Mold in CPAP

davidtid · Post by **davidtid** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:34 am

I found green mold particulates floating in my humidifier reservoir day before yesterday. I contacted the Dealer and they told me I needed to clean the Reservoir with vinegar and water. I have a So Clean 2 attached to the CPAP which is an Air Sense 10. I followed the instructions of the dealer. I clean my mask, hose and reservoir at the end of each week so I found this quite strange; especially the quantity and that it appeared overnight. Today, I again found a smaller amount of Mold/Algae in the Reservoir. This time I took a bright light and looked in the Reservoir side of the machine. I could see flakes of Algae/Mold, dry, inside. There was not much visible but it was there. This is more than a little scary. The machine is still under warranty at this time but I cannot find a registered service center listed, nearby. The Dealer/Original Provider is not real good at returning phone calls. I have recently had problems with the Auto Feature not regulating the Temp and Humidity correctly and wonder if this has anything to do with it.

Question is: Has anyone else experienced this before?

I am scared to use this machine (but I am equally scared to quit breathing because I am not using it).

jim22 · Post by **jim22** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:13 pm

Yup, remove the humidifier tank, clean with 50/50 vinegar and water. Probably fine to use hot soapy water if you need too, but rinse well after. Using distilled water instead of tap water will probably keep it clean. I used to empty it and let it air dry during the day. So Clean really doesn't have a reputation here for being useful. Check the filter, maybe put on a clean one. The inside of the blower shouldn't really get dirty or mouldy.
Jim

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:22 pm

My condolences, but on the brighter side:
Positive proof that So Clean does absolutely NOTHING
--except empty bank accounts.
Something that logical people here have maintained--FOR YEARS!
Keep using the cpap, cleaning as instructed--but not the USELESS So Clean.
Kick that POS to the curb.

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:23 pm

It's NOT the machine.....are you using distilled water?

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:26 pm

It is entirely possible that the So Clean is infecting your cpap--get rid of it!
Put it online--some fool will buy it--at a discount.

zonker · Post by **zonker** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:30 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:26 pm
It is entirely possible that the So Clean is infecting your cpap--get rid of it!
Put it online--some fool will buy it--at a discount.

heh. wonder what would happen if someone tried to sell it HERE?

Gerryk · Post by **Gerryk** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:57 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:22 pm
My condolences, but on the brighter side:
Positive proof that So Clean does absolutely NOTHING
--except empty bank accounts.
Something that logical people here have maintained--FOR YEARS!
Keep using the cpap, cleaning as instructed--but not the USELESS So Clean.
Kick that POS to the curb.

I guess that I am not logical because I use a Soclean. I stopped using it twice and both times got a sinus infection. I also never empty the distilled water out of the humidifier chamber when I use the Soclean just add to it. When I use the Soclean, I do not have a problem with any type of growth in my machine or sinus problems.

Any time you use tap water you do run a good chance of having something grow in your humidifier chamber if you don't empty it daily, let it dry during the day and clean it regularly.

Pugsy · Post by **Pugsy** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:34 pm

KnightSleeper wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:15 pm

Gerryk wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:57 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:22 pm
My condolences, but on the brighter side:
Positive proof that So Clean does absolutely NOTHING
--except empty bank accounts.
Something that logical people here have maintained--FOR YEARS!
Keep using the cpap, cleaning as instructed--but not the USELESS So Clean.
Kick that POS to the curb.
I guess that I am not logical because I use a Soclean. I stopped using it twice and both times got a sinus infection. I also never empty the distilled water out of the humidifier chamber when I use the Soclean just add to it. When I use the Soclean, I do not have a problem with any type of growth in my machine or sinus problems.

Any time you use tap water you do run a good chance of having something grow in your humidifier chamber if you don't empty it daily, let it dry during the day and clean it regularly.
Gerry-

So now the countdown begins... of all the sage advisors who are going to call you "illogical/dumb/gullible/naive, etc... And those will be some of the nicer things they will have to say about you!!!

And of course they get more jollies when multiple people tell you the "exact same thing"!!! - As an older member, surely you know what's coming... be prepared for the upcoming barrage!!!

And all those comments will be just about as helpful as yours was here.
Troublemakers come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Even those who try to disguise their troublemaker tendencies.

To everyone.....
Fair warning....discuss the SoClean itself and various studies but the first one who makes any sort of comment as to question the intelligence of ANYONE who either chooses to use or NOT use the SoClean....they will be responsible for getting this thread locked down because they are taking this thread off topic.

Do you really want to go there? This will be the only warning.

Please play nice or don't play at all.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:37 pm

chunkyfrog wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 5:22 pm
My condolences, but on the brighter side:
Positive proof that So Clean does absolutely NOTHING
--except empty bank accounts.
Something that logical people here have maintained--FOR YEARS!
Keep using the cpap, cleaning as instructed--but not the USELESS So Clean.
Kick that POS to the curb.

I'd put it on sale for $350 dollars, might as well make a profit off of people that don't know better, So Clean did. At least you now know So Clean sells No Clean Products. Jim

Gerryk · Post by **Gerryk** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:58 pm

David, to get back on topic here. Clean your chamber and turn the blower on to blow anything out of the machine that may have gotten in their. Clean it as was suggested with distilled white vinegar and water. I have used straight water at times, just didn't let it sit to long.

I don't understand the hatred of the Soclean here, but mine is over two years old and when I have stopped using it I had trouble. To each his own. Using distilled water is important, I use distilled water for other things in the house, so I purchased a water distiller. Distilled water is cheap and for the most part will keep bad things from growing in your humidifier chamber.
Best of luck and sleep well.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:03 pm

davidtid wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 10:34 am
I found green mold particulates floating in my humidifier reservoir day before yesterday. I contacted the Dealer and they told me I needed to clean the Reservoir with vinegar and water. I have a So Clean 2 attached to the CPAP which is an Air Sense 10. I followed the instructions of the dealer. I clean my mask, hose and reservoir at the end of each week so I found this quite strange; especially the quantity and that it appeared overnight. Today, I again found a smaller amount of Mold/Algae in the Reservoir. This time I took a bright light and looked in the Reservoir side of the machine. I could see flakes of Algae/Mold, dry, inside. There was not much visible but it was there. This is more than a little scary. The machine is still under warranty at this time but I cannot find a registered service center listed, nearby. The Dealer/Original Provider is not real good at returning phone calls. I have recently had problems with the Auto Feature not regulating the Temp and Humidity correctly and wonder if this has anything to do with it.

Question is: Has anyone else experienced this before?

I am scared to use this machine (but I am equally scared to quit breathing because I am not using it).

Don't be scared, just clean the tank with some vinegar, and use the machine... then read through these links:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5611769/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716664/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16236866
viewtopic/t157842/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1 ... 9#p1210375
https://www.verywellhealth.com/do-you-n ... in-4171650

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Fri Apr 12, 2019 7:05 pm

Gerryk wrote: ↑
Fri Apr 12, 2019 6:58 pm
I don't understand the hatred of the Soclean here,

Read the links in the previous post, it will help you understand.

davidtid · Post by **davidtid** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 10:51 am

Thanks to all for your replies
Happy to say all is well. Machine did have a defect but not what I would have suspected it to be. Since it was still under warranty I was given a new machine, hose and humidifier. It is nice to know there are still honest caring businesses out there. Machines are built by people of parts made by other people and occasionally in that process something goes awry. I will go back to my previous washing schedule I used before my So Clean addition. The So Clean is a sanitizer but not a cure all and that is what I will take out of this discussion
I am interested in finding out more about purchasing a distiller though as I also use distilled water in my battery’s in my boat and other vehicles.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Sat Apr 13, 2019 10:38 pm

Instructions for building a stovetop distiller can be found online.
Purchasing one is most likely done online as well.
Good luck.

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