CPAP machine filter: Necessary or just another revenue stream?

[CpapDan]

I have an iBreeze APAP machine that I started using a couple months ago. I've followed the directions regarding weekly cleaning and changing the filter monthly. I'm on my last spare filter and am really questioning whether it's necessary for me to start buying more filters for the monthly change.

I've looked online and everywhere I look it's said that it's needed for my health and the health of the machine. But I'm skeptical. Here's my thinking:

1) I don't see a personal health need for the filter. My wife who doesn't use a machine is breathing in the same bedroom air that's passing through the machine. Seems to me that using the machine without a filter is no more unhealthy to me than her breathing unfiltered air through her nose.

2) What harm is it really to the machine to be functioning without a filter? My bedroom is clean and relatively dust-free. I suppose I'd need an engineer familiar with the inner workings of the machine to explain to me how it would be harmed by operating it without the filter.

3) The likely reason for the filter (in my opinion) is that it's another revenue stream for the machine manufacturer. They definitely have a monetary interest in having a component in their machine that their customers need to keep replacing monthly.

So honestly, what am I missing?

Thanks!

[Dog Slobber]

Like many CPAP supplies, the frequency of replacing is way overstated. I replace my [ResMed] filter every 6 months.

One of the primary roles of the filter is to keep dust and debris out of the device and blower. Not using one and you will reduce the life and can expect a noisier machine.

[chunkyfrog]

I use the anti-allergen filters.
If replaced every 3 weeks, they cut my allergic rhinitis to nearly zero.
I know they work.
They also keep dust out of the insides of the machine.
Dust is gritty, and wears things out.
It also can smell unpleasant.

[zonker]

So honestly, what am I missing?

welcome to the zoo!

it's a fair question. as has been stated, revenue stream. as is most of the recommended scheduled replacement of much of cpap stuff.

me? i haul out the filter and look at it whenever someone comes to the forum to ask about it. so, let me go see.

yup. dirty and time to replace.

thanks for stopping by!

[CpapDan]

i haul out the filter and look at it whenever someone comes to the forum to ask about it. so, let me go see.

How long had it been since you last replaced it?

yup. dirty and time to replace.

OK, now, taking into account how much dirt was built up on that filter you just examined, and on how long it took for that amount of dirt to build up, how much harm to you (or damage to the CPAP machine) do you think that tiny amount of dust would have actually done over that time?

The filter on my iBreeze is tiny. After a month it still looks practically new. I suspect it would take months for it to collect enough dust to look like it needs to be replaced. And given it's size, that amount of dust that collected over months doesn't seem like something that would do harm to me or the machine. But then, I'm not an engineer. Still, you see my point?

[zonker]

How long had it been since you last replaced it?

dunno. don't keep track of it.

OK, now, taking into account how much dirt was built up on that filter you just examined, and on how long it took for that amount of dirt to build up, how much harm to you (or damage to the CPAP machine) do you think that tiny amount of dust would have actually done over that time?

again, dunno. just change it when it gets dirty as i don't want dust inside in case it gets built up and causes problems. i have a bag of filters that i bought online someplace. don't remember how much i paid but it was cheap or i wouldn't have done it.

for me, it's a reasonable precaution. if you don't want to do it, then feel free to not do it.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[CpapDan]

I replace my [ResMed] filter every 6 months.
One of the primary roles of the filter is to keep dust and debris out of the device and blower. Not using one and you will reduce the life and can expect a noisier machine.

I can understand how dust and debris could degrade a machine over time given a significant mass of said dust and debris. But, after 6 months, how much dust and debris has built up in that filter? Less than a gram? It seems to me that such a tiny amount of matter, going through the machine over the span of 6 months, wouldn't have had any appreciable affect on the machine.

[palerider]

So honestly, what am I missing?

The filter is there to keep the inside of your machine from starting to look like this:


If you don't care about shortening the life of your machine, then don't bother with the filter.

So you need to clean it weekly? almost certainly not, should you check it monthly? yes. if it's getting cruddy, clean it, or replace it as needed.

Do you have a furnace? does it have a filter? if so? why?

Do you have an air conditioner? same question.

[CpapDan]

for me, it's a reasonable precaution. if you don't want to do it, then feel free to not do it.

Well, given you're the one member of the Doonesbury cast that never ages you must be doing something right.

I'm new to this. Where is a good source for filters? Amazon?

[palerider]

But then, I'm not an engineer. Still, you see my point?

I see that you've apparently never been inside a computer that's been running for some period of time, so, no.

[CpapDan]

The filter is there to keep the inside of your machine from starting to look like this

I'm pretty sure the inside of my machine will never look like that since that's a picture from the inside of a computer case (probably one that's been running 24/7 for years with multiple case fans), not a CPAP machine.

I can't imagine my tiny filter capturing that much debris. Have you found that much cumulative debris in your CPAP filters over the life of your machine? I'd think it would take decades for the tiny filter on a CPAP machine to collect that much debris.

[JeffL]

This reminds me. I need to open my desktop PC and blow the dust out. Do the same to yours if you want to see how much dust accumulates in a machine that has a fan sucking in the room air.

[CpapDan]

Do the same to yours if you want to see how much dust accumulates in a machine that has a fan sucking in the room air.

I think it's salient to point out that a computer case is very different from a respirator. I'm pretty sure that the air path within a CPAP machine does not flow over open circuit boards, capacitors, etc. Here's one being taken apart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRHwZFa6XI0

By the way, I love your avatar! It reminds me of how I felt the first night on a CPAP machine!

[Dog Slobber]

From the iBreeze user manual (not sure which iBreeze you have):

12.3 Installing/Replacing the Air Filter
The device comes with a reusable air filter, it must be in place at all times when the device is operating. Please check the air filter every 1-3 months, clean or replace it if there are any holes or blockages by dirt or dust. Note: When you receive your device, if the filter cotton is not installed, you must install the filter cotton before using the device. To install or replace the air filter, please follow the below steps

Perhaps you could explain the business model for increasing the revenue stream for a part designed to be re-used?

All modern day CPAP devices include filters, prior to the blower. Some use replaceable, some use reusable. The revenue stream is minimal, at best.

But you go ahead and save yourself a couple bucks. looking forward to a future post wondering why you didn't get the 5 year life expectancy out of your device, or why it's starting to whine when you breathe in.

[ozij]

Do the same to yours if you want to see how much dust accumulates in a machine that has a fan sucking in the room air.

I think it's salient to point out that a computer case if very different from a respirator. I'm pretty sure that the air path within a CPAP machine does not flow over open circuit boards, capacitors, etc. Here's one being taken apart: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRHwZFa6XI0

By the way, I love your avatar! It reminds me of how I felt the first night on a CPAP machine!

Here's another one being taken apart - an S9.

You can skip the beginning and start here:
https://youtu.be/BWsRLbUgg-g?t=156