Resmed 10 - inhale causes whooshing noise from air filter

[snortle]

Hi,

Whenever I inhale, my Resmed 10 produces a hissing noise, which originates from the air filter region. It's like a whooshing air sound.

When holding my head close to the machine, I can clearly hear the noise is coming from the air filter part, so it can't be the humidifier.

At night, I need to position my machine with the air filter turned away from me, to reduce the noise somewhat, but it's still audible, and the noise seems to be conducted through the tube to my mask, so there doesn't seem to be an easy fix.

 Is this normal?

[PeaceLoveAndPizza]

Yes, that is normal. Some are more sensitive to the sounds than others.

What mask are you using? Some are more conductive to the air flow sounds than others.

[sllama]

You did not disclose your mask, but assuming you went with ResMed AirFit F20 or F30 there is a quieter version of the ventilation elbow called "QuietAir" but some complain it does not push air as the older version. But if you are still sensitive to that kind of noise you might need to wear some earplugs to reduce the noise to yourself.

[snortle]

Hi,
I am using the f20 with the quiet air elbow, but the sound is still quite audible with it. I will need to look for good quality ear plugs.

[Phil487]

Both of mine do that (I have two Autoset 10s) especially at higher pressures. I use the f20 mask. I'd rather listen to that any night then have that fricken damn apnea return. It's the sound of my machine purring and taking care of me. Only 1 event last night, 0.1AHI, F*** apnea.

[sllama]

I am not allowed currently to post links but there are helpful threads to read on noise reduction. Kindly search on Google the name of a thread in the quotation marks to kind them in apneaboard forums

There's threads that might be helpful with recommendations on earplugs:
"Earplugs for side sleepers?"
"Earplugs safe to use with CPAP?"

And another thread recommending a white noise machine:
"What do you do for noise reduction from your CPAP?"

[super7pilot]

I'm one of those that are a bit more sensitive to noise. Which is odd as I have hearing loss tinnitus. But it is the "changing" sounds that get me. Not continuous sounds. So the inhale vs exhale noise of the vent port is what seems to keep me from falling asleep easily. I have visions of Darth Vader while laying in bed. And it's irritating.

You might be able to mask it by getting a bluetooth speaker and use a sound generator. I'm going to try using the sound generator through my hearing aids and see if that helps mask some of the Darth Vader noise.

[snortle]

Hi! Thanks for the responses, I will have a look at the provided resources!

[Big Guy]

My 10 AutoSet was doing that not all that long ago. I even posted about it, because it used to be dead silent. I did several things to alleviate it. 

I changed masks, made sure the filter was clean, and a couple of other things which I can't recall at the moment. 

Anyways, the noise came and went away. I washed and checked everything that I could. 

If I can remember anything else, I'll update this post.

[Lucid]

Hi, snortle

About three weeks ago I started noticing an annoying noise coming from my AirSense 11.  Basically, at the very end of each inhale, there was a soft but distinct sound between a whistle a whine.  I couldn't figure out what part of the machine it was coming from, because I need to wear the mask to make it happen, and then the noise itself, plus the sound of my breathing, masks any spatial differentiation when I put my head close to the machine.  I'm sure it was coming from the machine and not my mask, but that's all I'm sure of.

I got a loaner AirSense 11 from my DME and sent my machine to the DME for inspection.  BUT the first night I used the loaner -- IT MADE THE SAME NOISE.

I started checking all the connections, including an extension cord, and when I moved furniture around and worked my way back to the wall socket, I found that socket in which I had a plug-in surge protector into seemed not to be functioning correctly.  Power would go on and off if the cord was touched, and the socket seemed not to be holding the plug in place firmly.

So I transferred a larger surge protector with a long cord to my bedroom and plugged that into the other socket.  No more noise!

I haven't yet had a chance to get an electrician in to check and repair the socket.  It seems weird to me that this could cause that kind of noise, though: only at the end of the inhale.  I wonder if it's just a coincidence.  Nevertheless, the noise hasn't returned with the loaner.  The DME still has my machine, and I haven't heard if they found anything wrong with it.

Long story short, you might try changing your machine to a different electrical socket or surge protector and see if that helps.  Also, I know many Apnea Board members seem to understand electrical engineering and mechanics.  If you have any ideas for how electrical problems might cause such a noise, please let comment.