Resmed Airsense 10 humidifier seal

[BradleyBuck1984]

Hello, I'm having a recurring problem where I'll use my CPAP effectively for a couple of months, but eventually it always gets to the point where, although the ahi is still under 1, I don't feel as if I'm getting enough pressure. Usually, when everything is working properly, I inhale and the machine forces the air in without much work on my part. When I exhale I feel resistance but if I relax it all works fine. I think this is all normal, but eventually I lose that sense of resistance on exhale and I actually have to work to inhale rather than just let the machine do it. It makes it difficult to fall asleep, and although the ahi doesn't really change I wake up more and feel worse in the morning. I've noticed that replacing the humidifier tank solves this problem, but the NHS insists that they should last at least a year. I'm not able to get past 3 months before I have this issue. I wash the tank and seal daily, as instructed and dry them in front of a fan. Same goes for my mask. (FYI, my minimum pressure is 11.6) I'm gathering that the silicone is degrading and not making as good a seal, but I'm not sure how to avoid this. Can I purchase a replacement gasket? Is there a way to improve the seal after the silicone has begun to degrade? Thanks for your help.

[ChicagoGranny]

I wash the tank and seal daily, as instructed and dry them in front of a fan. Same goes for my mask. (FYI, my minimum pressure is 11.6)

Besides the "instructions" are there any other reasons you are washing and drying the humidifier tank daily? Very few of us do this. When I use a humidifier, I just dump the water in the morning and replace it at bedtime. I wonder if your daily removing, washing, drying and replacing of the tank is causing abnormal wear.

Also, what is your leak level value on the nights you have the problem?

[LSAT]

I have used 3 different Resmed machines in the 13 years I have been on CPAP. I have never replaced a water tub or the tub seal in that time. I use distilled water and wash my water tub about once a year. That's not you problem unless you are damaging the seal by pulling it out and washing it so often. It takes a long time to degrade the seals.

[BradleyBuck1984]

Besides the "instructions" are there any other reasons you are washing and drying the humidifier tank daily? Very few of us do this. When I use a humidifier, I just dump the water in the morning and replace it at bedtime. I wonder if your daily removing, washing, drying and replacing of the tank is causing abnormal wear.

Also, what is your leak level value on the nights you have the problem?

It's only because the sleep tech instructed me to wash it daily. I actually used to wash it weekly, but would still remove the gasket for drying. I'm not sure about the leak level. The machine gives a green happy face in the morning, so there shouldn't be a large leak.

[BradleyBuck1984]

I have used 3 different Resmed machines in the 13 years I have been on CPAP. I have never replaced a water tub or the tub seal in that time. I use distilled water and wash my water tub about once a year. That's not you problem unless you are damaging the seal by pulling it out and washing it so often. It takes a long time to degrade the seals.

Would using regular tap water cause the silicone to degrade? I live in the UK, and distilled water isn't common here.

[Respirator99]

Would using regular tap water cause the silicone to degrade? I live in the UK, and distilled water isn't common here.

Unless your tap water is unusually high in minerals (eg calcium) there should be no problem. Even so, daily washing of the tank is unrealistic and probably doing more harm than good. These tanks should last a very long time - the one on my S9 was still like new after 7 years, with occasional washing only.

If your machine is giving you a green smiley face, that's an indication that your leaks are not very excessive - it's not an indication that there are no leaks. I'd suggest you download and install Oscar, which is free software that will give you (and us, if you choose to share) a much more detailed look at what's going on. https://www.sleepfiles.com/OSCAR/

[BradleyBuck1984]

I've installed OSCAR and looked at the data. Aside from last night, I see few leaks. Last night I used a new hose and cushion (brevida) and for the last two nights I've been using my wife's tank (which she hasn't been using) and I noticed a clear improvement with her tank and moreso with the new hose and cushion, but the leak data shows no real difference.

[Dog Slobber]

I hate to be the guy that suggests, this but there may not be a problem at all, or a problem with your tank.

We are not really very good at judging pressures, especially after we've become desensitised to it.. Case in point when we start the CPAP as night we feel the pressure, but shortly there after, we don't feel it at all. I have nights where I feel the pressure more, and other nights where there is just no resistance (I actually don't like this feel at all). But I don't attribute the feeling to a difference in behaviour of the machine. Chances are if there was a difference, it would show up in the OSCAR graphs. Pressure trace, Mask Pressure Trace, Leak lines.

The other thing, you may have created a false association of this feeling with an aging tank. We are pattern recognising creatures, and often when we don't see patterns, we create them.

But some things to try:

• In OSCAR make a note when you change tanks, compare. The traces with a well-behaved tank and non-behaving tank.
• Swap tank parts with your wife's tank. Swap just the seal, just the top, just the bottom. Which part swap exhibits the problem.
• Swap devices with your wife, does the problem move with the device?
• On the bottom of misbehaving tank, with a sharpie, mark a little x, where it's not easy to see. Have your wife mix them up so you don't know which is the misbehaving one. Use it. Did you experience the problem? check if it's the x-marked tank? Do this for a few nights, You should be able to predict 100% of the time which tank has the mark.

[chunkyfrog]

Your sleep tech is full of feces. (Faeces--your spelling)
Daily cleaning WEARS STUFF OUT
Stop taking everything apart--putting something back cockeyed is way too easy.
That itself will damage parts, so they may never reassemble properly again.
Check the seal for creases where they should not be.
Demand a replacement seal if that is the case.
Blame the stupid sleep tech if anyone asks what happened.

[palerider]

. The machine gives a green happy face in the morning, so there shouldn't be a large leak.

You get a green face if you've spent less than 30% of the night with a large leak. To know what's actually happening, you need to use Oscar.

[palerider]

Would using regular tap water cause the silicone to degrade? I live in the UK, and distilled water isn't common here.

No, it won't harm the silicone at all, that's why your manual doesn't specify distilled water

[BradleyBuck1984]

Your sleep tech is full of feces. (Faeces--your spelling)
Daily cleaning WEARS STUFF OUT
Stop taking everything apart--putting something back cockeyed is way too easy.
That itself will damage parts, so they may never reassemble properly again.
Check the seal for creases where they should not be.
Demand a replacement seal if that is the case.
Blame the stupid sleep tech if anyone asks what happened.

Maybe that's it. I haven't always washed the tank daily, but I typically remove the gasket for drying. I suppose the repeated removal could worsen the seal. Since I've started washing daily, it definitely seems worse. Do you think the nasal pillows and parts which have direct contact with the face need washed daily? I assumed the skin oils would degrade the silicone without washing.

[BradleyBuck1984]

I hate to be the guy that suggests, this but there may not be a problem at all, or a problem with your tank.

We are not really very good at judging pressures, especially after we've become desensitised to it.. Case in point when we start the CPAP as night we feel the pressure, but shortly there after, we don't feel it at all. I have nights where I feel the pressure more, and other nights where there is just no resistance (I actually don't like this feel at all). But I don't attribute the feeling to a difference in behaviour of the machine. Chances are if there was a difference, it would show up in the OSCAR graphs. Pressure trace, Mask Pressure Trace, Leak lines.

The other thing, you may have created a false association of this feeling with an aging tank. We are pattern recognising creatures, and often when we don't see patterns, we create them.

But some things to try:

• In OSCAR make a note when you change tanks, compare. The traces with a well-behaved tank and non-behaving tank.
• Swap tank parts with your wife's tank. Swap just the seal, just the top, just the bottom. Which part swap exhibits the problem.
• Swap devices with your wife, does the problem move with the device?
• On the bottom of misbehaving tank, with a sharpie, mark a little x, where it's not easy to see. Have your wife mix them up so you don't know which is the misbehaving one. Use it. Did you experience the problem? check if it's the x-marked tank? Do this for a few nights, You should be able to predict 100% of the time which tank has the mark.

I've gone back and forth between a new tank and the old one before. There's definitely a noticable difference. Also, I'm just more tired and wake up more frequently until the tank is replaced, and I don't think that would be the case if it were just a matter of getting used to the pressure. I've been using CPAP for about 4 years now and I'm as used to it as I'll be.

I have already replaced the device. No change.

[palerider]

Maybe that's it. I haven't always washed the tank daily, but I typically remove the gasket for drying. I suppose the repeated removal could worsen the seal.

Sounds reasonable.

I assumed the skin oils would degrade the silicone without washing.

Yes, they can. but all you need to do is wipe the oils off with a baby wipe, or an alcohol pad, or a dab of hand sanitizer on a kleenex (I used that last for years, removes the facial oils nicely.)

[zonker]

Do you think the nasal pillows and parts which have direct contact with the face need washed daily? I assumed the skin oils would degrade the silicone without washing.

i'm with palerider on this. i wipe my mask with a baby wipe every morning.

i don't wash my mask except for maybe 2-3 times per year. and that's not on any schedule. i'm usually reminded to do it by someone like you posting about washing masks, so thanks for that.

i'm convinced that this is how i've gotten my p10 nasal pillow to last literally for years.