Respironics "Fine" Disposable Filters: Worth it?

[Captain_Midnight]

I have always used both.

My insurance provides replacements, but I replace at a more frequent interval, so I end up supporting cpap.com a bit.

Except for mild spring allergies to olive pollen, my lungs are completely clear. I just want to keep them that way.

The point some have made about an additional pressure drop is a valid one. But hey, if one monitors his or her data, and adjusts pressures in accordance with therapeutic response, this might be less of an issue.

Machine longevity? Okay, I can see that being affected by a larger pressure drop. On the other hand, I'm guessing that there should be less dust and particulates passed through to the impeller and pressure sense mechanisms, and I suspect that this could help machine longevity.

[kteague]

With my last machine and mask the RT gave me a bag of filters. I've changed the fine one every 2 or 3 months, and it's always turned dark gray, so it's catching something. I'd prefer to have it as a safeguard cause living in the city it seems like dirt and dust breeds in this house.

[LackingSleep]

Ultra Fine FIlters are incredibly necessary. The terminology "Ultra Fine" means that the electrostatic filters used capture out lower and submicron particles such as bacteria and virus particles. The pollen or reusable filters only capture large particles like dander, pollen and pet hair. Using the ultra fine filters will benefit you in the long run placing less strain on your machine and better air breathing quality. Get them here
cpapfiltersandsupplies.com

[xyz]

> when I bought my machine told me the Respironics rep reported a higher incidence of premature machine failure when using both the foam and the white filters.

That doesn't sound likely to me. Ask your tech for a reference where someone says that in writing.

Because of the reasonable cost of the disposable filters, it would be a shame for someone with undiagnosed allergies to have worse xpap therapy than they could otherwise have, because they didn't use a disposable filter.

This, to me, is similar to the distilled water issue. Same thing.
1. It can't hurt and can only help.
2. It's cheap, so why not?
3. It's so eeeeeeasy!

Of course, there are those people that use the 99 cent furnace filters in their furnace. You know, the kind where the material is so thin/sparse that a moth could fly through it untouched. :) That's kind of what the foam filter on your xpap machine is like.

[mindy]

I found another reason to use the ultrafine filters. My first one seemed to stay clean for months. Then I started on major home renovation and I've had to change the filters several times since them, sometimes every couple of weeks.

The dust from the work being done (particularly sheet rock dust) makes those white filters look amazingly cruddy (one was almost black)... I sure wouldn't want all that stuff in my lungs!

Mindy

[LackingSleep]

M Series FIlters : $5.00 for 5 Pack ultrafine and $11.41 for a 5 pack of FOAM.

Ultrafine filters are extremely necessary - Keep out sub micron particles (Bacteria & Viruses) that could make it to the users airstream.