Questions about using the ERP on a Resmed

I'm going up on my pressure, in hopes of bringing down my AHI. I've increased the humidity, which seems to help with the sinus irritation (although I'm almost at the top of the humidity dial).
I'm only going from 8cm to 9 cm pressure. Should I be using the ERP? It comes in 1, 2 and 3 levels (1 being the lowest). Is it all subjective as to whether the exhalation pressure bothers me, as to use it or not?
I tested all 3 levels, and couldn't really tell a difference. Is there a disadvantage to using the ERP?

When I'm on the pressure of 9, on exhalation I feel like my ears have pressure. Is this bad? Does this mean I should use the ERP?

Thanks for your help!

Resmed S8 Autset Vantage
Original Swift nasal pillows
H4i humidifier

Going from 8 to 9 is a small step, and that is the best way to test adjustments to your therapy.

ResMed's EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief) reduces the machine's pressure by 1, 2, or 3 cm H20. It's
pretty much a trial-and-error process to find what's best for you. When I was using my S8 AutoSet II,
I found that EPR made very little difference to me, even at high pressures (19), so I left it off. Others
have had different experiences. And while EPR is not supposed to affect the therapy provided, some
have reported small AHI increases when EPR was enabled.

I'm thinking that your S8 AutoSet Vantage has data available via a SmartCard, like my AutoSet II did.
If it does, do you have the card reader and ResScan software? Together they would be very
helpful in monitoring your results.

Thanks JDM!
Initially I was going up .2 cm at a time, but that's sort of silly.....so I'm going up to 9. I haven't been using any ramp on the pressure of 8, but I think I'll use it to start with on the increased pressure. Hopefully I'll be asleep by the time the pressure goes up and I won't notice anything.
I'm hoping to get the card reader so I can check things out better.
Thanks for your help!
Oh......and sorry I got my letters mixed up! E-P-R.

Interesting.........last night I forgot to turn off the EPR setting that I was going to try out, and I didn't like it! It felt like, at the end of each exhalation, air was being forced into me before I even initiated a breath.
So, its no EPR setting for me.