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I have two 20" x 20" MERV 12 air filters running, and at times 3M 18" x 20" filtration running when a window heat pump/ AC is running. Those discolor rapidly showing their particulate capture. I could run 10 of them and the particulates will not be gone. While on my CPAP with a proper filter, I do not get my usual allergy symptoms that can cause no air to pass through my nose.
I have had some tell me my CPAP filter is for machines' protection only. I wonder where that misconception originated.
Your filter brand description includes, "KEEP THE AIR CLEAN - This CPAP filter can easily filter out dust and other particulate matter in the air, keeping you away from the polluted air and making your life healthier and more secure."
You said your filters show evidence of capturing something from room air. That to me is microscopic particulates like pollen/dust/mold spores. The filters in question I claim to be defective show no signs of particulate capture. I think your filters do more than protect the workings of the machine from hair and dust bunnies.
ResMed brand makes standard filters and hypoallergenic filters. Surely the hypoallergenic ones are evidence that filters are not just to protect the machine from hair and dust bunnies. They are to protect the user whose room air will have particulates even with MERV 12+ and/or a HEPA filter running. Unfortunately, ResMed does not give specifications of their filters' particulate removal capabilities, not even for the so-called hypoallergenic type.
I am very allergic to airborne particulates that in my area are continuously present at a high level. I am just now after 18 years of CPAP use discovering that filters can be defective and possibly dangerous. I am attempting to bring the topic to public attention for consideration.
From experience, with my HVAC units, I know that filters have various levels of filtration capabilities and are given a MERV rating to express such. Some filters are rated as being a HEPA filter which is associated with the highest level of particulate removal. Some devices will be damaged if the MERV is too high due to airflow restrictions. I do not expect a CPAP filter to be MERV 12 (removes microfine particles) or HEPA but what good does a filter do if, after a month of use, it shows no sign of filtering by discoloration? The second issue is the stability of a filter's fibers. Can they come loose, pass through the machine, and be inhaled?
Thank you! I see the fiber in these filters is cotton as opposed to polyester. If fibers were to escape to the machine I would rather them be cotton. Unfortunately, the filters are currently not available. The issue of potentially dangerous air filters is something I consider very important and rarely addressed.
It would put me at ease to find a non-fiber filter of any sort. Does this forum allow you to tell me how to find those filters?
I have a growing concern for loose fibers on CPAP filters. A high-priced brand (not ResMed) I received this week has visible fibers protruding from its edges. A slight flick of the finger sends fibers flying off the filter. I am afraid I have fibers passing through my machine. I would like the makers of CPAP filters to test for loose fibers. These fibers are very small. Some can be seen without magnification others need magnification.
I am very concerned about defective CPAP filters. I receive generic filters for my ResMed CPAP machines from my current DME. They are defective due to loose fibers and not fitting snugly to the filter tray on the filter door. They do not discolor after a month of use as do OEM ResMed filters I've used in the past. I have used them for a year before realizing by close inspection they have exposed fibers that easily come loose. They are difficult to install due to being a bit smaller than the tray in the filter door. Without a snug fit, they move as the door is closed.
Looking at a big online sales site I see there are several manufacturers of filters other than the ResMed brand that are up to 90% less in cost. They have no specifications for filtration effectiveness. I am suspicious they are not made to any proper standard.
I have appealed to my DME to send me ResMed filters, not the generic ones I have been shipped. I am waiting for an answer.
Has anyone here had a similar experience with defective filters?
Thanks.
I have reported the noxious odor experience I had with the ResMed AirSense 11 to MedWatch.
I have not had the unit in my possession in about a year. I cannot find the serial number if I don't have the unit. Filing a complaint about an experience with a product you once owned and was replaced under warranty will not carry much weight. I do not know where the machine was made. Those who have had a bad experience with the AirSense 11 are former owners of the offending product since they mostly got a replacement quickly. The DMEs should be filing information about returns and the defect problem but of course, they do not want to make waves with ResMed.
One person had the gas analyzed and submitted the findings of toxicity to the FDA. That is a valid complaint with substance.
Reading more about the toxic smell/taste the Airsense 11 can produce, it seems it is present on only some machines or some do not mind the smell. I have heard of returns and returning Airsense 10 but I've not heard of a recall. Many reasons have been given as to what may cause a smell of CPAP air other than the machine itself. None of the suggestions apply to my AirSense 11. The smell came from the inner workings of the device. The smell is similar to substandard-grade plastic that continually emits an offensive chemical odor. I know my AirSense 11 emitted an offensive chemical stink making it unusable. The AirSense 10, like my last one, does not emit the smell. What I do not know is if every AirSense 11 produces the smell or just a few, or if the problem has been addressed. I have not had the AirSense 11 for a year so I am not able to give a serial number to the FDA. How can a complaint be filed for a device that was replaced as most all have done to solve their problem? Complain about a product that was replaced without question as per the policy of DMEs?
