Newbie: Constant Leak Rate

Hi,

I just got a new machine, mask, heated tubing, and water chamber last week and found from Oscar that there is a constant leak of 6L/min. I am using AirFit N30i mask and have done a mask fit test before sleeping.

Is the leak normal?

https://document.resmed.com/documents/p ... er_eng.pdf

page 6

the correct mask type selection is "pillows" and not "nasal" which is what your machine is set at.
Make the correction and see if that changes the reported leak rate after tonight's use.

Thanks for the document. It was still leaking constantly but at a lower rate (4.8 L/min).

N30i


I tried wearing F20 Full Face Mask as well. The leak wasn't constant, but the rate was quite high as well (average 10.8 L/min).

F20

A few months back I had a similar constant leak and I just couldn't feel or find a leak.
I know you have new equipment including hose but that doesn't mean that it is impossible for there to be a tiny hole somewhere.
I finally took the long hose off and ran some water in it and sealed both ends and guess what I found....a teeny tiny leak/hole up by where the hose attaches to the humidifier. I suspect a kitty claw caused it.

Test every piece of equipment you have for either a hole in the hose or simply not quite having the nasal cushion perfectly attached to whatever it attaches to.

Since the leak line did/does go down to 0.0 with the trial with the full face mask I would start with careful examination of the N30i mask you were using....checking the frame, seating of the cushion and any hose that it uses.
I suspect something not quite seated completely or a tiny hole somewhere.

If the constant leak had been present with the FFM then I would look at the long hose first.

I recently replaced the output filter and it cut down on noise and also I don't get a weird rash on my right cheek anymore...I suspect somehow the chamber wasn't connecting correctly.

raisedfist wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:28 am

I recently replaced the output filter and it cut down on noise and also I don't get a weird rash on my right cheek anymore...I suspect somehow the chamber wasn't connecting correctly.

What is "output filter"?

palerider wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 8:12 am

raisedfist wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:28 am

I recently replaced the output filter and it cut down on noise and also I don't get a weird rash on my right cheek anymore...I suspect somehow the chamber wasn't connecting correctly.

What is "output filter"?

Well, output port.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7-c79HjbFA

raisedfist wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:28 am

I recently replaced the output filter and it cut down on noise and also I don't get a weird rash on my right cheek anymore...I suspect somehow the chamber wasn't connecting correctly.

Did this change the leak rate shown on your software reports? How is this relevant to original topic which wasn't about noise or rashes.

Back on topic please.....
So far since the leak isn't present with the FFM and it is present with the nasal mask....points significantly to a problem somewhere with the nasal mask....and not with anything in the machine itself.

Pugsy wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 9:44 am

raisedfist wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 09, 2022 4:28 am

I recently replaced the output filter and it cut down on noise and also I don't get a weird rash on my right cheek anymore...I suspect somehow the chamber wasn't connecting correctly.

Did this change the leak rate shown on your software reports? How is this relevant to original topic which wasn't about noise or rashes.

Back on topic please.....
So far since the leak isn't present with the FFM and it is present with the nasal mask....points significantly to a problem somewhere with the nasal mask....and not with anything in the machine itself.

Fair point, not very relevant, but all I meant was that sometimes equipment needs to be broken down, checked for issues, refitted, and if no solution, replace things.

There are far worse topic diversions that happen on here...not starting fights

A few years ago I had a p10 that constantly showed a leak and never when below 4.8. I can easily find it on my OSCAR history, there will be a solid block of green. The leak was measured at the start of my session and ended when I took the mask off. I never felt the the leak, the only reason I new it was there was because of the extra reporting of Sleepyhead (OSCAR's predecessor).

I suspected the venting holes were allowed slightly more than what the mask should have been venting and that was interpreted as a leak.

There is no perceptible leak that is waking you, the measured leak is well below the ResMed threshold of 24LM, so it's not interfering with event and apnea detection. The only way you even know it's being measured is because you see on OSCAR.

Don't worry about it.

Now, looking at your graphs, there is something that you *can* do. Your minimum and maximum pressures are too low. Unless there's a reason you've set them that low, I would bump them up.