Where do you get supplies?

Another question: how often do you replace parts? I've been told to replace nasal pillow and machine filter twice a month, tubing every 3 months, headgear/mask and water tub every 6 months. Does this sound like the norm or is it to increase profit?
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Wow! I am new to all this and I thought the VA was being conservative by replacing masks and tubing twice a year, filters every four months.

I am looking forward to hearing the thoughts of others on the proper schedule for swapping stuff out.

LG34 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:33 pm

Another question: how often do you replace parts? I've been told to replace nasal pillow and machine filter twice a month, tubing every 3 months, headgear/mask and water tub every 6 months. Does this sound like the norm or is it to increase profit?

Do you think it's just a coincidence that the DMEs happen to suggest replacing things at the same use period that insurance will pay for replacing said items?
Or maybe they see a cash cow???

I have one heated hose with over 14,000 hours of use on it. It went through 3 machines and got retired when I changed models and it wouldn't fit on the new model. I have never had a hose of any kind actually break or fail. A long time ago the dog thought the hose was a chew toy and it got replaced because of teeth holes in it. She never bothered it again though.

Water chambers...in nearly 10 years I have replaced 2 of them and that was because I dropped them and broke them...all my fault and unfortunately within 3 months of each other. Clumsiness on my part.

Filters I do replace once a month because where I live and the old house I live in and the pets I have....it gets yucky looking after a month.
Standard response....replace them when they get dirty...6 months is a good time frame unless they get yucky looking and then replace sooner.

My nasal pillows....I have always got months and months and months out of a nasal pillow.
The headgear always gets tired and needs replaced before the pillows....at about 8 to 10 months.

LG34 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:33 pm

Interesting answers here. I've ordered from cpap.com several times with good service. The doctor's office was helpful in the past with things like trading out sizes, etc. My machine had to be replaced about a week before the warranty ran out and fortunately they checked it and replaced it at no cost.

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:57 pm

Also, what are you "re-order"ing every month? Are you throwing out perfectly good things because of a 'schedule' that the DMEs told you to buy more stuff just to increase their profits?

Another question: how often do you replace parts? I've been told to replace nasal pillow and machine filter twice a month, tubing every 3 months, headgear/mask and water tub every 6 months. Does this sound like the norm or is it to increase profit?

Machine Filter I replace at about every 2 months


Resmed P10 pillow lasted a year.

Headgear still using wash and dry it to shrink it every couple of weeks

Frame likely to last a life time.


Your replacements match the most often that the DME can get insurance reimbursement not due to need

LG34 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:33 pm

Another question: how often do you replace parts? I've been told to replace nasal pillow and machine filter twice a month, tubing every 3 months, headgear/mask and water tub every 6 months. Does this sound like the norm or is it to increase profit?

I have used CPAP for 2 years with P10 Pillows.

I replace nasal pillows occasionally, if they appear getting soft. Probably about 6 times & that was probably too often.

The machine filter should be replaced monthly, but I usually let it go longer.

The only time I replaced the tubing was when the mask end got loose, I replaced it once. i recently had it happen again & just cleaned the rubber end of the hose.

I have never replaced the headgear. but wash & soak it as needed so it shrinks back into shape.

My DME sent me a spare water tub my first month. I have not needed to replace the water tub.

Like most DMEs, they seek to maximize their profit, unfortunately.

LG34 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:33 pm

palerider wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 19, 2019 12:57 pm

Also, what are you "re-order"ing every month? Are you throwing out perfectly good things because of a 'schedule' that the DMEs told you to buy more stuff just to increase their profits?

Another question: how often do you replace parts? I've been told to replace nasal pillow and machine filter twice a month, tubing every 3 months, headgear/mask and water tub every 6 months. Does this sound like the norm or is it to increase profit?

Didn't I just answer that?

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:44 pm

Standard response....replace them when they get dirty...6 months is a good time frame unless they get yucky looking and then replace sooner.

Respironics machined need the filter to be checked more frequently than resmed, because the filters in those machines are much smaller, and clog up faster.

I'd say Philips respironics should be checked at least monthly.

prodigyplace wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 1:47 pm

The machine filter should be replaced monthly, but I usually let it go longer.

The manual says every 6 months.

I use the ultrafine filters, replacing them when they get dingy--about 3 weeks.
If I wait too long--too many sneezes.

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 2:11 pm

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 12:44 pm

Standard response....replace them when they get dirty...6 months is a good time frame unless they get yucky looking and then replace sooner.

Respironics machined need the filter to be checked more frequently than resmed, because the filters in those machines are much smaller, and clog up faster.

I'd say Philips respironics should be checked at least monthly.

I keep forgetting this little tid bit.....DreamStation users...do check the filter(s) at least monthly.
Just the other day I saw a report from a brand new DreamStation user of 2 months who was wondering why the machine was suddenly acting totally weird...and they changed the filter and it immediately went back to acting like it should.
I do believe it was the white fine filter and not the foam filter.

I have a little different approach to this...

When I got my machine, I tested the air flow without the filter and with the filter. They were the same. I then added a washable foam filter behind the normal filter and checked again. No change. This is what I use.

Once a month I remove the "paper" filter and flick the dust out of it and then wash the foam filter. I assemble everything back and once again check the flow. So far there has been no changes indicating any restrictions.

I am going almost a year now on my original filter. I think I should replace it, if for anything else just on principle. But I have no data to support replacing it.

HoseCrusher wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 20, 2019 7:45 pm

I have a little different approach to this...

When I got my machine, I tested the air flow without the filter and with the filter. They were the same. I then added a washable foam filter behind the normal filter and checked again. No change. This is what I use.

Once a month I remove the "paper" filter and flick the dust out of it and then wash the foam filter. I assemble everything back and once again check the flow. So far there has been no changes indicating any restrictions.

I am going almost a year now on my original filter. I think I should replace it, if for anything else just on principle. But I have no data to support replacing it.

Without a tachometer to measure how hard the blower is working to generate that flow, you don't actually know what effect your filter stack is having... but, hey, if it's working for you, that's all that matters.

Wow, you must have access to the maintenance manual. What change in RPM suggest filter problems?

HoseCrusher wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 21, 2019 8:42 pm

Wow, you must have access to the maintenance manual. What change in RPM suggest filter problems?

I don't have a manual, but any knowledge of how fans work with occluded filters says that as the filter becomes more blocked, the fan will have to spin faster to generate the same flow, and eventually will spin even faster and generate less flow.

Someone recently posted about how, as an HVAC technician in a hospital, they'd get notification to change the rather expensive filters whenever the motor loads were *lower* than normal, because they were operating in a partial vacuum caused by the blocked filters.

I understand that but without actual numbers it is difficult to act upon.

I will stick with flow measurements. Since I am measuring flow in an open system I believe I have a cushion in actual use. In actual use the flow is greatly reduced.

So far there is no difference in total flow without or with the filter, so I think the filter is not restricting total flow.

Do you think it is possible to hear a change in RPM? A frequency analysis of the test may be interesting...

HoseCrusher wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 22, 2019 3:28 pm

I understand that but without actual numbers it is difficult to act upon.

I will stick with flow measurements. Since I am measuring flow in an open system I believe I have a cushion in actual use. In actual use the flow is greatly reduced.

So far there is no difference in total flow without or with the filter, so I think the filter is not restricting total flow.

Do you think it is possible to hear a change in RPM? A frequency analysis of the test may be interesting...

With the respironics and their larger, noisier blower, easily.

It's harder with the Resmeds, but you can hear changes in the sound if you put your ear up against it, or use a stethoscope.