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[CPAP] Mold Inside CPAP Machine - Printable Version

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Mold Inside CPAP Machine - jimc77 - 05-02-2020

Back in 2015 I was on a business trip and was staying in a Courtyard Marriott hotel. The first night I was there I noticed a very slight mold odor. The second night, the odor was much more pronounced, but I thought my CPAP filter would sufficiently clean the air. Wrong. I checked out of the hotel and got another one with clean air. I had to stay two more nights before heading back home. The mold odor was still in my CPAP machine. While I was home over the weekend, I looked up on YouTube how to dismantle my ResMed S9 Elite and give it a thorough deep cleaning. I'm glad I looked it up as I would have certainly broken parts to remove them without the YouTube instructions. I was surprised to see that there were several, thick pieces of foam inside the machine's air paths. These foam pieces had the horrible mold odor in them. I washed them with hot water and Dawn dish washing liquid, allowed them to dry, then put them back into the machine. I was quite pleased that this rid my machine of the mold odor.

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - kwhenrykerr - 05-04-2020

Good Work Sir

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - Big Guy - 05-04-2020

CPAP machine air filters don't remove odors. All they do, is insure that dust bunnies, insects, lint, hair, pet dander, pieces of paper (tissues), and other assorted material stay out. 

They don't remove allergens either.  Bigwink

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - scalemaster34 - 05-05-2020

Just replaced my old REMPlus C-Flex.... I did like the filters on it much better than the "one" on the ResMed AirSense 10.

But when traveling I always got weird smells... so just was in the habit of replacing the "white" filter and washing the foam filter (or replacing) every time I traveled. But after 13,000 hrs I probable should have taken it apart and cleaned the insides as well.

Might have to look into that in the future when traveling... or maybe as a once a year maintenance?

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - hegel - 05-05-2020

I got a deal on the new Respify ozone cleaning unit. (pitchforks and stakes start rattling.) This doesn't run through your machine AT ALL. You put the small unit with your tubing and humidifier tray in a bag that's provided. (You can put your mask in too but I don't; I hand wash that.) Then you put the bag on the porch or in your bathroom or garage and let it run for 90 minutes. Done.

However I just put my machine in the bag to be disinfected. I think I'll do this every two weeks or so. Hopefullly this will keep any mold from growing.

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - SarcasticDave94 - 05-05-2020

The filters on these CPAPs leave a bit to be desired it seems. The purpose is to filter items that would damage the machine only. Getting mold in the machine sounds pretty gross.

Jokingly, I say add one of these instead of factory:
[Image: taCbskI.png]

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - jimc77 - 05-05-2020

I was really surprised to see all of the foam inside the S9 machine. I'm thinking this foam serves the purpose of noise suppression of rushing air inside the machine. Certainly ResMed, or any other manufacturer, doesn't really want customers opening up their machines for fear that people may break parts of the machine or not reassemble it correctly, rendering a medical device less than effective or worse. The liability could be challenging to prove whether there was a manufacturing defect or customer error.

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - sharona73 - 09-10-2021

(05-02-2020, 05:39 PM)jimc77 Wrote: Back in 2015 I was on a business trip and was staying in a Courtyard Marriott hotel. The first night I was there I noticed a very slight mold odor. The second night, the odor was much more pronounced, but I thought my CPAP filter would sufficiently clean the air. Wrong. I checked out of the hotel and got another one with clean air. I had to stay two more nights before heading back home. The mold odor was still in my CPAP machine. While I was home over the weekend, I looked up on YouTube how to dismantle my ResMed S9 Elite and give it a thorough deep cleaning. I'm glad I looked it up as I would have certainly broken parts to remove them without the YouTube instructions. I was surprised to see that there were several, thick pieces of foam inside the machine's air paths. These foam pieces had the horrible mold odor in them. I washed them with hot water and Dawn dish washing liquid, allowed them to dry, then put them back into the machine. I was quite pleased that this rid my machine of the mold odor.
What kind of smell did this mold give off? I’ve noticed a fume like Oder from mine for a few days lately. Not sure if just me or if machine needs to be serviced. I own a ResMed airsense 10 for her.

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - cathyf - 09-10-2021

Kinda like this shot down where the humidifier snaps into a 7-yr-old AirSense 10?
[attachment=35598]

RE: Mold Inside CPAP Machine - sweetnothings - 09-10-2021

The innards of the CPAP really do trap odors for days. I took mine on a trip and stayed at a hotel for a single night. The room didn't smell bad but it had a distinct smell. For most of the next week after I got back home, putting on the mask at night was like stepping back in that hotel room.