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My machine started having an odor!
#1
My machine started having an odor!
Hi guys.

I've been using my own S9 for almost a month now. My humidifier arrived about two weeks ago. I haven't received my ClimateLine hose yet.

The last 4 days I've gotten lazy and haven't replaced the water in the humidifier tub. And the last couple of nights a strong annoying plasticky-oily smell started coming out when I switched on the machine.

At first I thought it might have been the humidifier. I removed, emptied and refilled the tank with fresh water and I washed the mask. The smell was still there.

Then I detached the humidifier from the main unit. I switched on the machine without connecting the hose and sniffed the output. The smell was coming from the inside of the machine.

Then I let my mother smell it and she said it's normal and that her machine smells funny as well.

Does anybody know what's causing this smell and why it has become so strong after 200 hours of use?
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#2
RE: My machine started having an odor!
(11-25-2013, 11:26 AM)DOOM_NX Wrote: The last 4 days I've gotten lazy and haven't replaced the water in the humidifier tub. And the last couple of nights a strong annoying plasticky-oily smell started coming out when I switched on the machine.
Its common problem when the humidifier run with no water in the tank. Get yourself in a good habit of dumping the water, clean/dry and refiling before bedtime and for extra measure, remove the hose and hang to dry

Now you can wash the hose, mask and water tank and even soak the tank in a solution of water and vinegar
Change the air filter and run the machine without the humidifier in a clean dry place for some time to remove any bad smell sill lingering in the machine. Wipe surfaces in clean damp cloth and don,t forget to remove and wash the lid seal and wipe air filter outlet and put a new filter as well
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#3
RE: My machine started having an odor!
Well, the humidifier certainly didn't run without any water. I emptied half a cup in the morning. It just wasn't full.

Anyway, I washed everything with warm water and soap, except for the main unit and humidifier case. Then I let the machine run outdoors for about an hour after placing a cotton swab soaked in vinegar in front of the filter. It removed the awful odor. I can still smell some vinegar, but it doesn't bother me nearly as much as the other smell did. I just hope the bad odor doesn't return...

I'll let you know when I wake up. Gn Smile
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#4
My machine started having an odor!
Be sure there's nothing smelly near the air inlet.

Be careful with the vinegar. Vinegar fumes are corrosive, and there are some delicate sensors inside the CPAP machine.

See if there's any smell in just the mask with no hose. Then hook up the hose, etc.

Disassemble the mask and clean carefully. I dishwash the plastic parts on mine. I hook the hose up to the kitchen faucet and run hot water through it for a while.

This is another reason it's good to have spare water tanks, hoses, and masks. You can swap them out, figure out what smells, clean them, and let the stinky ones air out for a while.
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software here.
Useful links.
Click here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
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#5
RE: My machine started having an odor!
(11-25-2013, 04:38 PM)DOOM_NX Wrote: I can still smell some vinegar, but it doesn't bother me nearly as much as the other smell did. I just hope the bad odor doesn't return...

I'll let you know when I wake up. Gn Smile
Apology-2 should added ... wash the tank with soap and rinse with fresh fresh water after the vinegar bath
[ratio: 1 part vinegar to 10 parts of water]
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#6
RE: My machine started having an odor!
Good morning (or maybe evening for you)!

archangle: The mask was fine, it didn't smell. The humidifier tank was fine, too. I only detected a slight odor in the hose and a very strong one coming right out of the compressor outlet.

The good news is that the vinegar fumes successfully neutralized all odors. And now I can't even smell the vinegar itself, as well. Finally, I can enjoy my machine again Smile

I just hope I haven't corroded the sh*t out of it...
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