RedMed S9- all of the sudden: loud Noise.

Hey, I got an S9 which I have been using for about 3 weeks. Once I learned to use it it was plenty quiet- but that changed last night-

There is a loud boomy kind of air noise coming from somewhere in the back of the machine- it changes when I breathe and sounds kind of like a "Darth Vader" when I breath into the mask. I've felt around for leaks but can't find any air escaping from the back- I'm not aware of anything that changed- wasn't happening when I went to sleep- the problem just started in the middle of the night.

Anyone have any ideas? I've made an appointment with my provider but they can;t see me until next week- It's unusable in this condition.

Thanks
fxworks.

I know you said the noise is coming from the back of the machine, but make sure your humidifier is closed properly. Keep us posted on what was wrong.
Since the machine is unusable can the supplier lend you a machine until they can look at yours?

That was my thought too, the humidifier. Don't know if you have one or not, so please update your profile with your devices. Also, make sure the hose is connected securely to the device. Air leaking seems to be the best source of the noise you describe.

Yup, ditto on the humidifier cover - my initial thought also - been there, done that!

cheers,
xena

fxworks wrote:Hey, I got an S9 which I have been using for about 3 weeks. Once I learned to use it it was plenty quiet- but that changed last night-

There is a loud boomy kind of air noise coming from somewhere in the back of the machine- it changes when I breathe and sounds kind of like a "Darth Vader" when I breath into the mask. I've felt around for leaks but can't find any air escaping from the back- I'm not aware of anything that changed- wasn't happening when I went to sleep- the problem just started in the middle of the night.

Anyone have any ideas? I've made an appointment with my provider but they can;t see me until next week- It's unusable in this condition.

Thanks
fxworks.

Not sure if I have the same issue as you or not. I've been on CPAP therapy since 9/30 and the S9 is my first and only CPAP machine. Overall, I find it to be very quiet, but there was one evening about a week ago where I could hear myself inhaling and exhaling and it seemed much louder than normal. "Darth Vader" is a pretty accurate description.

I played around with it a little after I got home from work tonight and I don't think it's the humidifier cover not being closed tightly. If the humidifier cover is open at all, it makes a VERY loud noise and I think you can easily identify if that's where the noise is coming from. I pulled the filter off in the back of the machine and covered up the air supply hole and that's where I think the noise comes from. I'm not sure if that's normal or not but if you're not inhaling and exhaling deeply, then the machine is very quiet. Also, I read elsewhere where some people put the machine lower than bed level and that reduces the noise transmission somewhat versus having it sit on top of your nightstand. So, that's what I'm doing now and the noise hasn't bothered me at all since. I just have a small step stool next to the bed with a towel on top of the stool as that seems to help absorb some of the noise too. Post feedback in this thread after you meet with your provider. I'm interested in hearing what they have to say about it.

Check and make sure your hose hasn't pulled apart at the base of the machine. Mine did that and caused the loud noise when inhaling and exhaling. You may have to look closely at it to see it - I missed it several times when checking for leaks. It also made the auto on and off stop working. Everything was fine as soon as I replaced the hose.

fxworks, so what's happening now?

Definitely not the humidifier or hose on the back loose. Been there already.

I had my appointment today and was able to demonstrate the noise. The therapist wasn't even sure she heard anything, and frankly, what is a thunderously loud noise in the middle of the night in a silent room is fairly tame in an office with background noise going on. Still, unless I'm crazy,I was sure it wasn't making this noise when I first got it- So basically I said "Look, even if this seems trivial, it wasn't doing this before."

The "general manager" took it into a back room and listened to it himself. I didn't get to talk to him but the staff up front told me they were going to get me a replacement.

"So it is making a noise," I asked? "Well", she told me "we're just going to replace it." So- still ambiguous.

I'll report back when I get the replacement.

Oh yes- it does sound to me like it's coming from the back where the filter is.

Also, I called up ResMed technical support, complaining of "Darth Vader" noise and they acted like I was crazy.

Do you still think your current unit is unusable at home? Is the noise loud at home consistently or intermittently. Have you tried placing the unit below the level of your bed? Ever since I have done that by putting it next to the bed on a step stool with a towel on top of it, the noise on mine is virtually non-existent. I think with mine, I just noticed the noise because it was sitting on top of a hard surface nightstand and fairly close to the wall, making the sound resonate a bit more.