your machine on something absorbent until the updated chamber comes out in the future. I would not recommend putting your machine in a cookie sheet or anything else that catches water. This seems a little hazardous, since the machine is powered by electricity. My 2 cents.

[johnnygoodman]

Greetings,

We have conducted internal tests of M Series Chambers and suspect that the tolerances on the bottom of the chamber in the o ring area are sometimes too loose. As far as we can gather, this occurs only with some humidifier chambers.

We've informed Respironics about this and they have been very helpful and responsive. We will continue to work with them but in the mean time will take some precautionary actions of our own.

If CPAP.com sold you an M Series and your chamber is leaking we want to make it right. We're now testing every M Series Heated Humidifier Chamber we recieve before we put it out. We have a stack of known good chambers and will gladly send our customers affected by this problem a chamber at no charge. We'll include a return label in the package. When you get your new one, please drop the old one off at any UPS location with the pre-paid postage return label affixed.

If you are leaking and need a fix, call CPAP.com toll free at 1-800-356-5221. Any rep who answers can help you.

Sorry for the inconvience. We've got you covered.

Johnny

[TXKajun]

WOW, johnny! Just one more reason why you guys are #1 in my book!!

Kajun

This therapy WORKS!!!

[greyhound]

Just called and cpap.com is sending out a replacement. Of course, the end table was ruined several weeks ago.

[JohnD]

I too am supposed to receive a new chamber from cpap.com I also sent an email to Respironics regarding the leak and the ruined antique end table. I have not heard back from them yet regarding what they are going to do about the table. It does not belong to me, as I am in a rental apt. Has anyone on this forum had Respironics pay them for a damaged end table?

I am also concerned about the continued use of this leaky chamber and the safety and operational integrity of the M Series machine. Every morning I wake up to find a puddle of water under the machine...when I take out the chamber, which btw, is completely dry it seems, I find pretty much the whole bottom of the machine wet......how is this affecting the inside, with all the electronics etc? I am wondering if down the line, there will be problems with the machine due to water in contact with the circuit boards, blower motor etc, given the whole machine is wet underneath?

Thanks, John D.

[Snoredog]

I just got back from my trip, didn't take the M series with me, decided I didn't want to pay for someone else's nightstand had it ruined it.

So I took my old reliable Classic RemstarPro and heated hose.

As for the M series leaks: I have found the same observations as John D, water in the housing and if you lift up on the unit after removing the tank water runs out the vent holes on the humidifier platform.

I have only used mine on a setting of 2, that usually gives me more humidity than I ever need, when I did that with the M, I went through a half tank of water. The most I have used on the old model was about 1/2" per night at the same setting of 2.

After mine has leaked I took the tank apart and examined the green O-ring. I didn't find any place it was "rolled" over or appeared to not seating.

Every time mine has left a puddle (big puddle) it was after refilling the chamber to the "full" mark or every other night. One time was when I was doing the noise measurements and the machine was allowed to run wide open, in that case I wrote off that leak as the machine possibly blowing it out and it leaking past the dual silicone gasket or concentrating in the swivel elbow. But the puddle was around the heating element inside the housing.

I have several spare machines, I may rig up a hose setup and run pressure through the tank outside the housing and see what happens, if it is going to leak past the O-ring gasket it will do so under pressure. I also want to check for any leak around the heating plate at the bottom of the tank, it appears to go through the plastic not just stuck to the bottom.

I'll see what happens tonight.

[GoofyUT]

Welcome back Snoredog!

Though I'm NOT an M series user (I do lovingly embrace the REMstar Auto TANK model), your research on the difficulties, apparently design in nature, of the M series humidifier are TREMENDOUSLY useful to the community here!

I look forward to reading your continuing reports on this!

Many thanks!

Chuck

[HRhuffANDpuff]

I am also concerned about the continued use of this leaky chamber and the safety and operational integrity of the M Series machine. Every morning I wake up to find a puddle of water under the machine...when I take out the chamber, which btw, is completely dry it seems, I find pretty much the whole bottom of the machine wet......how is this affecting the inside, with all the electronics etc? I am wondering if down the line, there will be problems with the machine due to water in contact with the circuit boards, blower motor etc, given the whole machine is wet underneath?

Thanks, John D.

_________________

[stoverquill]

Only two nights, but so far no leaks....and btw, quiet, too.