Should my mask be venting?

LSAT wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 11:20 am

This is what it should look like..lots of vent holes
.F20.jpg

That's what the old version looks like. The new version adds a diffuser on top of that. The holes are still there, and the diffuser doesn't block them. It just hides them. The gap under the ring becomes the exhaust vent. It still flows great.

However, there is some sort of fibrous mesh under the diffuser cap. When I wash the elbow (rarely) it can feel clogged for a moment until the air blows out the water. I suppose it could get clogged up with soap if not fully rinsed.

Julie wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:13 am

PS - the vent vents CO2, not plain 'air'.

The air being vented is very close in composition to room air. Vented air has a slightly higher CO2/O2 ratio.

Julie wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:13 am

PS - the vent vents CO2, not plain 'air'.

Most of what comes out of the vent is the room air being pushed from the cpap.

Well then I must have imagined the innumerable posts in the past saying the vents are for CO2.

Julie wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:22 pm

Well then I must have imagined the innumerable posts in the past saying the vents are for CO2.

Vents are for CO2 venting. But, that's not what you said. You said, "the vent vents CO2, not plain 'air'.", and like others have said, a lot of plain air is also vented with the vent.

Nobody was correcting you on the CO2 part, you were being corrected on the not plain 'air'.

The cover over the vent was placed there in response to user complaining about the air blowing on their bed partner or hitting part of the bedding and bouncing back into the user's face. If you place your hand on the elbow, you can feel the temperature difference between inhaling (cooler) and exhaling (warmer).

There is a fine line between disturbing people with a strong breeze and
reducing the breeze to the point it causes anxiety.
At no point is safety compromised by the designers.
Keeping the mask clean (with water and cleanser) is enough.

Julie wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 3:22 pm

Well then I must have imagined the innumerable posts in the past saying the vents are for CO2.

The vents flush out your expired CO2, with the flood (20-50 liters per minute) of plain air.

Your expired CO2 is a small percentage of the air flushed out.

So, the vents are for CO2, but your wording made it sound like the only thing that is vented is CO2, and that is incorrect.

If you are really worried about it, the old elbow from your old mask will fit on the new mask. If you can't find it, send me a PM and I will send you one. I have a couple of the old ones. I purchased the new ones to go on our masks.

Oh gee... I didn't mean there was no air, only that the idea was for CO2 to vent... maybe I assumed others would understand, never mind.

Julie wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:13 am

Maybe ask your dealer if your particular mask is defective somehow.

PS - the vent vents CO2, and plain 'air'.

Change one word and all is forgiven.

You were right Julie, just not perfect.
Who is?

JPB

It does vent. If you try to use your pointer finger and thumb (like making the OK sign) and try to close off the gap below the ring of plastic, you will then hear the familiar hiss of venting air.
There is a mesh of some fiber under that ring that helps diffuse the air making it truly the quietest and most unobstrusive venting mask I have ever experienced. To the point that yes at one point I felt perhaps there was no venting and got a bit worried as well.

I had two and sacrificed one to satisfy my curiousity by dismantling it. Without the mesh in place, it is VERY loud... to the point where it is no longer usable for me.

If you ever wash it, I suggest using compressed air to blow out water from the holes and gap to ensure proper functioning.

Thanks for all the replies. I think I understand the thing I don’t like is the diffuser. I’ll just ask my supplier for an elbow without a diffuser. (Is that the correct terminology?)

Rainmom17 wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 22, 2019 9:37 pm

the thing I don’t like is the diffuser.

Your husband likes the diffuser, though.

Honestly, he’s just so happy to not hear me snoring any more, he doesn’t care what the cpap does!