How to clean a used unit?

[mhorowit]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

[Uncle_Bob]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

Depending how far you want to go (cleaning is a personal thing) You could try taking the machine apart and try and clean inside and deodorize it yourself, it would be risky. Doug has some photos of some disassembled machines here http://www.internetage.com/cpapinfo/index.html

[DreamStalker]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

Cleaned for what?

odour?

dirt?

stains?

[mhorowit]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

Cleaned for what?

odour?

dirt?

stains?

respiratory hygiene

[nanwilson]

A friend of mine just did axactly that with a used unit. He washed and soaked everything that was moveable, (hose, mask, etc.) then he set the machine itself in his spare room for a week and ran the unit for 2 hours each day along with a deodorizer next to the filter. When he set it all up and finally turned it on to be used, it was fine, no smokey or moldy smells at all.
Gook luck with yours...
Cheers ..Nan

[6PtStar]

I have bought several used machines and I have never cleaned anything excep what has been mentioned; Generally replace hose, filters, etc. I guess I have been lucky I have not gotten one from a smoker. Several have reported getting one with odors and it seems to help to run it outside in the sun and use the natural ozone to deoderize.

Jerry

[STL Mark]

One would think the average unit used in a sleep lab has had 100 or so patients attached to it, wonder if there is a clinician's manual on cleaning...

[bearded_two]

As long as there is no odor; I would clean the outside of the machine with rubbing alcohol, clean the power cord, clean the carrying case, replace the filters, and call it good. I would discard a used hose and clean a used mask with the manufacturer's specified germicide.

[cobra4x4]

Always replace hoses, masks etc on used units.

As for the unit itself, there is very little that can and should be cleaned unless its equipped with a humidifier. I would take a cold sterilizing solution and Q-tips (preferably longer ones used in electronics) and clean the air outlet port thoroughly. The humidifier chamber and ports/openings should also be cleaned using the cold sterilizing solution then rinsed several times and as stated earlier wipe the machine down to remove any possible surface germs.

I too have had a positive experience with a used machine, just practice due diligence when going that route.

[STL Mark]

Ran across this Mask Disinfection and Sterilization guide in resmeds pdfs thought it may be of interest to some.

[Wulfman]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

Cleaned for what?

odour?

dirt?

stains?

respiratory hygiene

Whose......yours or the previous user?

The air is going into the machine from the room.......not from the user into the machine.

Assuming the filters are clean and have been in place, and there are no foul smells coming from the air from the machine, there shouldn't be any problems.


Den

[DreamStalker]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

Cleaned for what?

odour?

dirt?

stains?

respiratory hygiene

Whose......yours or the previous user?

The air is going into the machine from the room.......not from the user into the machine.

Assuming the filters are clean and have been in place, and there are no foul smells coming from the air from the machine, there shouldn't be any problems.


Den

Yep. What Den said.

Just turn on your machine and you will quickly realize that the air blows OUT of the machine and into the hose attached to the mask interface.

When you exhale (or the when the previous user exhaled), the exhaled air goes out the CO2 vents in the mask interface ... and NOT into the hose or back into the machine.

[blakepro]

Earlier we see discussed purchasing a used unit. I know how to clean the mask, hose and humidifier chamber and I know to change/clean the filter. Is there anything else that should be cleaned? - Mike

Cleaned for what?

odour?

dirt?

stains?

respiratory hygiene

Whose......yours or the previous user?

The air is going into the machine from the room.......not from the user into the machine.

Assuming the filters are clean and have been in place, and there are no foul smells coming from the air from the machine, there shouldn't be any problems.


Den

Yep. What Den said.

Just turn on your machine and you will quickly realize that the air blows OUT of the machine and into the hose attached to the mask interface.

When you exhale (or the when the previous user exhaled), the exhaled air goes out the CO2 vents in the mask interface ... and NOT into the hose or back into the machine.

I know this is minor, but sometimes I use the auto on feature of my machine where I breathe / blow air into my mask/hose to get it to turn on. This would be an example of when your respiratory air may enter the machine. It seems like my PR1 takes 2-3 breaths of air before it turns on.

I think the other concerns may rise from the fact that you just don't know for sure what that machine has been exposed to. If someone using it, or even in the same room as it had a terrible case of tuberculosis or something like that, I would be a little weary of it, even if it did have the proper filters installed. Some people are terribly sensitive to mold, dust and allergens. I don't think its unreasonable to think that many people may want to deep clean their used machine as much as reasonably possible.

[Wulfman]

I know this is minor, but sometimes I use the auto on feature of my machine where I breathe / blow air into my mask/hose to get it to turn on. This would be an example of when your respiratory air may enter the machine. It seems like my PR1 takes 2-3 breaths of air before it turns on.

I think the other concerns may rise from the fact that you just don't know for sure what that machine has been exposed to. If someone using it, or even in the same room as it had a terrible case of tuberculosis or something like that, I would be a little weary of it, even if it did have the proper filters installed. Some people are terribly sensitive to mold, dust and allergens. I don't think its unreasonable to think that many people may want to deep clean their used machine as much as reasonably possible.

I don't think you could blow enough of your lung air back into the hose to reach the machine......the mask, hose and humidifier already have a volume of air in that circuit when you start blowing. You merely push that air back far enough to reach the sensors that do the auto-start.

That's just one of the chances you take when you're bidding on "previously used" machines. If the person is that susceptible to those things, then they should ONLY buy a "new" one.


Den

[DreamStalker]

I know this is minor, but sometimes I use the auto on feature of my machine where I breathe / blow air into my mask/hose to get it to turn on. This would be an example of when your respiratory air may enter the machine. It seems like my PR1 takes 2-3 breaths of air before it turns on.

I think the other concerns may rise from the fact that you just don't know for sure what that machine has been exposed to. If someone using it, or even in the same room as it had a terrible case of tuberculosis or something like that, I would be a little weary of it, even if it did have the proper filters installed. Some people are terribly sensitive to mold, dust and allergens. I don't think its unreasonable to think that many people may want to deep clean their used machine as much as reasonably possible.

I don't think you could blow enough of your lung air back into the hose to reach the machine......the mask, hose and humidifier already have a volume of air in that circuit when you start blowing. You merely push that air back far enough to reach the sensors that do the auto-start.

That's just one of the chances you take when you're bidding on "previously used" machines. If the person is that susceptible to those things, then they should ONLY buy a "new" one.


Den

That is right. The machine senses a change in pressure for the auto-start feature to turn on ... NOT air flow.