Question about dust in machine

[JeffH]

About 5 months ago a kitten showed up at our back door. We invited her in and turns out she likes to pull the filter cover off the back of my GF's S9 ASV machine. Said GF didn't pay attention when she reinstalled the filter (this happened several times) so now the machine has dust in it and she is waking up congested.

Anybody got any ideas on how to "dust" the inside of the machine and does it really need anything done to it?


Thanks

JeffH

[Julie]

If the filter's been changed for a new one, I'd be much more inclined to think something else is going on, e.g. the humidity's been set too high, which can cause congestion (tho' too low can be a problem for some too). But if there is a dust-in-the-machine question, let it run (no hose or mask or girlfriend) for a while and see if it helps.

[JeffH]

If you put a dirty filter in backwards, then when you start the machine all the dust that has been collected on the outside of the filter is now being dumped into the machine. That is why I'm asking this question.

When she put the new filter in I had her put a mark in magic marker on one side of the filter so she would know which side was which.


JeffH

[JDS74]

If you get a bacterial filter that installs between the blower and hose, it should trap any dust from within the machine and solve the problem in a few days.

[LSAT]

Just guessing, but, what if you removed the filter and put your vaccum hose up tp the intake. You might suck some of the hair/dust out before you re-install a new filter.

[OhHelpMe]

I guess killing the problem at the root, that is putting the kitten up for adoption, is out of the question?

[Stevoreno_55]

Two words; canned air.

[Sir NoddinOff]

I'm not real crazy thrilled about the way the S9 filters fit in the machine. I take care to get it installed right and after about two weeks, when I lift my microbial filter out, there are faint traces of dust on the inlet area (plastic) where the intake air makes it's way around the edges of the filter and into the inlet hole. Leaks around the edges of the filter, in other words, because those plastic pillars that hold the filter are just too tall, IMO. I use a wet Q-tip to clean the dust up but that's just a stopgap measure. It's gotta be getting into the machine blower.

I've never had that problem with any of my PR machines which have a much better design using the black foam open-cell filter to hold the microbial filter firmly against the intake hole.

Anyone else noticed those dust trails and wondered about leaks around the edges of the S9 filters

[LSAT]

I'm not real crazy thrilled about the way the S9 filters fit in the machine. I take care to get it installed right and after about two weeks, when I lift my microbial filter out, there are faint traces of dust on the inlet area (plastic) where the intake air makes it's way around the edges of the filter and into the inlet hole. Leaks around the edges of the filter, in other words, because those plastic pillars that hold the filter are just too tall, IMO. I use a wet Q-tip to clean the dust up but that's just a stopgap measure. It's gotta be getting into the machine blower.

I've never had that problem with any of my PR machines which have a much better design using the black foam open-cell filter to hold the microbial filter firmly against the intake hole.

Anyone else noticed those dust trails and wondered about leaks around the edges of the S9 filters

You need a GOOD furnace filter to keep dust out of the home. I have had an S9 for just about a year and changed my basic filter every 6 months just because Resmed says I should. They actually are very clean.

[chunkyfrog]

Maybe you need to go a bit "upstream" from the machine, vacuum the room, launder all bedding, and bring in a room air filter.
GF might want to take an OTC antihistamine for a few days until the machine has blown all the excess dust out.
Can/will she try a Neti Pot?

[JeffH]

I guess killing the problem at the root, that is putting the kitten up for adoption, is out of the question?

No, that ain't happening.

[JeffH]

Two words; canned air.

And blow dust into the machine? And I'm afraid I may hurt something blowing air from the output side into the machine. Don't think so.

[Sir NoddinOff]

You need a GOOD furnace filter to keep dust out of the home. I have had an S9 for just about a year and changed my basic filter every 6 months just because Resmed says I should. They actually are very clean.

Thanks for the input, LSAT. I live in coastal central CA (semi-tropical) and don't require central heating, plus my windows are open most of the time - year round - largely due to warm weather. The predominate issue seems to be that PR has solved the filter problem by simply keeping any dust out of their System Ones by employing superior design. Therefore the question remains: why can't ResMed do the same with their leaky filters? A microbial filter is there to keep dust out of the machine, whether it's a marginal amount or a lot (and the filters ain't cheap, BTW ). I simply don't see why I should go around tidying up ResMed's design problems - upstream with furnace filters, with a Q-Tip or whatever Indeed, why should I keep my house artificially heated and cooled with the windows closed just so ResMed gets a 'free pass' on this one?

[chunkyfrog]

Good point.
--Do you suppose anyone is listening?
--I thought so!

[JeffH]

Maybe you need to go a bit "upstream" from the machine, vacuum the room, launder all bedding, and bring in a room air filter.
GF might want to take an OTC antihistamine for a few days until the machine has blown all the excess dust out.
Can/will she try a Neti Pot?

Good ideas, and yes she uses a neti pot