There's a noisy gremlin in my CPAP machine

Last night my CPAP machine (Remstar Auto with Cflex) started making a tiny little noise and I thought it would drive me nuts! You know how the faintest sound from your mask/machine is magnified at night and you just can't ignore it no matter how hard you try--this is at the top of the inhale, just before the exhale starts, and it whispers "glug." Not on every breath but maybe every other one, and once in a while there's a "glugglug" during the exhale. This afternoon I put on the mask and started the machine, hoping the noise had gone away, but it hasn't. I put my ear right down next to the machine, and it's definitely coming from there, but it's so faint I can't isolate the exact location. Even if I could though, I don't know how that would help me. I haven't moved it or changed anything since the previous night that it worked like it's old quiet self. Any ideas? I definitely can't sleep with it like it is.

see, and people told me I was crazy when I heard music in mine.

Keep an eye on it. if it gets worse or plays music, take it in.

If it is the tank style Remstar Auto, the motor/fan is in a sealed capsule (can be unscrewed & opened).

But no matter what model, here are some guesses,

1 - is there any possibility that tissue paper or any other material got in past the filter (cleaning)
2 - If a glug rather than a rap it suggests water in the air line but when I get 'glug' it is because the main air hose has enough water accumulated in it to cause the glugging


That ends my repetoire of remote guesses

Good luck

DSM

Ditto on water in the air hose. I once mistakenly set my humidity level way too high and in addition to having "rain out" in the mask that night, I had that glub-glub sound the next night, which turned out to be water that had accumulated in the hose.

OCO

DSM and Owlcreek--thank you both for your suggestions. I bet you're right; it's been raining/muggy here the last several days, and I have had rainout which isn't usually a problem. So the solution for water in the air hose is just to let the hose that connects the machine to the mask completely dry out--right? Sounds like it has nothing to do with where the water tank plugs into the machine, which was all I could think of, and that seemed to be secure.

I probably also need to lower the humidity level but I've lost my manual. Are those instructions available anywhere on this site? The DME folks I was working with closed their office in our town so they're not around for me to ask.

Thanks guys!
Djdixie

djdixie wrote:DSM and Owlcreek--thank you both for your suggestions. I bet you're right; it's been raining/muggy here the last several days, and I have had rainout which isn't usually a problem. So the solution for water in the air hose is just to let the hose that connects the machine to the mask completely dry out--right? Sounds like it has nothing to do with where the water tank plugs into the machine, which was all I could think of, and that seemed to be secure.

I probably also need to lower the humidity level but I've lost my manual. Are those instructions available anywhere on this site? The DME folks I was working with closed their office in our town so they're not around for me to ask.

Thanks guys!
Djdixie

I wouldn't worry about getting it completely dry, just disconnect it (keeping both ends held up so it doesn't pour out onto the floor) and then pour out any liquid into a sink or something.

I don't have a Remstar Auto, but if it sets up like the Remstar Pro 2, you disconnect the power cord, hold down the left and right arrow buttons, plug it back in and wait until you hear a beep and then a double beep and see the display flashing. Then use the arrow keys to get to your humidity level and the up and down keys to adjust the setting. Press the exit key and you're done.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I gave you bad info.

OCO

Well...if it's a glug, then it probably is a gremlin. If it's a rap, then it is probably a goonie

Sorry I can't be of anymore help...I would take it to my DME. The trouble is, they will have to send it to Respironics. Is it still under warranty?