Air Filter Replacement Schedule

ResMed recommends and most insurance companies suggest air filters be replaced every 2 weeks. I'm curious, how many of you actually replace it that often? I think I probably replace my AirSense 10 filter every 2-3 months, and I'm wondering if there really is any benefit in replacing it monthly. I don't think every 2 weeks will accumulate enough dust/pollen/etc to warrant a change.

Curious what other folks are doing.

Two weeks is the absolute shortest time allowed by insurance/Medicare.
Naturally, dealers like to make as much moolah as they can.
Look at your filter, and use your own judgement.
Some can go many weeks or more between filters, depending on air quality.
Those of us with allergies may opt for a finer filter, and shorter time frame.
Trust yourself.

My deductible is $8800 so all of this is out of pocket. Will probably continue my current schedule. Our dog doesn't shed much and we have an air filter running in the bedroom. That's probably why when I change them, there's hardly any noticeable difference between the new one and old one.

Change mine every month. You can feel the difference

I think it depends on the overall air quality in the house.
I change my filter about once a month or so and it looks pretty yucky and quite noticeably darker gray.
But I live in a 60 year old farmhouse out in the country and there's dust everywhere to go with that old furnace duct work.
Plus I have pets but I think the bulk of the dirt is just old house in a dusty area.
I have a friend who lives in the city and their filter looks brand new and hard to tell the difference at 6 months.

So I tell people to change it when it starts looking yucky enough it bugs you. It's going to depend on how clean the air is.
Whatever helps you sleep better.....literally and figuratively.

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 pm

ResMed recommends and most insurance companies suggest air filters be replaced every 2 weeks. I'm curious, how many of you actually replace it that often? I think I probably replace my AirSense 10 filter every 2-3 months, and I'm wondering if there really is any benefit in replacing it monthly. I don't think every 2 weeks will accumulate enough dust/pollen/etc to warrant a change.

Curious what other folks are doing.

Actually...In the Resmed Owners Manual it says to replace "at least every 6 months"..sooner if necessary. In other words, if it's dirty replace it.

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 pm

ResMed recommends ... air filters be replaced every 2 weeks

No they don't.

Read the clinical manuals:
3. Check the air filter and replace it at least every six months. Replace it more often if there are any
holes or blockages by dirt or dust.

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 pm

and most insurance companies suggest air filters be replaced every 2 weeks.

No, money grubbing DMEs suggest you throw away perfectly good filters every two weeks, just like they suggest you throw away perfectly good nasal pillows every two weeks, SO THAT THEY MAKE MORE MONEY

BTW....insurance companies don't recommend time intervals for replacement of anything.
What they say is the time interval that they will pay for something to be replaced...that's the replacement allowance schedule and not necessarily a recommended time frame.

Now DMEs will jump on the replacement allowance time frame and "say" that insurance recommends but it isn't the insurance doing the recommending.

Just because insurance will pay for something within a set time frame doesn't mean that they recommend replacing so and so within the time frame.

Just because something is allowed to be replaced doesn't mean that it has to be replaced.

And yes....the ResMed machine manual does say "6 months or earlier if soiled (or some such wording)" for filter replacement.
No where does ResMed itself promote every 2 weeks for filter replacement....at least I have never seen it.

DMEs promote replacement of everything as something that is needed to be done because ...big surprise...that is how often insurance will pay....the cash cow for the DMEs.

Edit...I see PR has essentially just said what I said.

Every time someone posts a thread about it I check mine. Guess thats about every two-three months. So going to check it now. Lol. Last time it wasn't dirty yet.

palerider wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 26, 2022 8:16 am

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 pm

ResMed recommends ... air filters be replaced every 2 weeks

No they don't.

Read the clinical manuals:
3. Check the air filter and replace it at least every six months. Replace it more often if there are any
holes or blockages by dirt or dust.

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 pm

and most insurance companies suggest air filters be replaced every 2 weeks.

No, money grubbing DMEs suggest you throw away perfectly good filters every two weeks, just like they suggest you throw away perfectly good nasal pillows every two weeks, SO THAT THEY MAKE MORE MONEY

Yes, the clinical manual says one thing, but ResMed's CPAP replacement schedule guide says another: https://media.resmed.com/sites/3/201911 ... -sheet.pdf (every 14 days)

So I guess in the end I shouldn't worry about it and should continue my current replacement schedule.

To keep things simple, I change the filters in our machines when I change toe furnace filters (every three months). I could probably go longer on the Resmed filters, but they are relatively cheap (I buy them in bulk on Amazon). When it comes to replacing things, I am very old school. Things get replaced when they no longer function properly. I recently changed the frame on my mask because it was too easy to knock the cushion off. The frame was almost five years old, so it was probably time to change it. With our Medicare and supplement, we pay nothing for our supplies if we go to the DME and get them. Since we both believe in using things until they wear out, we have not been to the DME in almost three years. The last "six month" supply of masks and cushions have lasted this long.

always happy to see a "change filters" post because i'm not on any schedule and these posts remind me to check.

so i did.

didn't warrant changing as not dusty or dirty.

so i didn't.

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 26, 2022 10:20 am

Yes, the clinical manual says one thing, but ResMed's CPAP replacement schedule guide says another: https://media.resmed.com/sites/3/201911 ... -sheet.pdf (every 14 days)

So I guess in the end I shouldn't worry about it and should continue my current replacement schedule.

And, just where do you think that ridiculous 'schedule' came from?

FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS THE DMEs.

When in doubt, believe the clinician manual, not the stuff that's out there for the punters...

Do you get your medical advice off WebMD? I hope not.

zonker wrote: ↑

Sat Feb 26, 2022 11:47 am

didn't warrant changing as not dusty or dirty.

so i didn't.

And that is the right way to do it.

Check, and use your brain... something most people don't seem to be able to do.

southerndoc wrote: ↑

Fri Feb 25, 2022 11:05 pm

My deductible is $8800 so all of this is out of pocket. Will probably continue my current schedule. Our dog doesn't shed much and we have an air filter running in the bedroom. That's probably why when I change them, there's hardly any noticeable difference between the new one and old one.

I recently purchased (24) OEM fine filters for my DS2 from an online CPAP retailer. The cost was $24.00 + $5.36 sh for a total of $29.36 (about $1.22 each), which is way far cheaper than the generic ones I was getting from my DME who played some other games when trying to buy just filters (I don't need a full face mask every time I order (2) filters). The mask and more pricey stuff when needed is still ordered from the DME which Medicare and insurance cover.

On the DS2 the filter pack is exposed when the water chamber is removed and if I think a month has elapsed I'll pull it out and check it. Holding it up to the light next to a new filter is a good indication of crap its collected.