Replacing Filters

[Merryj]

Do you have to use the replacement filters supplied by your insurance company, or would you be able to use filters for use in other things (cut to size).

Could you use hepa filters and just cut them down to fit the slot on the back of the machine?

[LSAT]

Do you have to use the replacement filters supplied by your insurance company, or would you be able to use filters for use in other things (cut to size).

Could you use hepa filters and just cut them down to fit the slot on the back of the machine?

Your insurance company does not supply filters...your DME does. In answer to your question...If the filter you use is comperable' go ahead and use it, but, your insurance will not pay for it. They only pay for the filters supplied by your DME.

[archangle]

Could you use hepa filters and just cut them down to fit the slot on the back of the machine?

You can, but I think it's a dumb idea. Check the online suppliers, including ebay sellers.

[RocketGirl]

If the filter material you want to use has a lower permeability than the filters made for the machine, it could conceivably make the machine run hot and shorten its life. It would be worth checking to see if it would void your warranty to use filters other than those recommended by the manufacturer.

[Sheriff Buford]

I agree, I wouldn't risk any home-made filters for my S9. I bought some at cpapfiltersandsupplies.com for a reasonable price.

Sheriff

[Maxie]

I bought my filters on eBay at a very reasonable price plus free shipping! I'm wary of using anything other than the filters made for the machine.

[chunkyfrog]

Thanks, Sheriff.
I just added that link to my favorites bar.
I'll check it out later, but if shipping is reasonable---

[TalonNYC]

I buy mine from my host, because my DME only offers very flimsy filters. The ones I get are hypoallergenic (I get them from our hosts) and made for the S9 unit, they definitely catch more dust, and they look the same as the filters that came with the unit when I first got it.

The DME-supplied filters are nearly see-through and are the same size and shape, but of a clearly different material than the two that came with the unit. I'm sure they're made for the S9, but the're definitely not from ResMed, and not as good as the filters that came with the unit.

Since the DME is sending 3rd-Party filters anyway, I might as well get the 3rd-Party filters that work better =)

Insurance does not cover them, but my company has a Flexible Spending Account program, so I use that to pay for them.

[-tim]

Any one that has "altitude compensation" shouldn't care about filters. The manufactures have to cope with the fact that these things are in homes with chain smokers who never replace the filters.

You can't use HEPPA filters on new machines because HEPPA isn't the material, its how its folded and most newer ones like the S9 air intake are very stupid designs. The only way you can use HEPPA is to put the machine in a box with a filter for its air intake and then you have to deal with the hole for the hose.

I would like to see every DME say that the standard air intake should be a round fitting of size X and then let the market come up with good solutions for different filtering levels. That way most people could have a dust filter that goes in the plastic bit (like now) and others could have it hooked to a larger plastic bit with a larger more effective hypoallergenic filter and others could have a second tube to a box with a mini surgical grade air filter.