CPAP - Fresh Air

Dumb Question: Is there away to get fresh air when using the CPAP. I was thinking of seeing if like an ionizer would work that could sit next to the CPAP. I feel at times I'm just breathing nothing but stale dead air all the time.

Keep the room clean, the filters changed, shoot anyone that smokes in the house, keep pets clean and away from the bedroom, and the air will be clean. Running a A/C in good working condition (Clean) will make the air better as will running something with a HEPA filter. If you are doing correctly the air at night will be better than you breath in the day. Don't eat BEANS. Jim

I wouldn't use the ionizer right next to the machine, as that would increase the levels of ozone you breathe in. You could put the ionizer in the room with you, though, just let the air mix =)

I prefer HEPA filter-based air cleaners myself, they just seem to work better for me.

I would say that you have to be dilligent in cleaning your mask, hose & humidifier tank, and your filter. (I forgot to clean my filter, again, yesterday. ) Use an air cleaner by all means, but it won't help if your cpap system isn't clean, too.

cpeterson wrote:Dumb Question: Is there away to get fresh air when using the CPAP. I was thinking of seeing if like an ionizer would work that could sit next to the CPAP. I feel at times I'm just breathing nothing but stale dead air all the time.

It is the same air you are breathing when you take your mask off, except that it has been filtered. So basically if your bedroom has stale dead air then that is what you are breathing. You could open a window or get a air purifier with a HEPA filter on it. But don't put an ionizer to close to the cpap machine.

One thing to consider is that you're breathing air in from wherever the CPAP machine is sitting. If it's on the floor sitting next to the clothes hamper that's the air you're breathing. You might want to consider sitting it somewhere the air is fresher.

I've noticed that CPAP air sometimes smells stale and hot. I'm not quite sure why. It might help to let the machine blow air for a few seconds before you put the mask on so the first breath is fresh. Opening your mouth and letting air blow through for a few seconds should also bring in some fresher air.

As far as filters, the air coming through the filters will be far cleaner than your room air will ever be. Even in you have the room filled with HEPA filters, it's going to mix with dust and dirt in the room. The air coming through the CPAP machine filters won't get mixed with anything.

I find humidified air often seems "stuffy."

You do rebreathe some of your exhaled air with a CPAP machine due to the way the air vent works. You rebreathe more air when the pressure is low. If you're using ramp, try not using ramp. Be sure that the exhaust vent in your mask is not partially plugged.

What I have been doing for the past years if I have a night stand that I have my CPAP in. I had bought two bathroom stands (wood) with a glass drawer where the CPAP sits in. I had drilled a hole on the side and the hose comes out of the side and have holes in the back where the power cable and other misc cables (power cable) runs in / out of the stand.

It seems to work really well. Since I have been lazy in closing the door when I'm sitting it gets air. If I have time, currently away from home, I'll take a pic the how I have it set up.

cpeterson wrote:I had bought two bathroom stands (wood) with a glass drawer where the CPAP sits in.

Be sure the glass drawer won't hold enough water to drown the CPAP machine in case you get a humidifier leak.

cpeterson wrote:What I have been doing for the past years if I have a night stand that I have my CPAP in. I had bought two bathroom stands (wood) with a glass drawer where the CPAP sits in. I had drilled a hole on the side and the hose comes out of the side and have holes in the back where the power cable and other misc cables (power cable) runs in / out of the stand.

It seems to work really well. Since I have been lazy in closing the door when I'm sitting it gets air. If I have time, currently away from home, I'll take a pic the how I have it set up.

That explains it then. You are breathing the air in the compartment the machine is stored in. Heated air cuz the machine generates heat in the compartment. Maybe place a fan to blow more air into this little setup?

I believe I heard somewhere that ionizers need to be kept away from electronics, as there are some components which can be damaged.

chunkyfrog wrote:I believe I heard somewhere that ionizers need to be kept away from electronics, as there are some components which can be damaged.

Actually, ionizers are used in electronics manufacturing facilities to reduce electrostatic discharge (ESD). It's ESD that kills electronics. The close proximity of ionizing equipment is another matter. Don't know, but I doubt it as they're electronic equipment themselves.

I never really thought about the freshness of the air by my cpap....except when it picks up something unpleasant....filtering into my condo from the neighbors....

Though it shouldn't be that bad....its inside my night stand, so the air is kind of stilled, but there's a floor fan near by that blows 24/7 (getting old enough that I should probably start worrying about it stopping)....there are also two air purifiers in my bedroom (both with odor sensors, and I hear them ramp up various times during the night....the one at the foot of my bed I could understand, not sure what triggers the other one)

Wonder if I want to see about improving airflow by my CPAP....perhaps something when either I get a new machine or take current one on trip.

I've very likely to be getting a new machine soon, though I haven't decided what I'm going to do with it yet.....

The Dreamer

Use tube to open screen to bring in fresh air. I cut open a juice tetra pack and placed the big end over the air filter intake at back of cpap. I stuffed a towel to block other screen area. Am in Canada so plenty of cold fresh air the machine and humidifier and heated air supply line seem to work better with fresh air intake. I know I felt 100% better with full flow of fresh air intake. Even for naps the fresh air is the greatest improvement I have built for cpap. Now I am going to use pvc pipe to be tube that transfers fresh air greater distance to cpap.