Hi there

[zonker]

To everyone who's not cleaning the machine and tubing much, which sounds great, are you also never changing out the machine filters or do you still do that monthly?

i do it when i think of it. and that's less likely to be thought of than, say, cleaning my mask.

if the filter is dirty, i'm just as likely to run it under water to clean it out, let it dry and then pop back in.

i just bought a bulk pack of filters, so i may start doing it on a regular schedule.

[palerider]

To everyone who's not cleaning the machine and tubing much, which sounds great, are you also never changing out the machine filters or do you still do that monthly?

ResMed recommends changing filters "every six months, or as needed". So, no, I don't change filters monthly, I change them *AS NEEDED*.

Now, Respironics with much smaller filters, recommends cleaning their filters more often, but once again... *as needed*.

[babydinosnoreless]

I live in dusty Arizona. We have 3 dogs, my kid and her partner have four cats for a total of 7 animals in our household. I set my machine to remind me monthly. I change it when its not as white as the new filter. I've probably changed it 4 -5 times since I got the machine last October. And the first time was after 2 weeks because the DME said I had to. After that I found this place. Lol

[palerider]

I live in dusty Arizona. We have 3 dogs, my kid and her partner have for cats for a total of 7 animals in our household. I set my machine to remind me monthly. I change it when its not as white as the new filter. I've probably changed it 4 -5 times since I got the machine last October. And the first time was after 2 weeks because the DME said I had to. After that I found this place. Lol

A perfect example of "as needed". Some people may *need* to change the Resmed filter every couple weeks, others, not even after 6 months... all depends on the air in their bedroom.

[Guitarist]

I live in dusty Arizona. We have 3 dogs, my kid and her partner have for cats for a total of 7 animals in our household. I set my machine to remind me monthly. I change it when its not as white as the new filter. I've probably changed it 4 -5 times since I got the machine last October. And the first time was after 2 weeks because the DME said I had to. After that I found this place. Lol

A perfect example of "as needed". Some people may *need* to change the Resmed filter every couple weeks, others, not even after 6 months... all depends on the air in their bedroom.

At work when you don't change the filters on the ventilators it restricts the air flow to the machine and it puts stress on the motor. The motor eventually makes noise and needs servicing. Can't be great for a CPAP machine to not change the filter.

The filter is $1

Just change it . YMMV

[prodigyplace]

I found the P10 a little rough on the nose when I first started. I tried some other masks and found I preferred the P10. When I went back to it a few weeks later I didn’t have the irritation problem.

[babydinosnoreless]

Brand new filter vrs one that has been in my machine. I will wait till it is a little bit dirty before I change it. Somehow I am not worried about it being an issue. I have room filtration and central air.

F35E3882-4477-4A54-8A65-86B98F5A056E.jpeg

Oh btw I pay a lot less than a dollar. I get them from Amazon. Not letting the crooked dme take my insurance company for that ride.

[palerider]

At work

Please remember that we're not 'at work'.

when you don't change the filters on the ventilators it restricts the air flow to the machine and it puts stress on the motor.

This is not correct, when the filters get clogged, it actually *reduces* load on the motor, because it's not pushing as much air, that's why vacuums and such *speed up* when you clog them. In fact, if you check with the HVAC people at work, they may tell you that their modern systems monitor the power draw on the air handlers, and the signal to replace filters is when the current draw *goes down*.

The motor eventually makes noise and needs servicing.

That's true of any motor.

Can't be great for a CPAP machine to not change the filter.

I don't recall anyone even suggesting not to change the filter.

The filter is $1

Not if you buy it from a DME!

[Gryphon]

I've said before... some issues with cleaning, and how often are environmentally specific.

Your gear is only coming into contact with your germs... and, the germs or "nature" that might be found floating in the air where your cpap is.

Hence if your in a hospital setting you better clean that stuff like anything is possible because in theory you could have some seriously nasty stuff in the room next to yours etc.

At home things are a bit difrent but, things like mold, airborne bacteria, pet dander, etc, can all play a part in how often you should clean your stuff.


I've had exsperiance with the environmental aspects and how they change your need to clean first hand.

In my previous residence I lived on the first floor on a shady part of the house with leaky windows, I had to follow a more aggressive routine for cleaning and resorting to some gadgets like house brushes and toothbrushes for cleaning my hose and mask because of mold buildup in my gear. Combined with the fact that for "me" I need a lot of humidity and this was before I had access to a heated hose so I struggled with rainout all the time. Lots of wet gear with lots of mold ment I had to clean a lot.

In my current residence we have no mold issues what so ever, I've gone over a year and have not cleaned my hose once, because I use a heated hose now, I almost never get rainout. I no longer get black mold growing in my hose or mask so, I simply wipe my mask out with a generic non-sented baby wipe and check the condition of my PAP filter, which I change fairly regularly. We have 4 cats and that's a lot of fuzz and dander that's getting caught by the filter.

Difrent locations have drastically altered what I needed to do to keep my machine clean and safe for my use. Thankfully were I live now involves a lot less work.

As for what you use to clean your gear, keep it simple.

Generally, baby wipes for your mask, dawn soap or something like it for everything else, if you have mineralized deposits in your humidifier vinegar will usualy sort it out for you.

If you want something that "disinfects" I like to use orange flavored listerine, others on the forum have jokingly suggested vodka, I like to use mouthwash to occasionally clean the humidifier tank it helps kill germs in my mouth so I'm assuming it helps kill the airborne bacteria responsible for the pink slime we get in out humidifier chambers. Even if I dont need the disinfectant, it's on hand and makes my cpap smell nice at least for a while that night.

For cleaning your stuff, use your senses and be observant, at least at first. You'll work out what you need to do.

Most of the really exspensive things like dedicated machines are ether a bit of a scam or not needed/over kill. The cpap dryer does actually do what it says it does, but do you really need it?

Use your best judgment, dont fall for the hype you see in advertisements and you'll be fine.

One thing not mentioned by anyone yet... something I felt like I really needed for my machine was a hose cover. It helps to soften the medical aspect of my machine and gives me something soft instead of the normal hose. Also if the hose rubs on something with the cover on, there is no noise vs, the rattling noise of the plastic hose bumping along on the headboard. Also the cover helps insulate the hose to cut down on rainout even of your using a heated hose.

Welcome to the forum and wishing you the best of luck getting used to your PAP gear and all that goes with it.

Restwell,

Gryphon

[Pugsy]

To everyone who's not cleaning the machine and tubing much, which sounds great, are you also never changing out the machine filters or do you still do that monthly?

Actually I do normally change the filters at least once a month. Where I live out in the country it's very dusty and in a very old farmhouse and I have pets....I feel the filter needs changing about once a month.
I also change the air filter to the house furnace/blower fairly often too.
When things look yucky.....I clean them or swap them out.
I pay attention to the "as needed" part of cleaning anything and I get to determine the need. Filters are the one thing that I am fairly religious about swapping out.

I do clean things when I feel they need to be cleaned and it's my own feelings that I listen to and no one else's.

Hell...last night I even washed the water chamber for a change. I just felt that it was time to do it.

[prodigyplace]

Hell...last night I even washed the water chamber for a change. I just felt that it was time to do it.

Contrast that with Lin(don't) care when I first started.
My insurance permits water chambers "As Needed" so, they sent me one the first month I cancelled the automatic supplies and still have that unopened box 2 years later.

[Pugsy]

My insurance permits water chambers "As Needed" so, they sent me one the first month I cancelled the automatic supplies and still have that unopened box 2 years later.

In over 10 years I have replaced 2 water chambers...and both within 6 months of each other....but the only danger was me.
I dropped the water chamber both times and cracked it.

That's part of the reason I just don't wash it very often. I seem to not be able to keep it in my hands.

[LSAT]

I'm with Pugsy.....My S9 Autoset is 5 years old. I changed the water tub at 4 years because I had the back up that I didn't want to go to waste... I have changed air hose once during that 5 years. My Simplus mask is 18 months old and I have changed the cushion once during that time. If I went with the Medicare schedule I would have a closet full of CPAP supplies.

[Guitarist]

At work

Please remember that we're not 'at work'.

when you don't change the filters on the ventilators it restricts the air flow to the machine and it puts stress on the motor.

This is not correct, when the filters get clogged, it actually *reduces* load on the motor, because it's not pushing as much air, that's why vacuums and such *speed up* when you clog them. In fact, if you check with the HVAC people at work, they may tell you that their modern systems monitor the power draw on the air handlers, and the signal to replace filters is when the current draw *goes down*.

The motor eventually makes noise and needs servicing.

That's true of any motor.

Can't be great for a CPAP machine to not change the filter.

I don't recall anyone even suggesting not to change the filter.

The filter is $1

Not if you buy it from a DME!

I get it where not a work. Home is cleaner.

When I say Ventilator I mean a Ventilator on a Patient full time 24/7 not a HVAC Unit.

Google LTV 900 Pulmonetics

here https://avantehs.com/p/pulmonetic-ltv-9 ... lator/1129


It's a different machine than a CPAP unit. It does SIMV, Assist Control, Pressure Support, Peep , CPAP etc.etc
Not the same as a CPAP machine but it's the same principle and yes it's usually in a dirty environment like Hospital, L-Tac or Nursing Home.

It has a filter and if you restrict the air it will eventually damage the machine. I see many recommendation to change your CPAP machine every 5 years. I wonder if that has anything to do with people not doing proper maintenance on the CPAP machines ?

I realize some home environments are cleaner than others but .... I've seen some really disgusting CPAP machines from patients that use the machine and you need to wear gloves to touch them they are so disgusting. I realize some people don't clean it and thats fine and it probably looks good. but there is also the opposite, I've seen the opposite. It looks like Fido's ASS



Nobody is gonna snap a pic of there dirty disgusting CPAP machine that they don't clean and say " hey I use this and I'm fine"

and yes there are probably a ton of machines that look fine that don't get cleaned. Imagine the hidden horrors


IN the end. Do what you feel is best

[ChicagoGranny]

I see many recommendation to change your CPAP machine every 5 years. I wonder if that has anything to do with people not doing proper maintenance on the CPAP machines ?

No. It's something the CPAP manufacturers pushed to keep machine sales going. Medicare picked it up at one time, and it ballooned from there. In the meantime, Medicare has changed to say machines should not automatically be placed after five years - only replace if it is not providing appropriate treatment.

and yes it's usually in a dirty environment like Hospital, L-Tac or Nursing Home.

In a professional setting, you have to write procedures that cover many possible liability issues. Then, you have to follow those procedures. I support that. At home, I will look out for my own individual case.

So,

IN the end. Do what you feel is best

... we're in agreement.