Perma-Stench: M-series Auto CPAP

Some of us M-series Auto CPAP users have noticed that our machines have acquired an odor that will not go away, no matter what we try. Mine got so bad to the point that I had to stop using it. I looked into warranty & repair options and learned that I had none. Fortunately I also have a new Intellipap, which I love very much.

With no options left, I threw caution into the wind (along with my warranty, which I was told does not cover odor issues) and decided to completely disassemble my M-series and figure out what was going on. I'm very familiar with electronics & mechanisms and was confident I could take it apart and put it back together again without problem. I had a hell of a time finding a Torx screwdriver long enough to get out two screws that were very deeply recessed into the unit, but eventually I prevailed.

I wanted to take pictures of everything but I just don't have the time and it was making me delay writing this. I wanted to get this info out for other people to use, so here's the post with no pictures.

The reason I wanted to take it apart was because I knew that plastic cannot absorb an odor. Our hoses/humidifiers smell after a while without being cleaned because stuff (like bacteria, etc) starts to grow in them. But the plastic itself can't absorb anything. So my theory was, something must be growing in there, or perhaps there is more foam inside, either way I'll just clean it out and hopefully be good to go.

After taking it apart, I found two more foam pieces, made from the same material that the black filter is made from. They smelled a tiny bit but not very much. Then I found the real culprit.

There is a gigantic piece of sponge-like foam inside the machine, which completely surrounds the motor, presumably to keep everything air tight. It's about as big as my hands if I turn them into fists and hold them together. It's not spongy like a sponge you might use for washing your dishes... it's far less porous and much "tougher", for lack of a better word. It's more like a spongecake, but a lot denser.

Anyway, once I smelled this thing it was obvious that it was the source of the odor problem. I tried cleaning it every way I could imagine, starting with the most benign (simply wiping it with a lightly damp paper towel) to soaking it for hours in baking soda and also dish detergent. I was concerned about what this would do to the sponge and if it would still be usable after, but at this point it didn't matter because the machine was useless anyway.

All my attempts to remove the odor have failed. The only other thing I can think of would be soaking it in bleach, and surely that would destroy it. It's really sad that a piece of foam has ruined an otherwise perfect machine, but as far as I know this piece of foam cannot be bought and it's such a wildly customized shape and material that I'd never be able to make one myself. And the machine would have tons of internal air leaks without it.

So, in summary, Respironics put a huge, non-replaceable, non-cleanable odor-absorbing sponge in a machine that, through the course of serving its purpose, is exposed to odors.

It's possible that other CPAP machine designs involve encasing the motor in a huge piece of foam to eliminate air leaks. I don't know, as I've not taken others apart. I'm about 99% certain, however, that there are other materials they could have used that would not absorb any odor. The fact that they chose not to has rendered my 17 month old machine useless. It's such a solid machine that I wouldn't have been surprised if it lasted 5 years or more, but an odor this strong is not acceptable.

I wish I had a solution to the problem to share with you. If anyone from Respironics wants to get in touch with me, feel free to PM me here.

I would definitely write a letter to the CEO of Respironics, Don Spence (who is a CPAPer himself), and let him know how disappointed you are.

I wish I had a Respironics address for you, but I couldn't find one.

You might send a copy of your post to this e-mail address. This was what I got from their service dept. "Carr, Thomas [Tom.Carr@respironics.com]". If you get a reply you might let us know what they have to say.

Jerry

Just sent an email to that address. Thanks!

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Yes, by all means . . . the company needs to KNOW what you have, with your persistence, DISCOVERED! They only get to see / smell the NEW machine before it gets into the real world.

I think your important information should earn you at least a BRAND NEW MACHINE, that, hopefully, won't produce the smell. (Not every one does, or we would all have experienced the smell.)

Joy

Does this help any?

Respironics, Inc.
1010 Murry Ridge Ln.
Murrysville, PA 15668-8525
PA Tel. 724-387-5200
Toll Free 800-345-6443
Fax 724-387-5010

DigiSage, WHAT was the odor like? Maybe slightly sweet? Like maybe someone had tried spraying a foam filter w/Febreze or had used PurSleep maybe? A man-made scent vs a garbage smell I guess would be one way to try to pin point an odor verbally.

Weird. I've often wondered about people complaining of their M Series smelling to high heaven. I haven't had that problem, so I just couldn't figure out what had gone wrong. Now I know.

Sounds very much like we need to start telling folks "If you can't get rid of the smell, get rid of the machine. There's no solution."

Makes me really want to beware used M Series machines now. If I can't sniff it, I'm not buying it.

Cheers,
Barbara

It's hard to say exactly what the odor smells like. It definitely has some traces of PurSleep I smell other things there too. When my machine was brand new it had no odor at all (though the hose stunk to high heaven of the typical "new hose smell", but that goes away on its own after a while). It acquired the odor over my months of use.

Regardless of the source, however, there's no excuse for a machine to permanently absorb an odor. I could even be a bit lenient here - perhaps if I ran the machine in a smokey bar for 12 hours, I'd not be surprised if it permanently smelled like cigarettes. But the odor sources I'm talking about are pretty minor, all in all. And because of this, I would like to go on record and say that I am not blaming PurSleep for this in any way - I doubt the M-series discriminates on what kind of odor it absorbs. At one time or another, there will be a bad smell near your CPAP machine, and I think the M-series resilience in this matter is unnecessarily low because of the choice of motor-encasing-foam material.

If I may, can I run a hypothetical question past everyone? I am by no means an expert on this but I am wondering if you could use the "neutral" scent soaps that deer hunters typically use to cover their body odor to soak this spongy-like thing in. I dont know if a product like a neutral scent soap could "remove" a scent altogether or just mask it. Just thought I would throw that out there. Bearcat42

Hummm,

I don't have an odor issue (yet) over 1000 hours into my M-Series. Just wondering, how many hours do you have on the unit?

Has anyone taken apart one of the older tanks style machines. I seem to recall seeing pictures of the inside (of a tank unit) and seeing a grayish rubbery fan surround. Sounds a little similar to me.

I would think that Respironics sells that part. The real question is will they sell it to you?

I read in this thread what appeared to be a negative comment about Fabreze but, I know that I've used the "allergen reducing" Fabreze on a "skunked dog" and been able to comfortably sleep in the same room within 15 minutes. Boy, skunk, thats a bad smell. It "ate" the skunk smell. Didn't even have to do a second application. Might be worth a try if all else fails.

builta wrote: I read in this thread what appeared to be a negative comment about Fabreze but, I know that I've used the "allergen reducing" Fabreze on a "skunked dog" and been able to comfortably sleep in the same room within 15 minutes. Boy, skunk, thats a bad smell. It "ate" the skunk smell. Didn't even have to do a second application. Might be worth a try if all else fails.

My only concern with Fabreze is, what sort of a residue does it leave behind (even if it's scentless) and do I want to have that residue forced up my nose for 8 hours a day?

DigiSage wrote:

builta wrote: I read in this thread what appeared to be a negative comment about Fabreze but, I know that I've used the "allergen reducing" Fabreze on a "skunked dog" and been able to comfortably sleep in the same room within 15 minutes. Boy, skunk, thats a bad smell. It "ate" the skunk smell. Didn't even have to do a second application. Might be worth a try if all else fails.

My only concern with Fabreze is, what sort of a residue does it leave behind (even if it's scentless) and do I want to have that residue forced up my nose for 8 hours a day?

I guess that that is up to you. They advertize that it is safe to spray on things like pillows and bedding.

http://www.febreze.com/en_US/odor_probl ... reducer.do

I think that the main ingredient is water and corn starch.

I don't have the address for them, however one thing I've found in the past that generally gets a response from companies is to copy the Investor Relations department under separate cover, and let them know you will be publicizing this all over the place....making sure to let them know you are not happy about the expense you have incurred for a now worthless machine that is worthless due to their design flaw. Someone has already provided the address, so:


The CEO:

Donald J. Spence
Chief Executive Officer
Home Healthcare Solutions

Ron Feinstein
Executive Vice President
President, Philips Lifeline

Craig B. Reynolds
Executive Vice President and
Chief Operating Officer

Susan Lloyd
Vice President, Respiratory Drug Delivery

Dr. David P. White
Chief Medical Officer

Debjax wrote:I don't have the address for them, however one thing I've found in the past that generally gets a response from companies is to copy the Investor Relations department under separate cover,

How does one go about contacting an "Investor Relations department"??