Filter Blowout!??

[plr66]

Has anyone ever had this happen?? For the second time in the past month or two, I have just found both my fine disposable filter and the foam outer filter (both are made for my machine) on the floor behind my night stand! The back of my cpap is about 8 inches away from the back edge of the night stand, so these filters had some force behind them to blow back that far. What the heck is going on? I've been using this PB420E for two years, no problem. I have no idea when they blew out each time, so can't really track my data to see if something weird happened. Could a sneeze inside the mask make this happen? Should I be concerned?

[Julie]

Not trying to be funny, but do you have a cat?

[plr66]

Not trying to be funny, but do you have a cat?

Actually meant to mention that I have no critters at all.

[plr66]

Sorry folks, but my post drifted away; and I just want to bump it once to see if anyone has any ideas or thoughts about this strange happening.

[DoriC]

Is your data reporting anything funny? Could extra large leaks have caused that amount of pressure? Very strange. Wish I had an answer.

[ozij]

It never happened to me, in more than 4 years of use. All I can think of is that either one or both fiters don't fit as they should -- but that's rathe obvious.

An alternative is a poltergeist...

[rested gal]

I used a 420E for well over a year. Never had that happen either. I used only the foam filter though... never added in the fine white one.

No critters, eh. You might want to check under or around the nightstand for... dare I say it? Mouse droppings?

Where there are "lab rats" there may be mice, too, ya know.

Seriously, I'd take a look. And I don't mean that as a reflection at all on anyone's housekeeping. Mice can insinuate themselves into the cleanest of homes. 'tis the season for field mice to be coming in, if they can.

[greg-g]

The only thing that I can think of is a short term power failure causing back pressure on the filter.
Try running the unit and then turn power off at the power point and see what happens.

[Julie]

I think you might have just brushed it in passing without realizing it, either prior to sleeping or else in your sleep and some teeny sharp edge caught it enough to pull it out.

[Big S]

I used to have a PR S1 with same problem. I don't know what the filter arrangement on your machine looks like, but try coughing into the mask while observing filters and see if this back pressure blows them out. If so, put a rubber band around machine and filters and they will stay in. Good luck.

[freshair]

Had same problem finding filters on table, the fix is the same as previously stated, Rubber Band, most likely it is caused by a cough or a strong exhale--FA

[chunkyfrog]

Wasn't there a thread awhile ago about a defective filter (not cut accurately by manufacturer) that kept popping out?

[plr66]

Where there are "lab rats" there may be mice, too, ya know.

Ha--No, RG, my home has absolutely no mice or large hungry foam-gnawing insects!
At this point, I am 95% certain that ozij is correct.
It was a poltergeist.

Thanks so much to everyone for your creative thinking. This is just weird.

My filters are all from cpap.com, specifically for this machine, and they fit perfectly--not loosely. Chunkyfrog, I didn't see that thread. Anyone know for sure which filters had the problem?

Greg-g, my data shows no indication of any power outages. But do you think just regular breathing could push out the filters if so?

Julie--I can't touch the back of the machine at all without lifting and moving it, due to the arrangement with my lamp and clock radio on the table, but it was a great suggestion.

Big S--After I wrote this post, I did try coughing hard into my mask, and couldn't blow them out or even move them slightly. Thanks to you and Freshair for the suggestion to use a rubber band to present an obstacle to the poltergeist!

[Bert_Mathews]

The white filter has a TAB that can act as a spring and slip the filters out of their pocket.
Fold the tab and CREASE it firmly will keep the little things in place. -OR- use a rattle with feathers attached while praying might also do the job?
Bert

[Hawthorne]

The thread about the filter issue had to do with the white filters for the PR System One machines.

I had the problem and, although they are apparently making the white filters without the tab now, I have stockpiled a number of the ones with tabs. These filters work with the M Series and the PR System One machines.

I just cut the tab off and it seems to work fine.