Devilbiss Heated Humidifiers - Overheating?

Thanks again for all the replies.

The rep may have recommended other brands, but in my experience most reps would not go so far as to make up overheating stories out of whole cloth.

Still, I guess anything is possible...

Chunkyfrog - (can I call you Chunky for short?) If you have rodents in your ductwork, you will also have uh, rodent by-products.

These by-products are known to carry a potentially fatal respiratory disease known as Hantavirus. It is spread as an airborne pathogen which can be stirred up by the air movement in your duct work.

I don't think unlit incense will render it harmless.

I recommend a publication by your National Park Service called "Rodent Exclusion Techniques" I think it still may be available as a downloadable .pdf file.

In Ontario, Provincial Health Insurance has a program to cover set amounts for
various medical assistive devices. Providers are fond of saying that "the government sets the price" but the fact is that the government sets the maximum that it will pay to a registered Canadian provider. All providers are free to charge less.

A U.S. purchase is unlikely.

I would love to hear from Devilbiss on this issue - I'm sure they're aware of it by now. Everyone here seems happy with their machines

Bump.

Hoping to hear from Devilbiss.

You may have to send the Devilbiss rep a private message to alert her to your question.
She probably does not spend much time here unless she has a reason to.
If you send her a PM...she will get a notice in her regular email that she has a message and then come here and look.

PM sent to Devilbiss. Waiting on a reply.

newforumuser wrote:
The first one I called said they had stopped stocking Devilbiss machines a year ago because patients were having problems with heated humidifiers overheating and passing smoke into the patient's airway.

He added that despite not having sold any of the machines for a year, previously sold machines were still coming back and being sent to Devilbiss for repair.

He went on to recommend other brands.

This shocked me somewhat, and I have searched but am unable to find any mention of overheating/smoke problems with Devilbiss Units.

Sorry for my delayed response. We have not experienced this problem, in fact the return rate on the IntelliPAP line is less than 1%, including any humidifier issues. Please let me know if I can provide any further information for you.

I have 2 Devilbiss Autoset machines.

For almost 10 years I used Resprionics machines - started with a Respironics Pro brick (only compliance data) - had it for about 5 years. Then I got a Respironics M Series auto with A-Flex and use it for a couple of years (had the same machine as backup). Next I got a Philips Respironics Auto with A-Flex (had the same as backup) - used it for a couple of years.

Last fall I wanted to try the Devilbiss Autoset. I had some trouble, at first, with setting it for me. It is my first choice machine now. I liked it so much I bought another as backup! It is much quieter than any of my other machines. The other thing I like about it is that it seems to "fit" my breathing pattern perfectly.

I have had software with all my machines except the first one and I have the Smartlink with the Devilbiss. The results shown in the software was virtually the same for me on all 3 machines. I did well on all machines in terms of therapy with AHI under 1 most of the time -very, very rarely 2.

My one issue with the Devilbiss is the humififier but not because of any malfuntion. I find it too small and difficult for me (I have Rheumaotid Arthritis) to fill. I realize it was made small purposely to be part of a travel machine. I keep one on my backup machine but went back to using the Fisher and Paykel 150 stand alone humidifier for my main machine (used it with the M series). For me, it is a perfect setup. The F & P humidifier is larger and much easier for me to fill.

Only good things to say about Devilbiss except for my problem with the humidifier!