White powder in my machine

[mets123]

I have a Resmed aircurve 10 vauto. Recently I got a few times where the machine seemed to be stuck in the epap position. I noticed this when I got up in the middle of the night. It was not cycling between epap and ipap. I also had two occasions when I got up there was a message on the machine that the tube may be blocked. I never get rainout issues.
I sent it to a repair place and they said that when they opened the unit they saw a lot of white powder in the motor and it damaged also the sensor. I only have 6500 hours on the machine and use only distilled water. I use a room humidifier, have no pets and change the filter on my machine monthly.
Anyone have an idea what this problem could be the result of?

[Pugsy]

What kind of water do you use in the humidifier?

You might google "Room humidifiers and white powder"....I just did.

[mets123]

In the room humidifier we use filtered water.

[Dog Slobber]

What type of filter.

Most filters don't remove minerals from your water.

[mets123]

I use a disposable water filter not tap water. Strange if that was the problem I would expect to see this white powder on furniture or other items in my room

[chunkyfrog]

Was the machine new when you got it?
Was any remodeling done in your home?
Drywall dust is crazy--it can get anywhere.
Well, ALMOST anywhere.

[palerider]

I sent it to a repair place and they said that when they opened the unit they saw a lot of white powder in the motor ...I use a room humidifier, ....
Anyone have an idea what this problem could be the result of?

If your room humidifier is one of those ultrasonic ones, that's your culprit.

[mets123]

I purchased this unit from second wind and it had only 10 run hours on it. Palerider it is an ultrasonic unit. Again if that is the culprit why don’t I see this white powder anywhere else?
Does anyone know where I can buy a new blower for my machine? I am correct that the blowers are the same for all machines but only the board is different?

[mets123]

Chunky frog, no construction in the house.

[Pugsy]

How close is your machine to your humidifier? If it is very close...maybe the machine is sucking the white powder in before it can disperse on to other items in your bedroom enough to be noticed.

[mets123]

Pugsy, actually I keep my machine low on the floor sitting on a plastic box. The humidifier is on the other side of the room.

[Pugsy]

Well...the only thing I can think of to cause white powder inside the blower unit is the humidifier.
I don't know if having it near the floor would cause it to suck in more particles but maybe it does.

Since I distrust a lot of what I am told...you never saw the white powder...you were just old about it...so I would wonder about that little tidbit. If your machine was used for 10 hours by someone else...that's not enough use to maybe suck in enough particles of anything to be a factor.

Is it maybe just normal dust that gets through the filters??? Do you use the regular mesh like filters or the hypoallergenic filters which catch more particles?
If not...I think I would.

[mets123]

Pugsy, after I received my machine back because I didn’t have the repair shop fix it, I opened the unit up and the motor and the casing that the motor sits in was full of white powder. I tried cleaning the motor even trying to blow compressed air but could not clean it all out. I am afraid to use it and possibly breathe the powder into my lungs. That’s why I would like to know if there is a way to purchase a new motor.

[Dog Slobber]

I purchased this unit from second wind and it had only 10 run hours on it. Palerider it is an ultrasonic unit. Again if that is the culprit why don’t I see this white powder anywhere else?
Does anyone know where I can buy a new blower for my machine? I am correct that the blowers are the same for all machines but only the board is different?

Because the amount of minerals in the water is sufficiently low, that there isn't much accumulation on surfaces in the environment. Normal dusting and cleaning is enough to not notice it. Add to that more air is being drawn into the machine, therefore there is more potential for the dust to collect within it.

You haven't said how long you've been using your CPAP machine, so it's got a year, 2, 3 years of accumulation?

But having said that, let's say it's not your humidifier. The exact same question could be asked? What is the source for the white dust and why aren't you seeing it anywhere else? The CPAP machine certainly isn't *generating* it.

[Pugsy]

I don't see how any sort of powder or dust inside the blower casing could make it to the lungs since the air intake is a closed circuit..

Since the AirSense/AirCurve machines are essentially a single unit I don't know if just replacing the blower motor would fix the problem and I don't know of any place to buy replacements for the inner workings of the blower side of the unit...sorry.
I don't fix stuff like that...beyond my skill set. I replace the whole thing.

Since you did clean it as best you can...is it now working like it is supposed to?

Who did the checking out of the machine for you that you didn't let them fix it?