Flexifit 407 Mask: Noise From Elbow Vent Holes

[jwpinkham]

Seems that condensed moisture is blocking some of the air vent holes in the non-diffuser elbow on my F&P HC 407 Flexifit nasal mask.
This causes a very irritating howl. If I run my finger along the inside of the elbow I feel water. Sometimes tapping the elbow dislodges the moisture for a few minutes and the howl stops for a few minutes.

I've tried a temporary hose wrap with a tee shirt and plastic ties. I also lowered the humidifier heat setting. I'm wondering if soaking the elbow in a cleaning solution might clean the elbow holes a bit and allow the moisture to escape better. I also lowered the machine about 8 inches below the bed level.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

[LSAT]

You need a very thin wire to clean the holes. I use the wire from a 'twist em" that seals plastic bags at the grocery store. Peal off the paper and the wire is great for cleaning the exhaust holes and also a clogged windshield wiper sprayer.

[jwpinkham]

I just used a tie wire on the holes, but there didn't seem to be anything blocking the holes.

[Pugsy]

Probably a bit of moisture condensing in the mask itself from the moisture in exhaled breath. That can be a bit tricky to manage. Nasal pillows can do it fairly often if the bedroom temp is very cool..even when the other normal stuff is also tried.
We have the barrel cozies available from Padacheeks to help insulate the nasal pillows. I wonder if you used a mask liner if it would act like a wick and draw the moisture to the material and thus maybe avoid accumulating in the vent holes.
Worth a try I would think. You can make a homemade liner or purchase a ready made one. Personally I would try a homemade one first to see if it might work.

Could you please add your equipment to your profile equipment page? It would help if we knew which machine your were using. Some machines offer heated hoses which are superior to just a hose cozy for maintaining warm air which then limits condensation. If we knew what machine you use...we could tell you if there is a heated hose available or perhaps suggest a stand alone heated hose.

A warmer bedroom..might help but if you are like me..I don't sleep so well in a warmer bedroom so that might not work.

[billbolton]

Seems that condensed moisture is blocking some of the air vent holes in the non-diffuser elbow on my F&P HC 407 Flexifit nasal mask.
This causes a very irritating howl.

You might want to see if you can get hold of the elbow fitting for an F&P HC405 mask It should be available as a spare part from F&P.

The HC 405 elbow has a small filter over much larger vent holes, which makes the mask VERY quiet. Its otherwise the same as the HC 407 elbow, and is a direct fit to the HC 407 mask.

Cheers,

Bill

[jwpinkham]

Thanks for the suggestions!
After my initial post, I found a used S9 Autoset with humidifier which takes the ClimateLine hose (which wasn't included ). The sale includes a new mask, so I'll give the new set a try, before I buy the heated hose for it.




Existing System:
Remstar Plus with CFLEX
Remstar Heated Humidifier
Flexifit 407 mask


New System
S9 Autoset
H5i Humidifier
Non-heated hose
Nasal mask (won't know details until I pick it up)

[jwpinkham]

The S9 Autoset which I had agreed to purchase today was actually a S9 Elite. I passed on the deal.

[Colin Worth]

Exact same problem here with the exact same mask. Very loud howling sound, and in my sleep addled state it took me a long time to realize I just could not sleep with it, so I went back to my full face-mask. I lowered the heat setting at the time but the moisture was still there, will try again tonight with the lower setting. My bedroom is cool because the heat in my apartment comes from the downstairs. Seems like a design flaw in the elbow - which they do a lot of bragging about in the literature for the mask...