CPAP Hose length longer than 10ft?

[jencat824]

I use two 6' hoses connected by a small connection piece that I got from my first DME 14 years ago. I have a pressure checking device (manometer - probably spelled wrong) and my pressure checks exactly as prescribed at a straight setting of 20. I use the machine on auto, but have checked the pressure a few times on this machine, as I did with all its predessors. No variance.

I was initially told the extra 6' is no problem if it gets me the comfort I need to use my machine. 14 years later I still need 12' of hose. The combo of my bed height & the way I like to sleep with my hose positioned, just makes this length work for me. If it works for you & makes your CPAP experience better, I would suggest you go ahead & try it.

Jen

[Guest]

Have you considered some quiet background music or white noise? It may take your mind off the cpap. I made a fleece cover for my hose, I think it muffles any noises made through the hose, or by the hose rubbing on the nightstand, etc.

[wardmiller]

Anyone know where I can get a CPAP hose length longer than 10ft?

My machine is keeping me up at night even when I use 10 ft of hose to try to distance myself from it. If they don't make hose lengths any longer than this is there a hose extension piece I could buy to daisy chain 2 10ft hoses together to make 20ft?

Dave, I would try to solve the cause of the problem, not try to muffle it and screw something else up. My ResMed S9 does not make ANY discernible noise. And there is nothing wrong with my hearing. Maybe I'm just lucky, but my machine is just 14" from my head and it is absolutely silent.

If your machine is fairly new, rattle the DME's cage. If it is older, holler at the manufacturer. Or get a modern, noiseless machine. <g>

[archangle]

What model of machine do you have?

Potential problems would be mostly the machine not being able to sense or regulate the mask pressure and airflow as well with a longer hose.

Some people have reported problems with bilevel not switching from inhale to exhale pressure with longer hoses. Presumably EPR and Flex might have similar problems.

I would also not be surprised if it affected apnea detection and auto pressure regulation.

This seems to be the kind of thing you're asking for.

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/univer ... ector.html
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/hose-c ... -cpap.html

You might also find pipe of the appropriate size at a hardware store or home depot type store.

I have found I can hook two of the Respironics hoses together without a coupler. You sort of fold over one end, stuff it inside the other and then play with it until the inner one recovers a circular shape and seals correctly.

As for noise, you may try putting the machine in a box of some sort. Cut a hole in the box big enough for the hose. Put the machine into the box. Put a hole in the far side of the box that's a few inches in diameter and run the power cord through that. Don't seal it up tightly, but a hole of a few inches should provide enough airflow.

Some people find setting the machine on a different surface or on something slightly soft like a mouse pad reduces the noise.

[herefishy]

I use a "passover" humidifier, which has baffles that quiet the air passage, and attach it with 2 6' hoses. Quiet as can be.

[palerider]

My ResMed S9 does not make ANY discernible noise. And there is nothing wrong with my hearing. Maybe I'm just lucky, but my machine is just 14" from my head and it is absolutely silent.

well you *say* that there's nothing wrong with your hearing... just kidding!

all machines do make noise, just some make less than others, I've got the same vpap auto you do, my bed partner has a 560 auto,

I can hear that machine over there humming along with the breathing cycle, but can't really hear mine, even though his is over on the other side of the bed and mine's closer.

it's not annoying or whooshy, just a low varying hum.

that said, I'm lookin for an autoset to get rid of that bit of noise.

[sc0ttt]

Once you go greater than 10 ft you lose pressure by the time it reaches your face.

Using some standard air flow tools, and inputs of 22mm hose, 40 liters/min, I get 1.34 cm wg of pressure drop per 100 ft of hose.

That's :
0.11 cm drop for 8 ft of hose
0.13 cm drop for 10 ft of hose
0.21 cm drop for 16 ft of hose

In other words, going from an 8 ft hose to a 16 ft hose is only a 0.1 cm further decrease.
Not even enough to bump the pressure up by a 0.5 cm increment, and probably not even within the error margin of the machine's regulator.

I think the bigger issue might be the loss of signal sensitivity from having twice the volume of compressible gas between the sensors and your face; which might result in not picking up events.

[palerider]

Once you go greater than 10 ft you lose pressure by the time it reaches your face.

Using some standard air flow tools, and inputs of 22mm hose, 40 liters/min, I get 1.34 cm wg of pressure drop per 100 ft of hose.

That's :
0.11 cm drop for 8 ft of hose
0.13 cm drop for 10 ft of hose
0.21 cm drop for 16 ft of hose

In other words, going from an 8 ft hose to a 16 ft hose is only a 0.1 cm further decrease.
Not even enough to bump the pressure up by a 0.5 cm increment, and probably not even within the error margin of the machine's regulator.

I think the bigger issue might be the loss of signal sensitivity from having twice the volume of compressible gas between the sensors and your face; which might result in not picking up events.

oh, there you go throwing SCIENCE in the face of people's wild speculations!!! shame on you!

[wardmiller]

My ResMed S9 does not make ANY discernible noise. And there is nothing wrong with my hearing. Maybe I'm just lucky, but my machine is just 14" from my head and it is absolutely silent.

well you *say* that there's nothing wrong with your hearing... just kidding!

all machines do make noise, just some make less than others, I've got the same vpap auto you do, my bed partner has a 560 auto,

I can hear that machine over there humming along with the breathing cycle, but can't really hear mine, even though his is over on the other side of the bed and mine's closer.

it's not annoying or whooshy, just a low varying hum.

that said, I'm lookin for an autoset to get rid of that bit of noise.

This machine is the only CPAP machine I've ever used, so I have no way of comparing it to others, but I tell you it is absolutely silent. No humming, no vibrations, no swooshing, no nutin'. The only way I can tell if it is on is by placing a finger near the face mask exhaust ports. And using the ResMed Quattro FX FF mask there is no noise from the exhaust unless I put my hand or the pillow within a couple of inches of it. I'm a light sleeper (no, I do NOT sleep with a light on <g>) so I would notice the noise, if there were any.

I've been surprised it is silent because I figured it had to make SOME noise, but it does not. I wonder about the technology; it's come a long way from the earlier machines I heard about that sounded like a room air conditioning unit.

As to my hearing, I'm a pilot and very careful to wear noise cancelling headset when I fly, so my last professional hearing test was acceptable.

[palerider]

This machine is the only CPAP machine I've ever used, so I have no way of comparing it to others, but I tell you it is absolutely silent. No humming, no vibrations, no swooshing, no nutin'. The only way I can tell if it is on is by placing a finger near the face mask exhaust ports. And using the ResMed Quattro FX FF mask there is no noise from the exhaust unless I put my hand or the pillow within a couple of inches of it. I'm a light sleeper (no, I do NOT sleep with a light on <g>) so I would notice the noise, if there were any.

it's a quiet machine, I'll grant you, but even the marketing weazles at resmed don't claim it to be silent... from the clinicians manual, pg 32,

Sound pressure level (CPAP mode)
with SlimLine tube: 24 dBA as measured according to ISO 17510-
1:2002
26 dBA with uncertainty of 2 dBA as measured
according to ISO 17510-1:2007
with Standard tube: 24 dBA as measured according to ISO 17510-
1:2002
27 dBA with uncertainty of 2 dBA as measured
according to ISO 17510-1:2007
with either SlimLine tube or 27 dBA as measured according to ISO 17510-
Standard tube and H5i: 1:2002
28 dBA with uncertainty of 2 dBA as measured
according to ISO 17510-1:2007
Sound power level (CPAP mode)
with SlimLine tube: 34 dBA with uncertainty of 2 dBA as measured
according to ISO 17510-1:2007
with Standard tube: 35 dBA with uncertainty of 2 dBA as measured
according to ISO 17510-1:2007
with either SlimLine tube or 36 dBA with uncertainty of 2 dBA as measured
Standard tube and H5i: according to ISO 17510-1:2007

very quiet, likely to be drowned out by other noises, but not silent

[avi123]

I agree with DSM:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=21043&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... be+effects

[DeadlySleep]

I think moving it to the floor would also help although there is a ton of dust their (sic)

Happy bachelor.

[Goofproof]

Once you go greater than 10 ft you lose pressure by the time it reaches your face.

Using some standard air flow tools, and inputs of 22mm hose, 40 liters/min, I get 1.34 cm wg of pressure drop per 100 ft of hose.

That's :
0.11 cm drop for 8 ft of hose
0.13 cm drop for 10 ft of hose
0.21 cm drop for 16 ft of hose

In other words, going from an 8 ft hose to a 16 ft hose is only a 0.1 cm further decrease.
Not even enough to bump the pressure up by a 0.5 cm increment, and probably not even within the error margin of the machine's regulator.

I think the bigger issue might be the loss of signal sensitivity from having twice the volume of compressible gas between the sensors and your face; which might result in not picking up events.

oh, there you go throwing SCIENCE in the face of people's wild speculations!!! shame on you!

Now in five years, SCIENCE will find a flaw in their method, they still have to revise their formula, 180 degrees and all get paid again for publishing faulty ideas. SCIENCE is almost as good money trap as politics. Jim

[Sir NoddinOff]

There are a bunch of great replies here. Love the quip about "Throwing science in our faces". I'm only going to add that after 2.5 yrs of CPAP usage, I recently looked back at my sleep diary (yellowy pages and water stains galore). I'm amazed at what used to annoy the crap out of me.

Nowadays, if my CPAPmachine is wheezing along trying to keep up with an evening of too much partying or whatever - no problem, I'm cool with that - let the machine do its job. If the mask leaks a bit around the lower corners because I'm drooling too much from spicy Mexican food, then hey, I just sleep thru it. If my birdsong/babbling creek white-noise MP3-mix on my CD player is too strident then I figure the birds and the creek are just having too much fun and go along with it. What am I trying to say? Well, first of all, don't sell yourself short - your brain can adapt and learn to set new limits - adaptation is the key word here. Secondly, use whatever tip and tricks you can to help you get along... for instance, build a muffler box or put your machine on the floor - whatever you decide to do, you will probably look back on it next year with a sort of fond feeling of endeavor, abet a wasted effort, and then thank your lucky stars you adapted to your situation in a totally natural fashion. Give yourself time.

PS: Earplugs are a great quick and easy fix for noise problems... and cheap too.