Apparently a popular supplier uses Ozone & UV-C light to clean their used machines

[Marlow]

Hi everyone. I was reading the FAQ on Supplier #2's website and it says:

"By the time we are finished cleaning the used cpap or used bipap machines we offer, they are as clean as if they just left the manufacturer. The inside of the machines are cleaned with a combination of Ozone, and UV-C light; The same sterilizing techniques used for surgical equipment, and in dentist offices around the country. Externally, we clean the devices with a biodegradable solution that is used in hospitals across the country to provide a completely sanitized surface. We pride ourselves on providing a clean, quality used cpap/bipap machine."

I have read elsewhere on Apnea Board that ozone & UV light should not be used for cleaning machines. Does this mean people should not buy used machines from Supplier #2?

[Nightynite]

There used machines and they should be cleaned. I would think those methods used once would be fine.

[staceyburke]

It is repeated use causes a problem. Hv light does not hurt the machine it can damage masks and tubes with repeated use.

[DaveL]

Ontario has 74 School Boards. I work for one of them. We have 150,000 students and staff to teach and serve them. We've installed many UV filters. Many, many of them. I wish I had thought it through and bought stocks in the UV light manufacturers....opportunity lost.

Point is I bet that many are using it as a cheap method of fixing contamination problems.

Glad I didn't buy a Respironics machine a year ago.

[GWild]

Surgical sterilization that is equipment safe (generally) is vaporous Hydrogen Peroxide. Blowing ozone down the tubes and innards of equipment seems a bit barbaric. And how do you get a UV lamps down inside something?

That said - I always wondered how those CPAP cleaning machines worked. I suspect simple ozone. But haven't read the any factual method is use.

[DoubtFire61]

UV-A/B/C does not produce ozone. UV-V does.  UV-V tubes are commonly used as an ozone generator for hot-tubs.

As for using Ozone. I've used it for decades for various applications.