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+--- Thread: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? (/Thread-How-do-you-clean-the-interior-of-the-cpap-device)
How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Keljian - 11-26-2017
Hey all,
I've been thinking about it and wondering how you/one would clean the inside of the cpap machines near the impeller so that cruft/bugs doesn't accumulate? It doesn't seem easy without significant disassembly of the units beyond what a user would normally do
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - MitchS - 11-26-2017
I’ve never attempted to clean the inside of my cpap machine. I don’t think it is necessary as long as I keep the filters in good condition. I clean the interior of the humidifier and humidifier seals every once in a while.
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Keljian - 11-26-2017
well I suppose it depends on where the air flows to - if the air flows back through the impeller, then that could get quite "gungy"
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Reznik - 11-26-2017
(11-26-2017, 07:34 PM)Keljian Wrote: well I suppose it depends on where the air flows to - if the air flows back through the impeller, then that could get quite "gungy"
Based upon what I've read, the manufacturers assume that no expired air ever reaches inside the the machine. In reprocessing machines, they never recommend any kind of cleaning of the machine itself, except the outside case.
Between patients, Resmed recommends cleaning or replacing the mask (for obvious reasons), the tube (which definitely does get some of your expired air and which also gets a lot of moisture and may develop mold or mildew), the humidifier chamber (which probably doesn't get expired air but does get mold/mildew buildup since it is so humid), and the air outlet adapter (for the same reason as the humidifier). Note that Resmed makes two types of humidifier chambers. Once can be cleaned between patients and the other is not suitable for cleaning and should be replaced.
Based upon my observations of he machine, as long as the machine is on while you're breathing, your germs should never get all the way down the tube and into the machine.
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Koolbreeze - 11-26-2017
(11-26-2017, 08:14 PM)Reznik Wrote: Based upon my observations of he machine, as long as the machine is on while you're breathing, your germs should never get all the way down the tube and into the machine.
I wander if the same is true if you're using the auto-on mode, which means the first few breaths are with the machine off.
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Sleepster - 11-26-2017
(11-26-2017, 06:35 PM)Keljian Wrote: I've been thinking about it and wondering how you/one would clean the inside of the cpap machines near the impeller so that cruft/bugs doesn't accumulate? It doesn't seem easy without significant disassembly of the units beyond what a user would normally do
Taking it apart is the only way to do it, and many of us have done just that. Unfortunately the impeller on a ResMed is sealed so there is no way to clean the impeller blades. On the older Philips Respironics System One machines you can clean the impeller blades.
There is very recent thread here on this where a member posted a video of how to clean and re-assemble the older ResMed S9.
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Mosquitobait - 11-27-2017
You generally don't need to do this unless you are pretty confident that you have a bed bug or roach problem. To open the unit, you need a Torx screwdriver and a LOT of hand power. Once you have that tool, it's not a problem. I would then use alcohol on a lot of swabs to swab out the inside and REPLACE the foam insert.
RE: How do you clean the interior of the cpap device? - Walla Walla - 11-27-2017
Bed Bugs and Roach problems? At that point I'd toss the machine and hire a good exterminator.
