Exhalation Valve Lockup

My CPAP mask is a standard Philips Respironics "DreamWear" cushion full face mask. It works satisfactorily for almost a month, and then the exhalation valves lock up. It is then not possible to exhale through the mask. I can remove the mask entirely from the machine and the hose, and the condition is the same, no exhaling possible. I then mount a brand-new mask on the hose and machine, and the new mask works normally.

The exhalation valves appear to be thin rubber membrane flappers, so it is hard to see what goes wrong. Washing the failed mask in the usual warm water and mild soap does not correct the situation. I then must throw the failed mask away. What is happening to cause this?

Do you use a So (NO) Clean? How old is the mask? The idea of the vent is to open when the pump stops, You must always have a vent open, running or not, if you didn't cause it, I would take it back and get a new one if it's defective. Jim

Maybe another kind of FF Mask is in your future.

donharmon wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 1:28 pm

the exhalation valves lock up. It is then not possible to exhale through the mask.

If you are talking about the two flapper valves on the sides of the mask, those are valves for inhaling when the CPAP machine is not working. They are not for exhaling. They close when the CPAP machine is working. When the CPAP machine is not working, they will close on exhale and open on inhale - this is by design.

I don't know why you are having trouble exhaling. Some people have experienced this problem when the vent holes (designed for exhaling) on the front of the mask (hard plastic shell) have clogged up. They made need a good cleaning because they are very small, and, for some people, they tend to clog up.

Also, check the vent holes on the tube connector for clogging.

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 2:15 pm

donharmon wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 18, 2020 1:28 pm

the exhalation valves lock up. It is then not possible to exhale through the mask.

If you are talking about the two flapper valves on the sides of the mask, those are valves for inhaling when the CPAP machine is not working. They are not for exhaling. They close when the CPAP machine is working. When the CPAP machine is not working, they will close on exhale and open on inhale - this is by design.

I believe that they are suppose to stay open all the time when the machine is off... so you can breathe in and out through them, they are definitely supposed to stay firmly shut when the machine is on.

palerider wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 19, 2020 10:11 pm

I believe that they are suppose to stay open all the time when the machine is off...

On my Dreamwear, when the machine is off, the two flapper valves close on exhalation. Exhaled air goes out through the front vents and vents on the mask tube.

The flapper valves are designed to close easily for those patients who use low pressures.