[Equipment] airsense 11 filters..again

[solveforz]

There are older threads on this subject, but I did not see my particular question answered: 
Resmed itself has two filters for the Airsense 11, a standard and a hypoallergenic. Closer examination shows that the stated feature of the hypoallergenic filter is not that it filters particles which are any smaller

• Designed to Prevent Allergy Flare-Ups for Those With Polyester Allergies
  The Hypoallergenic Filter for the AirSense 11 is made with blended synthetic fibers in a polypropylene carrier. 

QUESTION 1: So do these provide any better filtration for the increased cost, or merely about the same level but without polyester?

Personally, I have no issue with polyester. But I do want to keep the innards of my machine, and my sinuses, as clean as possible (or at least be able to believe that I am doing so.)

Question 2: By now there are a plethora of filters for this machine on Amazon and other sources at a variety of price points. Some are merely thicker. Does anyone have a lead on decent ones which provide ultra fine filtration (finer than the standard ones at least.) I could cut down airsense 10 filters, but it would be nice to have ones that are just the right size.

[Sleepster]

I doubt there's much difference in the filtration of either one. They are both pretty crappy. About like using a cheap furnace filter in your home. They don't filter out small particles. They are designed to protect the machine, not the user.

I wouldn't buy off-brand filters designed to filter out smaller particles. They might put too much strain on the blower motor and burn it out.

Your best bet for keeping your CPAP machine and your sinuses clean are to keep your bedroom clean. Especially around the CPAP machine itself. You can also flush out your sinuses with saline using the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit, available at any drug store.

[Lucid]

Hi, solveforz  The replacement filters my DME sends me are ResMed AirSense 11 Style Filters CF21111-1 from Sunset Healthcare Solutions.  They are thicker and appear more dense than the original ResMed filters.  

I can't decide if that's good or bad:  are they good for me because they remove finer particles, or hard on the machine, as Sleepster suggests?  I don't see them offered by the standard online CPAP suppliers.  

Amazon, of course, sells various off-brand filters.  Considering the array of counterfeit KN-95 masks that were sold on Amazon, I am wary.

[Big Guy]

As others have stated over time, the filters protect the machine itself, not the individual using the machine. 

If you are serious about filtering the air in the room, buy a dedicated whole room air filtering machine. There are many on the market that do a very good job.

[solveforz]

Thanks for the replies!
I did use an airsense 10 for about 8 years (waiting waiting waiting for the 11) and did not burn out the blower using fine filters. And they did get much dirtier than the standard ones, especially on trips to New York city, so it feels as if they were better. Though maybe not.

[Sleepster]

As others have stated over time, the filters protect the machine itself, not the individual using the machine. 

If you are serious about filtering the air in the room, buy a dedicated whole room air filtering machine. There are many on the market that do a very good job.

I agree. And an air filtering machine acts as a white noise source, too.

[bedtimebob]

Hi, I am new to cpap but I would just use the regular filters that resmed sells for the machine. yes it helps protect the machine but does it matter if it protects you. If you weren't using the machine you would be breathing in the air in your room anyways so I figure it doesn't matter how good the filter is. I know we all want to breath in fresh air.

[Sleepster]

If you weren't using the machine you would be breathing in the air in your room anyways so I figure it doesn't matter how good the filter is.

Unless you're interested in filtering that air. Then you would typically get a machine to filter the air in your bedroom, which also adds some white noise to drown out the sound from the CPAP machine. But if you had a better filter on your CPAP machine you would have your own personal supply of cleaner air. But I wouldn't trust any CPAP filter that isn't designed by the manufacturer because too much filtration would put an extra load on the blower motor and may cause it to burn out prematurely.

I like the fact that with a CPAP machine I'm breathing in a lot fewer dust mites. Without a CPAP machine you're breathing in air that's nearer your bedding, and the bedding is the source of the mites.