Wheezing/whistling problem....solution.....

[CPAP Torturee]

" . . . wheezing/whistling sounds . . . "
My machine is nearly five years old, and no sounds like those.
Is there something unusual in your cleaning regimen?
Has your machine been exposed to any corrosive gases, like ozone, chlorine, or smog?

This board and other boards have a tremendous number of complaints describing this same problem. My second A 10 was two years old before the whistling started. I'm a SoClean user, but the whistling started way before the SoClean purchase, when I was doing the soapy water regimen with an organic, fragrance-free dish soap. Corrosive gases? Maybe I should lighten up on the wife's chili.

A search for "whistling" gets 1600 hits on this board.

It's an occasional, but infrequent, issue, considering how many of those machines are out there.
Ozone (which the soclean uses) is a very corrosive gas, We've has people who disassembled their Air 10 machines and found the foam inside all crumbling, and getting blown into the humidifier and hose.

All the teasing aside (you DID set yourself up for it at first) It's good that you identified a likely culprit, I'll keep it in mind for when the wheezing/whistling complaint comes up again.

Thanks for that. It seems that ozone reverts to oxygen in as little as 30 minutes and certainly within a few hours. I remove my mask from the SoClean as soon as the green lights come on, which is usually about 12 hours before sleep time. I know that before SoClean I was plagued with sinus issues, infections. During the year I've used it, not a single issue. I'm glad to have that information, though. Perhaps I was not using a strong enough soap in my cleaning regimen.

[palerider]

Perhaps I was not using a strong enough soap in my cleaning regimen.

My preference is hot water and unscented dishwashing soap. I figure, if it's good enough for what you eat off of...

[CPAP Torturee]

Perhaps I was not using a strong enough soap in my cleaning regimen.

My preference is hot water and unscented dishwashing soap. I figure, if it's good enough for what you eat off of...

That’s what I was using, an unscented dish soap from Target. I would fill the hose with hot soapy water and let everything soak for a few hours. Maybe I was getting too slack, only washing every four days or so.

[chunkyfrog]

. . . fill the hose with hot soapy water and let everything soak for a few hours. . . .

Soaking for an extended time can promote deterioration, and even fungal growth.
Brush, swish, and rinse is enough.
Then it can dry--unless you do it right before bed. (No drying needed then)
Anything more often than once in a while invites entropy.
Of course, the manufacturers love that--more replacements, more money.
But if it makes you happy . . .

[CPAP Torturee]

. . . fill the hose with hot soapy water and let everything soak for a few hours. . . .

Soaking for an extended time can promote deterioration, and even fungal growth.
Brush, swish, and rinse is enough.
Then it can dry--unless you do it right before bed. (No drying needed then)
Anything more often than once in a while invites entropy.
Of course, the manufacturers love that--more replacements, more money.
But if it makes you happy . . .

Thank you for that. I wish I’d had that info years ago. I have received some questionable instructions. I will stick with SoClean for the time being and allow everything to air out well prior to using.

[chunkyfrog]

. . . I will stick with SoClean for the time being and allow everything to air out well prior to using.

Toss the SoClean--that is the problem.
No cpap manufacturer recommends it--for good reason.

[zonker]

Thank you for that. I wish I’d had that info years ago. I have received some questionable instructions. I will stick with SoClean for the time being and allow everything to air out well prior to using.

oh dear me. please tell me the soclean was a sarcastic remark?

if not, please use the search box above to get the opinions of users here about this product.

hint: a vocal section of the forum do not like it or want it.

[CPAP Torturee]

Thank you for that. I wish I’d had that info years ago. I have received some questionable instructions. I will stick with SoClean for the time being and allow everything to air out well prior to using.

oh dear me. please tell me the soclean was a sarcastic remark?

if not, please use the search box above to get the opinions of users here about this product.

hint: a vocal section of the forum do not like it or want it.

Does the American Sleep Association have a dog in the fight? They seem to recommend it and the US government's healthfinder.gov has nothing bad to say about ASA. The reviews on seller sites are overwhelmingly positive. But, you can never tell who's getting paid for what. I have also seen many chemistry types explain that ozone naturally reverts to oxygen very quickly. Its half life is about 30 minutes. I do not pretend to have answers, just questions.

And what made you think my remark was sarcastic? Was your reply sneering? Thank you for the hint; I came here for help and certainly have noticed the "vocal" section.

[palerider]

The reviews on seller sites are overwhelmingly positive. But, you can never tell who's getting paid for what.

You also have to take into account confirmation bias.

You're talking about an expensive machine that *none of the users can actually tell if it does anything* other than make a "fresh" though harmful, smell.

I'm willing to bet that none of those on so pleased users have swabbed their masks before and after nocleaning them and then cultured the results to see if the thing actually had any positive effect.

They were told this expensive thing is good, they spent their money, so they want it to be a miracle, so they don't feel like a fool, parted from their money. Of course they post glowing reviews.

You can find effusive reviews of sham products all over the internet, and for many decades before the net existed.... Patent nostrums were all the rage, they'd cure what ails you... Radium and uranium treatments were BIG BUSINESS for quite some time, and we all know how THOSE turned out....

[CPAP Torturee]

The reviews on seller sites are overwhelmingly positive. But, you can never tell who's getting paid for what.

You also have to take into account confirmation bias.

You're talking about an expensive machine that *none of the users can actually tell if it does anything* other than make a "fresh" though harmful, smell.

I'm willing to bet that none of those on so pleased users have swabbed their masks before and after nocleaning them and then cultured the results to see if the thing actually had any positive effect.

They were told this expensive thing is good, they spent their money, so they want it to be a miracle, so they don't feel like a fool, parted from their money. Of course they post glowing reviews.

You can find effusive reviews of sham products all over the internet, and for many decades before the net existed.... Patent nostrums were all the rage, they'd cure what ails you... Radium and uranium treatments were BIG BUSINESS for quite some time, and we all know how THOSE turned out....

Yes, I believe confirmation bias exists. My sleep doc is an ENT sleep specialist and retired colonel who started and headed the sleep center at Walter Reed. He and his RN, my sleep navigator, both have said Soclean is effective for their patients. Since I began CPAP I had near-continuous sinus infections. During my one year using Soclean, zero problems. I'm sure the infections were due to my imperfect cleaning methods and schedule. I use Soclean 3 times per week. There are people who use ozone for air purification, which is certainly not a good idea. The facts that ozone's half life is 30 minutes and I air it out for 10 hours post use give me some peace of mind, which I admit could be self deception. I also hit the on button and then off to put the A10 in 20 minute dry mode, which would serve to purge itself and accelerate the natural conversion of ozone to oxygen.

[palerider]

Since I began CPAP I had near-continuous sinus infections. During my one year using Soclean, zero problems.

Conversely, I have far *fewer* sinus infections since I started CPAP, long before noclean was invented.