Filters for Remstar:foam or disposable as well? HEPA?

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:23 am

I will be ordering my Remstar M Auto next week, finally. I am still waiting for the letter from the insurance to come in the mail.

To save on postage, I would like to order any filters etc that I may need for a while at the same time.

So question time.

Do you use only the foam filters?

How often do they need replacing, with regular rinsing?

Do you use the disposable filters?

If yes how often do you replace them?

What about the In-line Outlet Bacteria Filter HEPA filter, have you tried it?
What do you think about it?
How often are those filters replaced?

Can the In-line filter be used with the heated humidy?

(I know that the In-line Outlet Bacteria Filter should not used on APAP at less then 7 cm H20)

Any suggestions or views are appreciated.

Gerald · Post by **Gerald** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 10:07 am

I'm a newbie.....but I'll try to help. I'm running the same machine as you will be ordering. The instructions say to change the fine filter about every 30-days. I would suspect that might vary with conditions in the bedroom.

Anyhow, I think I'll change mine every 30-days....and at the same time I'll rinse out the foam filter (it's installed ahead of the fine filter).

I doubt that you'll need to do any more than that...unless you have some sort of serious condition that requires super-filtration.

I'm doing quite well with my system.....I was diagnosed as needing a pressure of "9"......I set the APAP to a range of "6 to 15".....and I'm seeing pressures needed of "6" or "7". If you purchase your machine from CPAP.COM, they leave the "doctor's instructions" in the package (so that you can tweak your own settings). I have not installed the software yet, but I hope to get it up and running tonight. With software, we can take charge of our own adjustments......and do it far, far better than if we depend on doctors alone (who tend to "slop" it out, take the money and run).

Finally, I'm using the CL-2....and I can find nothing better. I've experimented with a total of (3) masks....with a number of different nasal and mask connections.....I'm a mechanic and I'm not afraid to adjust things. The CL-2 with small nasal pillows along with lanolin is working GREAT for me.

Hope this helps.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:40 pm

Wash the Foam outside filter, every 2 weeks. dry well before storage, use the other one, and alternate back and forth using the extra, two come with the machine. MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRIED, before storage.

The pollen (White Altra) goes to the inside with the soft side out, two are included with the machine and need to be changed monthly or when the appears dirty.

The outside need to be replaced at 6 months to 1 year, I would not buy them ahead of need as they will become old anyway. The white I would buy 6 or 12 at a time. I store them in zip lock bags.

HEPA filters sound like a good idea, but due to pressure drop, I would not use them.... A Room hepa filter is a better idea. Jim

Alisha · Post by **Alisha** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:16 pm

SelfSeeker,

Whether or not you are ordering from cpap.com, I would recommend you direct your questions re the Hepa Filter to them. Before I placed my order for a REMstar M Auto, I emailed them at cpap@cpap.com with questions. One of my questions was regarding the Hepa Filter. After receiving their forthright answers, I did not order the Hepa Filter.

I did order an extra six-pack of the Disposable White Fine Filters. (I agree with Jim on this and will take his advice and keep them in a zip-lock bag.) Be sure the white filters you order are specified for the M series, which are apparently different from the filters for other REMstar machines.

I hope to receive my new equipment by the end of next week. I have great expectations that the Auto will help improve my treatment results and wish the same for you.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:24 pm

Alisha, thanks for the inline fitler info. I hope you will be happy with your new APAP.

Gerald thanks for the filter info that you took from the manual. I hope you like your new machine.

Goofproof I hope you are feeling better. Thanks for the tip about the foam getting old.

I agree a Room HEPA filter will be a better option. Maybe one with a wipe of feature.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:29 pm

That's the bad thing matainance costs of HEPA filter systems, can cost $$$. Jim

What we need is a bunch of dirty air eating plants that give off O2.

SelfSeeker · Post by **SelfSeeker** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:58 pm

Goofproof,

Do a google on plants as filters. NASA has done some studies with different plants. They really help with chemicals etc. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I do not want to put plants in the bedroom.

Goofproof wrote:That's the bad thing matainance costs of HEPA filter systems, can cost $$$. Jim

What we need is a bunch of dirty air eating plants that give off O2.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 5:15 pm

It would be my luck if I had any plants in my cave they would end up being "man eaters." Jim

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:09 pm

I agree with the advice above.

I also alternate the foam filters to make sure that they are totally dry and do the ziplock thing with all the filters.

I have had my machine for about 6 months and the foam filters seem like new with just rinsing and drying every 2 weeks or so. I also found that my fine filters don't seem dirty at a month, but I inspect at two weeks when I change the foam filter and change the fine filter at a month anyway. My house has central A/C so I am not pulling in dust from the open windows. Maybe that is part of it.

Only thing I would do differently than the advice above is maybe 2 extra foam filters. I am not sure they will get that old in 6 months to a year (all foam deteriorates with time I know so I wouldn't buy oodles) and that way in case one rips, or gets misplaced or whatever you have a spare. They are cheap, especially compared to the cost of shipping if all you need is the filter.

I have never used a hepa filter so I can't offer anything on that one. BUT I can say that since I have been on CPAP I have had much less allergy trouble. I used to lay down in bed and within 15 minutes I was stuffing up. I use almost no antihist/decongestent now and breath nicely all night.

All this nice filtered air must be helping my sinuses, or the dust mites aren't getting in my hose!!

sleeplesscoot · Post by **sleeplesscoot** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:55 pm

I have a remstar with a foam filter. I wash the filter weekly; backflushing it under the facet and then squeezing it several times in running water. I next squeeze it in a dry towell to remove excess water and let it dry. After a while it seemed dry so I added a few drops of castor oil and worked it into the filter. I used the same filter for over a year without problem. I now have two which I alternate weekly and occasionally give them an addational wash with plain soap and water. This has worked out very well. I have never tried the pollen filter as my supplier indicated it was of limited value.

Amigo · Post by **Amigo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:46 am

Goofproof wrote:Wash the Foam outside filter, every 2 weeks. dry well before storage, use the other one, and alternate back and forth using the extra, two come with the machine. MAKE SURE THEY ARE DRIED, before storage.

The pollen (White Altra) goes to the inside with the soft side out, two are included with the machine and need to be changed monthly or when the appears dirty.

The outside need to be replaced at 6 months to 1 year, I would not buy them ahead of need as they will become old anyway. The white I would buy 6 or 12 at a time. I store them in zip lock bags.

HEPA filters sound like a good idea, but due to pressure drop, I would not use them.... A Room hepa filter is a better idea. Jim

I agree with Jim's suggestions with the exception that I change my foam filter weekly. This is probably because my machine sits close to the floor, and picks up more "dust" from the carpeting. The fine filter absolutely needs changing monthly, and during the heating season I often change it every 2 -3 weeks.

I would also strongly recommend replacing the foam filter after six months, assuming you wash it weekly. If you hold it up to a strong light, you can see how much more porous it has become, and, therefore, less efficient.

In addition to protecting my lungs from extraneous dust, etc., I also believe that regularly changing filters will also extend the life of your machine by minimizing the amount of fine particulate that can accumulate in the blower mechanism.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 9:36 am

sleeplesscoot wrote:I have a remstar with a foam filter. I wash the filter weekly; backflushing it under the facet and then squeezing it several times in running water. I next squeeze it in a dry towell to remove excess water and let it dry. After a while it seemed dry so I added a few drops of castor oil and worked it into the filter. I used the same filter for over a year without problem. I now have two which I alternate weekly and occasionally give them an addational wash with plain soap and water. This has worked out very well. I have never tried the pollen filter as my supplier indicated it was of limited value.

Not a good idea to put anything on the filter, You change the airflow through the filter. and can cause chemical break down. The ultra pollen filter is a good idea for two reasons, it protects the machine, and it protects you.

Your supplier is just lazy and uninformed. Jim

snoregirl · Post by **snoregirl** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:39 pm

Jim beat me to it.

I am willing to bet your supplier just didn't want to give you any. Mine tried that.

In fact my supplier didn't even mention the fine filter. I brought it up and he grudgingly went and got some and then proceeded to install it backwards (shiny side out). I corrected him.

fujiinator · Post by **fujiinator** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 12:54 pm

I change my filter once a month unless I have been in a very dirty environment. I try to wash the foam filter and hose etc once a week.

We use a ionizer in the bedroom instead. You can clean the filter as required and only need to replace when broken. Sharper Image sells the refurbished units for half the price of the new ones. My wife and I at least notice the difference of having it on. The newer ones from Sharper Image have an additional filter to cut down on the ozone smell. We do not mind the slight smell of ozone it gives off.

Filters for Remstar:foam or disposable as well? HEPA?

Filters for Remstar:foam or disposable as well? HEPA?

HEPA ETC