For Those That Worry About Germs!

I don't pay them much mind, (GERMS). I think this would be a fairly safe solution to kill them off'

Professional Lysol Disinfectant Spray, the list of what it kills is impressive. Removing the filters and spraying it lightly into the air intake of a XPAP while it's running should coat all the insides of the air circuit and kill off the unwanted critters.
WARNING: I don't mean drown them in it, a mist every few seconds should be enough. I would take the HH out of the circuit, it can be washed easily on it's own as can the hose. I have used it on the mask before it never caused any ill effects. Just remember don't over do it, don't soak it down with it (MIST) not (SOAK).

Let machine run after to assure it's dry inside, then replace the filters with new ones, lightly spray the case, wipe and you are done. As with all things if you don't know the difference between MIST and Soak, leave the GERMS alone, GERMS and XPAP"s are better than NO XPAP at all.

Disclaimer: I have no stake in Lysol, I just believe this product could help XPAP users. Jim

NO!!! NO!!!! NO!!!

You stand a good chance of ruining your machine.

There are some delicate electronic sensors in the airflow path that detect humidity, pressure, and airflow. Even water can damage them. Any kind of chemical sprayed into the air pathway stands a good chance of destroying these sensors and breaking or causing malfunctions in your machine.

archangle wrote:NO!!! NO!!!! NO!!!

You stand a good chance of ruining your machine.

There are some delicate electronic sensors in the airflow path that detect humidity, pressure, and airflow. Even water can damage them. Any kind of chemical sprayed into the air pathway stands a good chance of destroying these sensors and breaking or causing malfunctions in your machine.

Maybe, if over done, that's why the "MIST" warning, I'd spray in in the area, and let the machine suck in the vapor, not spray directly into the intake. I bought one used XPAP with 350 hours on it, never did anything to clean the internals and lived to tell the tail. So true it is a Do-It-Yourself Risk! It might help on Smoke in the machine , but I doubt it, as TAR is forever. Jim

I had a musty odor in my minivan and thought maybe it was coming from the vents (mildew or something) so I sprayed Lysol into all the vents. But unfortunately I used a scent called "powder fresh." Well guess what ? That one has a fine powder in it! I didn't know! Now my vents are very difficult to move/open/close because the stupid powder dried on them.

So my advice to anyone who wants to try a spray disinfectant on their machine is to use a regular one and make sure there is not powder of any type in it!

But, even though I'm totally new to cpap, I have to agree that it might possibly be harmful to the machine and if you do this you should probably be extremely careful.

archangle wrote:NO!!! NO!!!! NO!!!

You stand a good chance of ruining your machine.

There are some delicate electronic sensors in the airflow path that detect humidity, pressure, and airflow. Even water can damage them. Any kind of chemical sprayed into the air pathway stands a good chance of destroying these sensors and breaking or causing malfunctions in your machine.

I agree.
And Jim (Goofproof)'s machine the Remstar Auto, is a version that doesn't have those humidity or temperature sensors.

Not that I worry about germs (which is why I'm NOT reading this thread : ) But, Jim - you first LOL Let me know how it goes.

I actually was a bit concerned (not worried - concerned : ) about mold at one point but now that I've left that nasty wet environment no more concern.

gasp wrote:Not that I worry about germs (which is why I'm NOT reading this thread : ) But, Jim - you first LOL Let me know how it goes.

I actually was a bit concerned (not worried - concerned : ) about mold at one point but now that I've left that nasty wet environment no more concern.

I worry about mold too, this house is really bad about thet, I run a de-hudif set at 45%, it pulls 1 to 3 gals out daily year round, even with the A/C running. I have carpet on the floor in the Basement (CAVE) that needs to be removed and mold killed, but my health doesn't allow me to do anything so we pump the water out as best we can. So far it's been a wet summer. Jim

If there is some kind of germ living in the machine, a strong enough concentration of disinfectant to kill the germs or mold is going to be strong enough to damage the various delicate air sensors in any machine that has them.

Yes, the particular machine he has is pretty "dumb" and probably only has a pressure sensor, which is probably behind some sort of membrane that keeps the bad stuff out. Lots of newer machines would be sensitive.

Still, it's EXCEPTIONALLY BAD!!! advice in general and dangerous to the machine. And I'm sure someone will read that advice and do it a little too much.

Smoking is probably bad, too, but the machines have to be designed to withstand some level of smoking, at least long enough for the warranty to run out. They don't have to be designed to withstand disinfectants.

Everyone is talking about the damage that lysol can do to our machines, but has anyone considered what it can do to us?

Seems to me that some people who worry about germs will often use products that are more harmful than the germs themselves. For example, I've heard that some antibacterial products have an agent that may be carcinogenic.

Lysol warns not to inhale the fumes. Considering that I already have a respiratory problem with sleep apnea, why would I or anyone else want to be breathing lysol fumes for 8 hours straight day after day after day, even if only a trace amount? Especially for germs that probably aren't even there?

Goofproof wrote:

gasp wrote:Not that I worry about germs (which is why I'm NOT reading this thread : ) But, Jim - you first LOL Let me know how it goes.

I actually was a bit concerned (not worried - concerned : ) about mold at one point but now that I've left that nasty wet environment no more concern.

I worry about mold too, this house is really bad about thet, I run a de-hudif set at 45%, it pulls 1 to 3 gals out daily year round, even with the A/C running. I have carpet on the floor in the Basement (CAVE) that needs to be removed and mold killed, but my health doesn't allow me to do anything so we pump the water out as best we can. So far it's been a wet summer. Jim

WOW! You've pulled out more water than even we did. We had a daylight basement and killed one de-humidifier, bought our second and found it did a much better job. I dumped the 1 gallon holding tank twice a day, am and pm. If you have mold in, under, on, the carpet it can be a real health concern. You don't spend time in the cave do you?

ameriken wrote:Everyone is talking about the damage that lysol can do to our machines, but has anyone considered what it can do to us?

Seems to me that some people who worry about germs will often use products that are more harmful than the germs themselves. For example, I've heard that some antibacterial products have an agent that may be carcinogenic.

Lysol warns not to inhale the fumes. Considering that I already have a respiratory problem with sleep apnea, why would I or anyone else want to be breathing lysol fumes for 8 hours straight day after day after day, even if only a trace amount? Especially for germs that probably aren't even there?

Oh ameriken, don't get me started : ) All my friends and family have actually stopped using those stinkin' Glade type plug-ins and other air "fresheners" - finally. I recently gave the owners of my gym a portfolio highlighting the dangers of inhaling air laced with fresheners. They bought essential oil plug-ins. I was very impressed.

gasp wrote:

Goofproof wrote:

gasp wrote:Not that I worry about germs (which is why I'm NOT reading this thread : ) But, Jim - you first LOL Let me know how it goes.

I actually was a bit concerned (not worried - concerned : ) about mold at one point but now that I've left that nasty wet environment no more concern.

I worry about mold too, this house is really bad about thet, I run a de-hudif set at 45%, it pulls 1 to 3 gals out daily year round, even with the A/C running. I have carpet on the floor in the Basement (CAVE) that needs to be removed and mold killed, but my health doesn't allow me to do anything so we pump the water out as best we can. So far it's been a wet summer. Jim

WOW! You've pulled out more water than even we did. We had a daylight basement and killed one de-humidifier, bought our second and found it did a much better job. I dumped the 1 gallon holding tank twice a day, am and pm. If you have mold in, under, on, the carpet it can be a real health concern. You don't spend time in the cave do you?

Yes, I do 5 to 8 hours daily, it's where most of my computers are running. By keeping the de-hh set at 45% it keeps the air dry and the mold down, I use the water I pull out to refill my washer with good water. My de-hh is my third one and it works well. I just dislike all the electric bills it generates. the hudmity is so low I get little water from my central A/C. The last house it was termites, this one is mold. Jim

Goofproof wrote:

gasp wrote:

Goofproof wrote:

gasp wrote:Not that I worry about germs (which is why I'm NOT reading this thread : ) But, Jim - you first LOL Let me know how it goes.

I actually was a bit concerned (not worried - concerned : ) about mold at one point but now that I've left that nasty wet environment no more concern.

I worry about mold too, this house is really bad about thet, I run a de-hudif set at 45%, it pulls 1 to 3 gals out daily year round, even with the A/C running. I have carpet on the floor in the Basement (CAVE) that needs to be removed and mold killed, but my health doesn't allow me to do anything so we pump the water out as best we can. So far it's been a wet summer. Jim

WOW! You've pulled out more water than even we did. We had a daylight basement and killed one de-humidifier, bought our second and found it did a much better job. I dumped the 1 gallon holding tank twice a day, am and pm. If you have mold in, under, on, the carpet it can be a real health concern. You don't spend time in the cave do you?

Yes, I do 5 to 8 hours daily, it's where most of my computers are running. By keeping the de-hh set at 45% it keeps the air dry and the mold down, I use the water I pull out to refill my washer with good water. My de-hh is my third one and it works well. I just dislike all the electric bills it generates. the hudmity is so low I get little water from my central A/C. The last house it was termites, this one is mold. Jim

I'm picturing your computers kicking out a good amount of heat with a drying effect and that along with de-humidifiers are probably keeping any mold at bay? Why do you think there is mold - do you see or smell it? Or imagine it : )

gasp wrote:

Goofproof wrote:

gasp wrote:

Goofproof wrote:

gasp wrote:Not that I worry about germs (which is why I'm NOT reading this thread : ) But, Jim - you first LOL Let me know how it goes.

I actually was a bit concerned (not worried - concerned : ) about mold at one point but now that I've left that nasty wet environment no more concern.

I worry about mold too, this house is really bad about thet, I run a de-hudif set at 45%, it pulls 1 to 3 gals out daily year round, even with the A/C running. I have carpet on the floor in the Basement (CAVE) that needs to be removed and mold killed, but my health doesn't allow me to do anything so we pump the water out as best we can. So far it's been a wet summer. Jim

WOW! You've pulled out more water than even we did. We had a daylight basement and killed one de-humidifier, bought our second and found it did a much better job. I dumped the 1 gallon holding tank twice a day, am and pm. If you have mold in, under, on, the carpet it can be a real health concern. You don't spend time in the cave do you?

Yes, I do 5 to 8 hours daily, it's where most of my computers are running. By keeping the de-hh set at 45% it keeps the air dry and the mold down, I use the water I pull out to refill my washer with good water. My de-hh is my third one and it works well. I just dislike all the electric bills it generates. the hudmity is so low I get little water from my central A/C. The last house it was termites, this one is mold. Jim

I'm picturing your computers kicking out a good amount of heat with a drying effect and that along with de-humidifiers are probably keeping any mold at bay? Why do you think there is mold - do you see or smell it? Or imagine it : )

The walls are concrete, moisture is seeping in. In the past the room was shut off from the air flow and the carpet (indoor outdoor) got wet for a long time, it now stays dry but it really needs to be removed and the floor sealed, also the walls are wood paneled and they used no vapor barrier, the kind of thing you get when you buy a house. I know better but can no longer do the work to fix it. So we keep it as dry as we can and live with it, and yes the conputers do heat it up in here. I use Gas to heat, but it doesn't tqake a lot my electric usage does most of the heating. Jim