SoClean & other CPAP cleaning machines

[CB91710]

I used an Ozone air "purifier" in my living room for some time.
One thing that I noticed was when we returned from vacation, we would notice odors (we had cats) that we would not normally notice.
I'm sure part of this was due to scent fatigue (the thing that makes it difficult to tell if you have bad breath or body odor), but in reading on the units, some claim that the ozone in the air actually desensitizes our sense of smell... this being how a single unit with a 6" fan can "purify" the air in a 2000 square foot home without any circulation assistance to exchange the air between rooms.

Ultimately, the white powdery deposits collected on the fan to the point that it no longer worked. I could have taken the unit apart and cleaned it, but instead I tossed it.

[mhardin913]

My own related question hasn't been answered:

Does the SoClean2 machine cause any danger to my health? When I put on the mask, I smell a residual odor I assume is ozone.

[Melman]

Ozone can be harmful.  it also has a half life of about 30min and breaks down to oxygen so the risk is time dependent. The only way to answer you question is to know the concentration of ozone you are inhaling and if it is ozone. We have no way to know either.

Hear is EPA information on the health risks: https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution/heal...-pollution

[mhardin913]

If ozone has a half life of 30 minutes, then the residual smell on my mask cannot be ozone. I wonder what it is.

The SoClean machine operates when I am not using my BiPAP or humidifier, so I assume I must not be breathing any ozone.

I'm hoping it isn't otherwise harmful.

[Melman]

Ozone is a strong oxidizer. That's how it kills bacteria. It is not, however, a cleaner. You may be smelling some uncleaned residue that has been partially oxidized but not removed. Although you have to dig for it, So Clean concedes it is not a cleaner and recommends regular washing of your equipment in the FAQs on their website.

[PaytonA]

The length of time for ozone to decay into molecular oxygen at sea level is very short so there is very little chance of ozone causing any problem to your health if you provide some time between ozone treatment and use.

Best Regards,

PaytonA

[mhardin913]

Melman and PaytonA,

Thank you for your kindness and prompt responses.

[Gary1of2]

I been using it for e months. It dose not clea oils off the equipment but it sanitizes it. I have not seen or had any troubles with mask, hose , or machine. My mask has a slight yellowing only where it touchs my skin. I put a napkin under my mask by my mouth to asord drool. The area where the mask touches the skin is the only area that is yellowing.

[coastside]

SoClean is questionable as to its true effectiveness. I also question its ability to perform beyond about 12-18 months. It will fail within that time frame! I know it WILL because it is obviously using an Ozone gas generator. It is producing "activated oxygen" better known as Ozone (O3), which is highly corrosive and a powerful oxidizer and the devices used to produce it are susceptible to failure, most lasting no more than 12-18 months. SO this means the $300 investment will NOT be a one time purchase. Their website makes no mention of replacement parts involving the O3 generator or even a service cost to repair it. With only a 1 year warranty, I am skeptical about its longevity. I am very familiar with the different types of ozone generators in the industry as it is part of the industry I have worked in for over 30 years and I know that NONE of them claim ANY longevity beyond 12-18 months of usefulness without replacing the key components involved in the production of ozone. I also seriously question the ability to completely sanitize all surfaces, since the unit does NOT wash ANYTHING! So any saliva, mucous, etc. is going to remain in place effectively protecting any buried bacteria from being exposed to the ozone. So I think washing is a step that simply must be done regardless. There is also a another nasty side affect of exposing the air we breathe to concentrated O3. Since we do not breather pure oxygen and a major portion of the air contains nitrogen, this gas when exposed to Ozone converts to nitric acid, which shows up as a nasty yellow sticky liquid residue. This residue will accumulate in the tubing and other components. While this may not be a problem for components that get replaced regularly, the bit and pieces that do not will start to accumulate this residue and this will definitely pose a health risk in the long term. I have seen this first hand working with ozone generators use around water systems and the tubing becomes stained yellow, even brown and must be replaced 1-2 times a year. the residue cannot be effectively cleaned off and handling nitric acid is highly acidic and can cause irritation to sensitive skin and mucous membrane. So unless you are replacing your mask and tubing regularly, I think this product will introduce more problems than solutions in the long term.

[nydiver]

So I had a nasty discovery yesterday. For the summer I didn't use the humidifier so I got the delete / side cover for $15 and ran with it. Made the unit smaller, quieter, and I was happy. I clean my unit every 2 or 3 days with my SoClean, easy and convenient. Yesterday morning I awoke to a sore throat and a nasty taste in my mouth. I tore the setup down and found "dirt" contaminating the mask and hose. I checked the filter, its clean. I pull the side cover and look into the unit its clean too, so I look at the side cover and its got the dirt on / in it. I carefully pop the latches and take the side cover apart and there it is, a piece of foam inside the side cover and its all deteriorated.

Evidently Ozone + foam noise suppressor = Uh Oh. I removed the foam and cleaned everything up, the setup is now just slightly louder to my untrained ear. So what I'm getting at is if you want to use the side cover and the SoClean, take the side cover apart and remove the foam so you don't inhale some of it like I did.