soot

[alaskajoe]

hey i changed my filter in my unit and i wake up with soot around my face where my mask leaks and around my nostrils.... what' s wrong help???

[bdp522]

Please list your mask, and machine.

Did this happen before changing the filter? Did you use the correct filter? What is the environment the machine is in(has there been a fire? Is there a fire place or wood stove in the house? Oil burner or other heating issues?)? The filtered air coming from the machine should be clean and leave no soot.

Brenda

[DreamDiver]

hey i changed my filter in my unit and i wake up with soot around my face where my mask leaks and around my nostrils.... what' s wrong help???

Is it white soot or black soot?

[alaskajoe]

Hey ,
the soot is black and the machine has been cleaned and i removed a black substance "fine black powder" from the inside of the rem star plus machine once before then popped in a fresh new clean filter and a week later black soot around the nostrils and were the mask leaks???? ??????? thanks

[bdp522]

Where did you get the machine from andhow long have you had it? Sounds like it had been in a fire at some point. If it is new to you, you should return it and get a new machine.

Brenda

[Julie]

Try turning the filter to face the opposite direction.

[Joe50]

Agreed on sending it back for a new one. but I also think you should put some sort of porous material over the end of the hose to get a sample of what is going into your lungs. You might need a sample of it later on if you start having unexplained breathing problems or if it comes down to you having to lawyer up. You never know.

Also, it kinda sounds like the problem is past the filter and in the machine itself. If it is not you need to figure out why it is getting past the filter and why you have soot in your house.

[DreamDiver]

Hey ,
the soot is black and the machine has been cleaned and i removed a black substance "fine black powder" from the inside of the rem star plus machine once before then popped in a fresh new clean filter and a week later black soot around the nostrils and were the mask leaks???? ??????? thanks

Sending it back is an option, but let's 'clear the air' about a couple things first. (Sorry couldn't resist.)
Please list your machine, mask, etc. It really helps.
Are you using: wood, kerosene, oil, coal, steam as your stove/central heat?

If you're using a wood or coal stove, the ash would more likely have been white (or gray). It sounds like you're using a kerosene or oil stove or central heater. If you're seeing black soot around your mask in combination with either of these, you may be in carbon-monoxide-rich environment. That's bad. Taking back the machine won't fix your heat source. In general, oil stoves are known for their black soot deposits found on everything in the house. Look on your hanging lamps and tops of your picture frames. If they're covered with black soot too, you can't be living in that house with that heating source. It will gunk up your machine for sure.

You need to fix your heat source first. If you are using any of the black-soot fuel sources, it is imperative that you do it today. Wash out your mask. Change your filter. Go to another house. Anything. Just don't stick around in that house until the heat if fixed.

If you're using wood or coal and you're seeing black soot, the problem is less likely the heat source. Probably you should take back the machine.

If you're using natural gas, propane or steam heat, none of these apply, and your machine is toast - take it back.

[alaskajoe]

Hey guys ,
i have no soot black or white ,all the soot i find is out of sight there is no soot not here or there the soot that you seek can't be found anywhere, its hiding in the place i don't think my health will fair it is found inside remstar plus where i breathe the air. My rem star plus is dying after 15,173 what is the life span that we need them to be? I need a new box and i need it fast without the good sleep my life will not last. A suggestion and answer an educated quess the box i am hooked on will take four week to alaska but they charge over night ups...... Thanks for the answers and all the insight a good sleep to all and to all sleep thats right.

[DreamDiver]

Hey guys ,
i have no soot black or white ,all the soot i find is out of sight there is no soot not here or there the soot that you seek can't be found anywhere, its hiding in the place i don't think my health will fair it is found inside remstar plus where i breathe the air. My rem star plus is dying after 15,173 what is the life span that we need them to be? I need a new box and i need it fast without the good sleep my life will not last. A suggestion and answer an educated quess the box i am hooked on will take four week to alaska but they charge over night ups...... Thanks for the answers and all the insight a good sleep to all and to all sleep thats right.

Huh.
A poet.

[bearded_two]

What, exactly is your problem? Is your machine broken and you can't afford a new one? If it takes four weeks for a package to get to you, why are you paying for overnight delivery -- wouldn't regular delivery take about the same length of time?

[dwsupt]

Sounds like the "soot" was ground up plastic bits from the blower. Mark it R.I.P. and get a new one pronto.

[DreamOn]

alaskajoe,

A similar problem was reported several months ago in this thread: viewtopic/t49978/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47007. That person was using a different brand of machine than yours. No proven cause was ever reported in the thread, but I thought I'd mention it in case you want to send that OP a private message to see if he/she ever figured out the reason for the soot.

[Sleeprider]

Just a thought. Remove the filters. There are some that contain activated carbon to filter out organic impurities in addition to particulate. If the filter has breached, that can let "soot" blow up the tube. Clean everything, leave off the filter, and enjoy that wonder clean Alaskan air.