Resmed S8 Elite filter shock

I've had my new resmed machine for 3 months now, I've been getting some congestion during the night so i decided to clean everything and check my filter.

The photo below shows the ordinal filter that came with the machine on the right and the pillow the DME sent (complimentary) on the left



I noticed that the original one is different in that it has a sturdier back to the filter, the replacement pillows are the same texture all the way through. Blue is supposed to mark the front right? i wonder why they bothered marking the blue side in the replacement pillow as it does not seem to make any difference which way it goes in? Anyone know if these filters are any good? are they they the same as the ones sold on cpap.com?
Its seems the original filter caught most of the dust at the back of the filter? and thus the replacement would just be letting more dust through

Also although the original pillow does not seem to be too dirty i did hold it in one and and then flicked it with the other. I was very very shocked at the dust cloud that shot out from it, not just once but about 5 or 6 times I will be changing my filter monthly from now on.

I bought my filters here:

http://www.directhomemedical.com/filter ... lters.html

Being a newbie, I felt safer buying the "original Resmed filters". Mine is blue on the front, and then at the back of the white portion, it does seem more compressed, kind of papery. Also it's not rectangular like the picture, but a little tapered at one end.

I'd like to know if the ones at cpap.com and cpapauction.com are the same. I think they are a "universal" filter.

I changed it after 1 month, even though it didn't seem that dirty. The User Manual says every 6 months, but that seems like a long time, for dusty Arizona.

Thanks Katie W, that looks like what i would rather have, not some generic piece of sponge.
yes Arizona gets very dusty, we do clean our house regularly but dust always seems to fly in as soon as you open a door or window
I'm so shocked about the dust in my filter I am thinking of spending the extra money on my HVAC filters, currently i buy the spun fiber ones that cost about $2 each (i use two 20x30 filters). I notice the higher MERV rating ones with anti allergy properties etc can run almost $10 each, but i think it may be worth giving that a try also.

Uncle_Bob wrote:Thanks Katie W, that looks like what i would rather have, not some generic piece of sponge.
yes Arizona gets very dusty, we do clean our house regularly but dust always seems to fly in as soon as you open a door or window
I'm so shocked about the dust in my filter I am thinking of spending the extra money on my HVAC filters, currently i buy the spun fiber ones that cost about $2 each (i use two 20x30 filters). I notice the higher MERV rating ones with anti allergy properties etc can run almost $10 each, but i think it may be worth giving that a try also.

Be careful about the HVAC filters. I recently had problems with my system, and the technician that came out actually told me that the more expensive pleated filters actually cause problems for the machine by not letting enough air through - choking the system. He recommended that I change to the cheap filters that won't hurt the system.

Bob,
You could also purchase a room air cleaner. This may help some also. I sure wouldn't want to see you hurt your furnace.

UB, thanks for the heads up.
I have been using my original filter for 4mths.
I checked it and it looked ok.
After your post I pulled it and gave it the flick test..... YIKES .
I only got one puff of dust.
I don't live in a dusty area and have an electronic air cleaner.
I'm going to change it every two mths.

Katie, is this what you purchased??



They came in three sealed packs w/5 filters in each pack.
They look exactly like the original, color and the slight taper at the top.
Through the auction, they were $15 to my door.

Carbonman, here's the ones I bought. More expensive than yours....12 for $28.80.

I can't tell from your photo, do yours have the "paper" coating on outside of the the white part? If they're the same as yours, well then, I've learned a lesson.

KatieW wrote: I can't tell from your photo, do yours have the "paper" coating on outside of the the white part? If they're the same as yours, well then, I've learned a lesson. ]

They do not have the paper coating.
They look exactly like the original.
Our part #'s match, too.
They look like they came directly from Resmed.
Just a SWAG on my part, your supplier got the same from Resmed,
repackaged to 3/pack and kicked the price.

The cpap auction is such a great resource for equipment.
I just won an auction for a seal for my UM face mask......
to my door...$4. I just got a backup S8 for less than half price new.
It is new, in the box w/carry case and hose.


......but lets keep this between you and me.

Carbonman, I won't tell a soul.

I've been watching cpapauction for a backup S8 too. In fact, now I want a backup of everything, because I can't bear the thought of being without cpap, even for one night.

Katies do look to have some sort of harder backing to them even though they have the same part numbers.

CarbonM did you get an S8 autoset for less than half price?

Having a backup is a great idea. I have backup S8 Elite II regular CPAP as my backup.

Happy Thanksgiving !!!

Bob, I got an S8 VPAP Auto 25 for $150 less than half the *discount* price! Brand new, everything sealed in the original plastic bags, in the box, with the travel case, and H4i humidifier. I was lucky to come upon this deal at the right time and, of course, there's a sad story at the other end of the deal. The person selling it was doing it for a family friend who's husband passed away the day the machine arrived. It was never used, never opened...

Uncle_Bob wrote:Katie do look to have some sort of harder backing to them even though they have the same part numbers.

Yes, my filters do have the backing on them.

Filters are very expensive... so much so that I make my own.

I use an N95 filter mask (you can buy them at a medical supply store or, many hardware stores) and just cut it into the shape I need. I can make several CPAP filters from one mask. Just make sure that you cut it to the correct size (or slightly too big so that it friction fits well into the air inlet port) and, mark it so that you have the direction of air-flow correct. I find this way cheaper than buying the specific machine filters and, I know that the N95 filter material adequately blocks dust, molds, pathogens, etc.

Uncle_Bob wrote:CarbonM did you get an S8 autoset for less than half price?

$230 to my door. In the box, sealed, w/carry case and hose.
When it arrived I couldn't believe it.

carbonman wrote:

Uncle_Bob wrote:CarbonM did you get an S8 autoset for less than half price?

$230 to my door. In the box, sealed, w/carry case and hose.
When it arrived I couldn't believe it.

screaming deal