ResMed Airfit P10 Vent - Performance over Time

[GrantT]

Hey all,

Anyone out there notice their Airfit P10 vents not allowing enough airflow. Last while I was starting to get a suffocating feeling and I have finally ordered a new mask - the air leaving the vents on the new mask is much higher volume than the old one and I feel much more refreshed with it. I've cleaned the old one repeatedly and can't get it to the original level.

I guess bottom line..how often should they be replaced?

[Wulfman...]

Hey all,

Anyone out there notice their Airfit P10 vents not allowing enough airflow. Last while I was starting to get a suffocating feeling and I have finally ordered a new mask - the air leaving the vents on the new mask is much higher volume than the old one and I feel much more refreshed with it. I've cleaned the old one repeatedly and can't get it to the original level.

I guess bottom line..how often should they be replaced?

Maybe you need to check the machine output with a manometer (DMEs have them and should do it for free).

Are you monitoring your therapy with software? Maybe there's something else going on. What pressure setting is the machine at when you get that feeling. Possibly your minimum setting is too low.
I noticed you have an APAP in your profile. If you're using a range of pressures, it's quite possible that the pressures are different at the times you've noticed a difference in the air flow.


Den

.

[Guest1]

do you wash your p10 frame? With soap? With a soft toothbrush?

If not, then start doing it once a week.

Also, if you have a Philips machine, you can use Sleepyhead software to see total leak rate. This should tell you if it is venting enough.

If you have Resmed , then you can't see total leak rate in sleepyhead. So don't be concerned if leak rate is showing zero on the graph.

[Slartybartfast]

Yup, I noticed the same thing. While wearing my P10 it began to feel like I was re-breathing my exhaled breath. I even recall having a few strangling/drowning/buried alive (take your pick) dreams like I had before I was diagnosed with OSA. I ckecked the vents and couldn't feel any air escaping. They were almost totally clogged. Took the mask apart and washed the vents with a toothbrush and water/dishwashing detergent. After rinsing, the airflow is better, but not what it once was. I bought another P10 a few months ago to keep at our house in Washington, and it passes much more air. I haven't looked up the specs on the mask, but even when new, I doubt it passes as much air as do similar nasal pillows masks.

I think the diffused exhaust of the P10 is a very good feature. It certainly makes for a quiet night, and no complaints of a blast of cold air in the face when my wife and I are facing each other in bed. But because of the vent clogging issue I won't buy another one. Back to my Opus 360, which is now 5 years old, or my 4 year old Swift FX. Can't decide.

[chunkyfrog]

I guess it's time to break out the Water Pik and give it a shot on one of my old masks.

[Slartybartfast]

Do they still make those things? That would be perfect for cleaning it. I've been looking for an excuse to pick up a small ultrasonic cleaner http://www.ebay.com/bhp/ultrasonic-cleaner for cleaning small parts. I've also entertained the thought of poking a few small holes in the filter mesh with a small drill bit. But that would sort of defeat the mask's finest feature.

[palerider]

I haven't looked up the specs on the mask, but even when new, I doubt it passes as much air as do similar nasal pillows masks.

I have, it's in line with other masks, surprisingly.

[MarylandCPAPer]

If you are talking about the exhalation vent on the Airfit P10, you feel much less airflow from that exhalation vent than the exhalation vent on all of the other masks I've tried. That is one of the features that I think is very desirable about the P10, especially if your bed partner does not like air blowing on them if they get close to you.

[palerider]

From what people have posted here, it appears that cleaning the exhalation vent on the P10 makes it work LESS, not better. People have said to clean it with a small brush, maybe a toothbrush.

PLEASE stop posting your ignorance here.

to the rest of you, follow the manufacturers recommendations for cleaning the mesh on the p10, it can get clogged, and cleaning it restores the functionality... as mentioned above, and elsewhere.

[Pugsy]

I am well over a year on the current mask frame where the vent holes are...no problems at all. I wash it maybe every couple of months if I think about it. Never do anything to the holes at all..no brush..no nothing but run some hot water over it.
Never get any condensation in it (I use a heated hose) and never had the holes appear to be blocking air flow or restricting air flow and never felt like I was rebreathing yucky air at all and my pressure starts out the night at a modest 6.6/9.6 while awake. Never had a need to do anything to the holes except enjoy the lack of air bouncing back on me or my husband.

[MarylandCPAPer]

From what people have posted here, it appears that cleaning the exhalation vent on the P10 makes it work LESS, not better. People have said to clean it with a small brush, maybe a toothbrush.

PLEASE stop posting your ignorance here.

to the rest of you, follow the manufacturers recommendations for cleaning the mesh on the p10, it can get clogged, and cleaning it restores the functionality... as mentioned above, and elsewhere.

Since i follow threads about the mask I have, I have seen various people note that their exhalation ports seem to function worse after cleaning. I agree with following the manufacturer's recommendations. However, they may be different than the cleaning for other masks, and using an improper cleaning technique may cause the exhalation vents to wear out or work less efficiently over time, based on the reports of other people who have posted here. YMMV.

[Slartybartfast]

It seems that not everyone's mask is afflicted with the problem. I wonder whether we're seeing the effect of differences in manufacturing tolerances. The ResMed site indicates that airflow is about 31 liters/minute at 10" water pressure. Then it says something about Your Mileage May Vary because of manufacturing variances. When you consider what it takes to mold a vent with little tiny holes in it consistently, I'd expect there would be some issues.

The other thing is a soft bristle brush might be sweeping crud into the holes as much as sweeping it out. That's why I wish I had an ultrasonic cleaner. No bristles. Just pressure pulses in an incompressible fluid.

[MarylandCPAPer]

Regarding some of the cleaning problems experienced with the P10 vents:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=107023&p=1019994&hi ... t#p1019994

Cleaning instructions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MylY6a6KXMY

[Stormynights]

I put mine in a cup with an Efferdent tablet. It worked for me.

[Last Dodo]

I know it's an old thread but since I have the same mask and the same issue with it not letting the exhaled air out very well: I took a needle and punched a dozen holes in each side of the mesh. The mask works noticeable better that way.
No more suffocation feeling at night. It's my 3rd mask with the same issue and this solution worked for all of them.