Quattro mask howls

[SleepingUgly]

My Quattro makes a howling noise through the exhalation vent. If it made a constant noise, I could cope with it better than the variable sort of howling noise (like wind). Is this true of all full face masks or are there quieter ones?

[roster]

Something's wrong. My Quattro doesn't howl (but I do).

Look at the exhaust ports with a reading glass to see if there is anything gumming them up.

[Husky Lover]

My experience is that moisture can cling to the ports and make noise. Rub your finger over the holes and if the sound changes, it is moisture. I have to click my humidifier down a notch when that happens. Also the room temperature will make it worse so if moisture is the source of the problem, you might try a hose wrap and/or raising the room temperature. I used to set back to 58 at night but now use 62 degrees and it has helped the noise problem.

[LSAT]

If the hose comes over the top the elbow blocks the exhaust ports and a howl sound is heard...Try moving the hose to the side and see if the sound disappears.

[SleepingUgly]

I will try an experiment tonight and start out with the humidifier off and see if it howls with no moisture coming through (I will also try not to breathe, which really helps a lot with the howling, but is hard to maintain...). I don't think the elbow is blocking the port because the port is pretty high. Rooster, can I borrow your reading glasses? Thanks everyone!

[Britishbulldog]

Hiya ,

I use the Mirage Quattro full face mask im on my 3rd one now ,ive noticed that the elbow joint can leak where it attaches to face mask when the tubing swivels round.
Resmed in the UK charge £12.00 for a elbow joint but i fixed the problem myself with plumbers ptfe white tape 99p works a treat and does not leak anymore ,

I would suggest next time you hear this howling noise you check round with your fingers for leaks coming from the mask ,

Regards,

[Gerryk]

That would be one of three things. Either moisture or condensation on the exhaust port, the exhaust port is in wrong or came part way out which is probably what happened, or Rooster is walking around your room.

Gerry

[SleepingUgly]

By the exhaust port, do you mean the elbow or the holes by the top of the mask? The latter is where I THOUGHT the noise was coming from, but I could be wrong.

It was not caused by condensation, as the noise occurred even with the humidifier off (and the mask was dry).

I can sort of deal with it if I have 3 noise machines going and I try to sleep with my ear off the pillow so as not to amplify noise. But I did not manage when we traveled and I only had one noise machine. Also, I could hear my breathing very loud (like Darth Vader). I wonder if I'm just sensitive to noise, or if really no one else's Quattro makes these noises...

That would be one of three things. Either moisture or condensation on the exhaust port, the exhaust port is in wrong or came part way out which is probably what happened, or Rooster is walking around your room.

Gerry

[dsm]

My experience is that moisture can cling to the ports and make noise. Rub your finger over the holes and if the sound changes, it is moisture. I have to click my humidifier down a notch when that happens. Also the room temperature will make it worse so if moisture is the source of the problem, you might try a hose wrap and/or raising the room temperature. I used to set back to 58 at night but now use 62 degrees and it has helped the noise problem.

This is my vote - happens a lot when I give the mask a wash (which is every day). Moisture collects in the air exit vents & vibrates causing a variety of noises.

Wiping fingers over the holes while in use always clears them.

I did have one other odd experience recently with my Quattro where the rubber plug at the bottom (that I never really noticed before) came out 1 night last week. My wife said to me that morning that my mask had come loose in the night & after I set it right it made a loud rushing sound - next morning I found this double plug was missing from the mask & with it back in place all was normal again.

Good luck

DSM

[scrapper]

Howling.........

When I tried the Quattro, it "farted" on and off all night long......

I was not impressed............figured they had given me a male mask......

wasn't the male or the mask I wanted.........gave up on it for now.

Good luck with the howling in your bedroom .

[Ms.Snuffleupagus]

One or several of the small exhalation vent holes on the mask may be blocked. Resmed says to clean them occasionally with a soft brush if this happens.

[azhosehead733]

I have seen responses from most of the likely culprits. The one I haven't seen (I think) is that there is a little "flapper" at the bottom of the mask close to where the hose is connected. That flapper is removable and replaceable. Anyway, when you put your mask on you should feel the seal of your mask and air flow into your mouth as you breath. That flapper keeps the CPAP therapy in you mask. If for some reason by accident the hose comes off or the machine stops (power failure), that flap releases its seal and allows you breath through the hose as well as the vent. You can buy the little vent flapper parts so you don't have to buy a new mask. I keep a spare on hand just in case the one in the mask happens to give out and leak.

The other possibility is that the blue fitting that fits the cushion to the mask frame is not completely sealed. I have found on a few occasions while attaching the cushion the mask, cushion will slide off the blue fitting which causes a noisy leak where the seal is compromised. This is fixed by removing the cushion and making sure the cushion is lined up right on the blue rim fitting.

Good luck.

[Gerryk]

The vent on top has to have moisture in the tiny holes. Sorry about saying it was in wrong or something, I was thinking of the Ultra Mirage Full Face, that one will make noise if it isn't put back in properly.

You can have moisture there and the rest of the mask be dry.

Gerry

[Judy R]

I just got my Quattro a few days ago. I've always used a nasal mask before, so this is my first full face mask. The first night it made a horrible sound, let's just say it sounded like someone had way to many bean burrito's, . The second night I didn't notice anything, however the next morning hubby said I played him a tune all night, . So, I adjusted the straps, and now it's total peace and quiet. I love this mask! I seem to sleep much more soundly than I ever did with the pillows or the nasal mask. I'm just sorry that I did push for a full face mask sooner.

[SleepingUgly]

The first night it made a horrible sound, let's just say it sounded like someone had way to many bean burrito's, .

Yes, that "farting" noise has to do with leaks (some say it's too tight, some say too loose). That part I do seem to have some control over, and the Remzzzs seems to have eliminated that issue. But the noises that are constant are a howling sound like wind (an ebb and flow kind of wind noise) and the Darth Vader sound of my breathing. I'm going to see what I can figure out tonight about the former.