CPAPtalk.com

flocof wrote:Would it be possible to just cut up some hepa filters from a vaccuum filter? I think they are way cheaper...

I think so as long as the thickness is correct.

I would be careful here. You might burn up your blower motor. Just as with HVAC filtration, too much filter can cause bad things to happen. I would choke on the expense and buy the factory recommended fine filters.

I get my fine filters from this website--about 79 cents each (I order the 50 pack that last about 2 years changing them every weeks)--
http://www.cpapfiltersandsupplies.com/d ... &path=1_29

And, here's their micron size chart--
http://www.cpapfiltersandsupplies.com/p ... _chart.pdf

1tree wrote:Funny, I just picked up my machine today. Tonight will be my first night and I am really looking forward to it.

But I have already been thinking of how to improve filtration. The first thing that entered my mind was if I could house the whole thing in a cabinet and filter the air entering the cabinet. I was thinking along the lines of using good quality furnace filters. Not sure if I trust that the filter on my unit will do the best job possible.

You might want to consider the fact that the H5i humidifier senses ambient temperature and humidity in the bedroom.
Putting the thing in an enclosed box might prevent it taking acurate readings of the conditions in your bedroom.

~UB

jonnybee wrote:What I don't know is at what size filter does resistance to breathing start to come into play, if any?

The size would do nothing to increase the resistance to breathing.......the work your blower motor has to do however may increase greatly!!!!

I have searched the internet for the cheapest suppliers of filters for Aussies, and this is it, let me know if you can find a cheaper one...
http://www.global-medical-solutions.com/CPAP_c_57.html

Uncle_Bob wrote:

1tree wrote:Funny, I just picked up my machine today. Tonight will be my first night and I am really looking forward to it.

But I have already been thinking of how to improve filtration. The first thing that entered my mind was if I could house the whole thing in a cabinet and filter the air entering the cabinet. I was thinking along the lines of using good quality furnace filters. Not sure if I trust that the filter on my unit will do the best job possible.

You might want to consider the fact that the H5i humidifier senses ambient temperature and humidity in the bedroom.
Putting the thing in an enclosed box might prevent it taking acurate readings of the conditions in your bedroom.

~UB

I've thought of the same thing but living in Oz, you can't buy decent furnace filters at all (and we wonder why kids with asthma is on the rise). The s9 measures the air inside its chamber and adjusts to the air that its sending down the tube. You could hook the thing up to outside and it should work just fine (unless your in Lapland in the wintertime).

HEPA filters are more about how they are folded to make sure they clog up at a consistent rate. The S9's air intake is just a nasty design with the little poles that stick out and bend the filter on the back. It would be since if there was a standard "intake" size where the base units come with a simple filter but could be upgraded as needed. On the S9, anything that gets inside may get caught up on a foam bit for a while but over time it will go through the fan and down the tube.

pap4life wrote:I most definitely would use fine filters if my machine was designed to use them.. and change them as often as you can., Mine do get dirtier in the winter with the heater running.

The white filters are the fine filters that they're talking about there

akcpapguy wrote:

jonnybee wrote:What I don't know is at what size filter does resistance to breathing start to come into play, if any?

The size would do nothing to increase the resistance to breathing.......the work your blower motor has to do however may increase greatly!!!!

Yeah, I realized what a dump statement I had posted. Hoped no one would realize just how dumb it was. A senior moment perhaps?

I guess I am lucky that my supplier here in Florida sends me filters and mask seal parts on a bi-monthly basis to keep my machine's performanc satisfactory. However, I have thought about making an adapter from the back of the machine that would increase the filter area that would allow a finer filter media to be used. Kind of like a funnel concept, only rectangular to fit up to the machine!(ResMed s-9auto).

jonnybee wrote:

akcpapguy wrote:

jonnybee wrote:What I don't know is at what size filter does resistance to breathing start to come into play, if any?

The size would do nothing to increase the resistance to breathing.......the work your blower motor has to do however may increase greatly!!!!

Yeah, I realized what a dump statement I had posted. Hoped no one would realize just how dumb it was. A senior moment perhaps?

Sorry Jonny, i wasn't trying to imply that it was a dumb statement, it's hard sometimes to convey ones tone or intention over a forum post. Sometimes it's hard to wrap ones head around the mechanics of what is really going on with PAP devices and how they deliver therapy.

What will you breathe the 2/3 of your day that you aren't on CPAP? Hold your breath?

LinkC wrote:What will you breathe the 2/3 of your day that you aren't on CPAP? Hold your breath?

Good point! But, at least with the fine filters, much less dirt is building up day after day, month after month, year after year, inside your CPAP machine. I think the fine filters probably help to extend machine life more so than my life.

pap4life wrote:I most definitely would use fine filters if my machine was designed to use them.. and change them as often as you can., Mine do get dirtier in the winter with the heater running.

Why change them as often as you can? Like furnace filters, I assume the CPAP filters actually filter more particles as they get slightly dirtier. With furnace filters, the particle catching efficiency actually goes up as the filter gets dirty; buildup on the fibers shrinks the openings the air passes through and allows the filter to capture more particles. This is good only up to a point. Get a filter too clogged and bad things happen (like damage to blower motors, etc.).

Still I think following the resumed guidelines is adequate.

I purchase my Fine Filters off of E bay. Can get twelve filters for abiout half the Price my DME charges for Six filters.