Does the Airsense 10 have an internal check valve?

[SleepyChief]

I'm wondering if anyone out there knows if the Airsense 10 has an internal check-valve/backflow-valve which prevents air/gas passing backwards and out through the fan assembly and air intake port?  I have a SoClean machine which is supposed to be a closed-loop O3 system.  This would not be the case, however, if the Airsense has no internal check/backflow valve.  I assume such a valve exists in the Airsense 10, but can find no information to confirm that assumption.

Thanks for any info!

[paulag1955]

It seems like you might have to contact the manufacturer for that kind of information.

[pholynyk]

It's an easy test... pop open the filter door on the left side and put a hand down near the intake. Then blow into your hose... you will feel the air come out the intake. Then hit the top button to shut down the machine...

NO, there is no backflow check valve.

[SleepyChief]

It's an easy test... pop open the filter door on the left side and put a hand down near the intake. Then blow into your hose... you will feel the air come out the intake. Then hit the top button to shut down the machine...

NO, there is no backflow check valve.

Thanks for testing that for me.   Thing is, I am still waiting until Monday when my machine arrives.  Is the result the same with the machine unplugged during your test?

[ajack]

good you haven't taken delivery of the soclean. I would cancel the soclean order and save wasting money, they do nothing worth doing, it really is snake oil. I'm sure there would be threads on it here.

[CB91710]

Ditto.

And the lack of a check valve means that the ozone is being fed back into the motor and electronics.
Ozone is highly corrosive.

The dirty (literally) little secret of the SoClean is that you STILL have to clean the parts. The SoClean doesn't even claim to do anything other than disinfect, and there is no reason that a person that is not immunocompromized would have any issues with the normal bacteria found in the machine.

The machine is drawing in ambient air and pushing it to your mask.
You are using this same air 24/7 whether on the machine or not.

Any bacteria in the mask came from you. Your system is already acclimated to it.
There SHOULD not be any bacteria in the humidifier. Your exhalations don't feed back into the tubing that far, all that's in there is distilled water.

[SleepyChief]

good you haven't taken delivery of the soclean. I would cancel the soclean order and save wasting money, they do nothing worth doing, it really is snake oil. I'm sure there would be threads on it here.

What I meant was that I hadn't taken delivery of my APAP machine.  I already have the SoClean.  Hmmm.  I'll have to consider this.  SoClean definitely gets mixed reviews.  Interestingly there seems to be no comment from CPAP manufacturers.

And the lack of a check valve means that the ozone is being fed back into the motor and electronics.
Ozone is highly corrosive.

I agree that ozone is highly corrosive and needs to be handled with respect.

I assume the APAP air path from intake to humidifier is sealed off from the rest of the APAP, otherwise pressure would be lost internal to the APAP which would be poor design.  Nevertheless, I'm thinking that if SoClean damages CPAP machines, the authorized resellers of CPAP machines who also sell SoClean would be getting a lot of push-back.  My greater concern is leakage of ozone into room air via the APAP intake port.  I have a query sent to the SoClean people to see what they have to say, and will also talk to my APAP supplier.

I'm not dismissing your concerns and, again, I appreciate the feedback from everyone.  Granted, some of my research is "after the fact", but as you may have guessed, I like to ponder, research (mainly before the fact!), and ask questions of everybody!

Cheers!

[LarryRapp]

Well, a valve isn't really necessary.  There is a feed into the humidifier which presumably neutralizes the pressure.  If you have a SoClean, they will give you a feed for your new machine for free.  Note: I am NOT boosting the machine.   The machine kills bacteria but does not "clean" the mask, etc.  Ozone is unstable - it disappears after a while and the machine locks the mask inside until that happens.

[Sleeprider]

I have never heard of a machine being damaged by the Soclean device; however it can apparently shorten the useful life of tubing and mask parts.  The more important issue is that the Soclean offers no benefits over ordinary soap and water cleaning of tubing and masks.  The claims of better health, illness prevention and even sanitation seem to be based on fairly thin evidence. Studies supporting these claims are not peer reviewed journal publications, but are laboratory results contracted to demonstrate disinfecting capabilities of the system under ideal conditions.

The important issues with Soclean are:

1. This device is not a substitute for proper cleaning. It will not remove skin oils, saliva, biofilms, dirt or other contaminants from your equipment.
   
2. Ozone is an effective disinfectant.  
   
3. Users on the forum have reported yellowing of mask cushions.
   
4. Ordinary cleaning using water and dishwashing detergent is an effective, inexpensive cleaner. 
   
5. Do people really get sick from using their own CPAP equipment?  Find proof that is not a SoClean claim.
   
6. it costs nearly $300.
   
7. If you have "germ phobia", it might make you feel better to know your equipment is sanitized, even if this is a placebo effect.
   

[SarcasticDave94]

The following is my hopefully educated opinion:

above postings indicate there's no CPAP machine check valve

SoClean has a check valve for purchase optionally

SoClean gives mixed user results, and seems to provide cleaning that may have negative consequences by its use

I have found effective cleaning of CPAP mask etc. by warm water and Dawn dish soap and air drying

Conclusion is I'd spend money more effectively on other things like a sleep pillow or other comfort items like coffee. No offense intended.