White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

SURVIVOR2021 · Post by **SURVIVOR2021** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am

Hello:
I'm a longtime CPAP user from Las Vegas, NV, and I've been using machines since about 1998. They've literally saved and prolonged my life. But there's been a problem that has recently been getting worse.

I currently use a ResMed Dream Station 10 with nose pillows and a standard hose and specific filters for the machine. Lately, I've woken up feeling like I might choke to death, because of the buildup of phlegm in my nasal passages and chest, which has to be cleared out immediately before I can breathe.

The cause I suspect is a fine white powder that I've been finding inside the two-part filter system, which I've been clearing out with compressed air, and also rinsing out the part of the filter that's washable. I also have been using the RESPIFY system to clean the parts daily.

Now, here's the catch: I don't think that it's the water that I use in the humidifier tank on the machine, since I use ONLY distilled water as directed.

I do have a room humidifier that I use, yet there's never any buildup of the white substance inside the reservoir of that machine.

Here's the scary part: I've lived in Vegas since 2012, and I've seen this white residue before, all over the dishes and the kitchen shelves, bookshelves and storage shelves and even on jars and cans in the pantry, if they've? bean sitting for a while.

So, here's my question: if you live in places like Vegas, Phoenix, Taos, NM, or other similar desert climates, have you run into a similar problem with this powder, dust, whatever the hell it is? If it's just a matter of getting a new machine, then great! I'm actually due for a new one this month.

But if it's an environmental issue, then I'm pretty much screwed, because there's nothing I can do about that...except sleeping without the machine, which I'm terrified to do, (I also have heart problems). But I'm tired of waking up, choking and gagging. I thought the machine's whole purpose was to PREVENT that sort of thing!

jimbud · Post by **jimbud** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:28 am

I live in Oklahoma. We call it dust here.
It gets better when it rains.
It gets worse when it hasn't rained in a while.
It gets even worse when it hasn't rained in a while and the wind blows.

JPB

Dog Slobber · Post by **Dog Slobber** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:31 am

There is no such thing as a Resmed Dream Station 10. There is a ResMed AirSense 10, or a Respironics DreamStation.
The filters come before the humidifier tank, therefore the water you use *cannot* have anything to do with the creation of the white powder.
The fact that you are finding the powder all over your residence is compelling evidence that your CPAP machine has nothing to do with the creation of the white powder.
Finding white powder on your CPAP filter is evidence that your CPAP machine is preventing you from inhaling the powder not contributing to the powder.
The Respify is an Ozone base cleaner that can contribute to health, and breathing problems and harm your CPAP machine.
Not seeing white powder on the reservoir of your room humidifier, is not evidence that your room humidifier is responsible.
White powder *IS* a byproduct of some room humidifiers, and is typically not harmful, but can be problematic to those with allergies or sinus conditions.

You are drawing incorrect conclusions on almost every aspect of your "problem". Your solution is to remove the one thing that is actually benefiting your health and reducing the white powder you're inhaling.

https://www.hvac.com/faq/white-dust-concerned/

klm49 · Post by **klm49** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:56 am

SURVIVOR2021 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am
Hello:
I'm a longtime CPAP user from Las Vegas, NV, and I've been using machines since about 1998. They've literally saved and prolonged my life. But there's been a problem that has recently been getting worse.

I currently use a ResMed Dream Station 10 with nose pillows and a standard hose and specific filters for the machine. Lately, I've woken up feeling like I might choke to death, because of the buildup of phlegm in my nasal passages and chest, which has to be cleared out immediately before I can breathe.

The cause I suspect is a fine white powder that I've been finding inside the two-part filter system, which I've been clearing out with compressed air, and also rinsing out the part of the filter that's washable. I also have been using the RESPIFY system to clean the parts daily.

Now, here's the catch: I don't think that it's the water that I use in the humidifier tank on the machine, since I use ONLY distilled water as directed.

I do have a room humidifier that I use, yet there's never any buildup of the white substance inside the reservoir of that machine.

Here's the scary part: I've lived in Vegas since 2012, and I've seen this white residue before, all over the dishes and the kitchen shelves, bookshelves and storage shelves and even on jars and cans in the pantry, if they've? bean sitting for a while.

So, here's my question: if you live in places like Vegas, Phoenix, Taos, NM, or other similar desert climates, have you run into a similar problem with this powder, dust, whatever the hell it is? If it's just a matter of getting a new machine, then great! I'm actually due for a new one this month.

But if it's an environmental issue, then I'm pretty much screwed, because there's nothing I can do about that...except sleeping without the machine, which I'm terrified to do, (I also have heart problems). But I'm tired of waking up, choking and gagging. I thought the machine's whole purpose was to PREVENT that sort of thing!

If your machine is a Philips Dream Station, the thin filter is not meant to be cleaned. It is meant to be thrown away and replaced. The larger filter with the plastic is washable.
Check this out as well:
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/saf ... chines-and

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:00 am

If hard water is used in an ultrasonic room humidifier, mineral dust is left behind.
It is recommended to use only distilled water in these devices for this very reason.
Dust buildup will also damage the membrane of the ultrasonic device.
Ordinary dust is everywhere. Fine soil, pollen, smoke, and whatnot.
Try not to think about it too much.
I use the hypoallergenic DISPOSABLE filters in my cpap, and replace them every 3 weeks.
They are impossible/impractical to clean.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:21 pm

SURVIVOR2021 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am
. I also have been using the RESPIFY system to clean the parts daily.

That's your first mistake.

SURVIVOR2021 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am
Now, here's the catch: I don't think that it's the water that I use in the humidifier tank on the machine, since I use ONLY distilled water as directed.

It would be *impossible* for water to result in "white powder residue" (the rest of us call it "dust" in the filter. You could use swamp water in there and it wouldn't cause anything in the filter.

SURVIVOR2021 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am
I do have a room humidifier that I use, yet there's never any buildup of the white substance inside the reservoir of that machine.

Ah, the plot thickens,

SURVIVOR2021 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am
Here's the scary part: I've lived in Vegas since 2012, and I've seen this white residue before, all over the dishes and the kitchen shelves, bookshelves and storage shelves and even on jars and cans in the pantry, if they've? bean sitting for a while.

Dust does that.

SURVIVOR2021 wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:26 am
So, here's my question: if you live in places like Vegas, Phoenix, Taos, NM, or other similar desert climates, have you run into a similar problem with this powder, dust, whatever the hell it is? If it's just a matter of getting a new machine, then great! I'm actually due for a new one this month.

But if it's an environmental issue, then I'm pretty much screwed, because there's nothing I can do about that...except sleeping without the machine, which I'm terrified to do, (I also have heart problems). But I'm tired of waking up, choking and gagging. I thought the machine's whole purpose was to PREVENT that sort of thing!

Stop using the humidifier, or get one that doesn't spew minerals into the air. (like a steam humidifier).

Or, put your distilled water in the room humidifier.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Sat Feb 06, 2021 11:24 pm

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:31 am

There is no such thing as a Resmed Dream Station 10. There is a ResMed AirSense 10, or a Respironics DreamStation.

Damnit, I missed THAT gem.

Dog Slobber wrote: ↑
Sat Feb 06, 2021 10:31 am
[*]Not seeing white powder on the reservoir of your room humidifier, is not evidence that your room humidifier is responsible.

It's actually evidence to the contrary, isn't it

White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

Re: White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

Re: White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

Re: White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

Re: White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

Re: White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter

Re: White Powder Residue Inside CPAP Filter