Rinsing disposable filters?

Hi! I've been on the CPAP for a few years and everything has been fine. However, my allergies were really kicking up and I couldn't figure out why...till I checked my filter on my CPAP. Ew.

It's a disposable filter - Resmed Elite II - and the home health care can get me a new one in the next few days. In the meantime, can I rinse this filter out or will that cause things to be worse?

Please let me know...I'm pretty sure this is where my horrible cough is coming from.

Teresa

They say to "filck" them. Someone recently said their DME told them to rinse them. I think rinsing them is probably better than "flicking" as I get a sensation of particals when I "flick" them. I haven't rinsed one yet, but i am not going to "flick" them anymore. You just have to do what you think is best.

DO change the dirty filter, but it's unlikely that's the cause of your allergies.

It has been a very bad allergy season. It could be that is what is bothering you. My machine has a gray foam filter that I wash when I wash the rest of my gear. Maybe you could purchase a spare filter or two?

Hope your allergy symptoms ease up soon.

Washing a dispoable filter isn't a good idea, it may cause the filter fibers to change. Tapping would be better, the facts are as a filter gets clogged it filters even smaller particles out of the airstream. The bad part is it restricts air flow, making it hotter inside the machine and hard on the motor. According to how dirty your area is the filter need to be changed out, once a month is about avg, add dogs and cats sooner. Jim

If the wait is only a few days, I wouldn't do anything. I change my filter every 30 days. It may be over-kill. The best place I found was cpapfiltersandsupplies.com. They were the cheapest. I bought a year's supply, so I don't have to mess with it only once a year.

Sheriff