Buying a used CPAP/APAP machine

WOW - I can vote for BOTH of the options

Replacing the mask and hose; and cleaning the humidifer takes care of 95% of the airpath. Nothing but filtered air reaches any of the path except the mask.

I'd wager you breathe in more crud taking a stroll thru any WalMart than you will in a lifetime of use (the machine's lifetime, not yours...). And I'm not picking on Walmart...use any place a large number of breathing people gather.

And good cleaning of the mask will suffice, too. As someone here once eloquently put it "when you go to a restaurant, do you ever use their fork?"

The used one I bought had 435 hours on it. I did not get the humidifier, hose or mask. I did replace the filters, used my humidifier and put a new hose on it. Did a sniff test to see if it had been used by a smoker. It smelled fine. Since the air I receive is on the upside I can't see how it could be a problem. Replaced the filters just in case the previous room it had been in might have had a smell I would not have liked. Washing the filters would most likely been enough. Since the air does not come from me to the machine I can' not see how any of my GERMS could have gotten in there!!!!!

I have bought a used mask and a good wash in Johnsons Baby Shampoo and a soak in 3 to 1 vinegar solution was enough for me not to worry!!



Jerry

I think you're being a little bit paranoid about the insides of the machine. 18 hours could have been the testing time at the factory, too. Could be any number of reasons for having such low hours on it.

I've purchased two "used" APAPs from individuals (I "know") and they have both been wonderful machines. The first one had a little over 1700 blower hours on it and the last one only had 11 blower hours on it (I could still smell the plastic) .

I also wouldn't think twice about using a "previously owned" mask if it was something I could use......after a normal washing.


Den

Think through how the machine works. It is positive air pressure. A person's germs are never going to make it back all the way down the hose into the machine even on a bipap. Now, you can't know how well they cleaned their humidifier, so that I would clean very well. And I would change the filters and use a disinfectant wipe on the outside of the machine in case they sneezed on it with a virulent cold or flu, but I wouldn't disassemble it or anything. I doubt that anything inside would be contaminated with more than room air. If they were a smoker, it would be more complicated, because the room air in their home would likely leave the residue of smoke smell in the machine, but that smell would not be coming from their lungs, but from the room itself.

When I was working in laboratories as a young adult, we often used laminer flow hoods. This is a similar concept. The inside of the hood is disinfected with a uv lamp, and alcohol swabs and then the air flow is turned on. the air flows through the top, through a very, very fine filter and then through the hood. You worked at it like it was a desktop with a window coming down, past your chest, allowing only your arms through. The filtered, positive air pressure keeps the inside of the hood sterile. I used to work on plant tissue culture in one of these to keep the rate of contamination to a minimum. The cpap works on a similar principal, except the filter is not as fine (though I think it should be for those with allergies and asthma!).

Well, that is what I think, anyway!

When I started treatment I had a brand new M series apap (after returning an M series Plus and switching DME's), new hose, mask, etc. My insurance paid for the machine and accessories and since I had my copay, etc. already met the whole shebang was at little cost to me.

BUT since then I have paid out of pocket for most of my supplies and the extra machines I have. A local internet provider has a classified ad section, where I purchased my first batch of masks. I placed an ad and a local guy had some extra nasal masks and sold them to me cheap. I washed them and didn't think much about it. I have purchased masks from eBay prior to them placing a ban on them, filters (always new), etc. I have purchased machines form cpapauction. I don't want to forget this forum -- I have purchased stuff from members here as well, plus have swapped stuff. A good wash in hot soapy water is all I have done prior to using the stuff I have gotten. The machines have had new filters installed and a good wipe down on the outside.

So far I haven't had any illnesses that I am aware of from any of the "used" stuff I have used.

socknitster wrote:Think through how the machine works. It is positive air pressure. A person's germs are never going to make it back all the way down the hose into the machine even on a bipap. Now, you can't know how well they cleaned their humidifier, so that I would clean very well. And I would change the filters and use a disinfectant wipe on the outside of the machine in case they sneezed on it with a virulent cold or flu, but I wouldn't disassemble it or anything. I doubt that anything inside would be contaminated with more than room air. If they were a smoker, it would be more complicated, because the room air in their home would likely leave the residue of smoke smell in the machine, but that smell would not be coming from their lungs, but from the room itself.

I completely second that. She said everything I was thinking. I have cleaned the outside, cleaned humidifier (Efferdent works great), changed filters, and maybe left a Lysol wipe over the air intake while running it for 5 minutes or so (not occluding the air supply though) to get a fresh scent infused in it. The way they work reminds me of our SCBA's (self-contained breathing apparatus) at the Fire Department. We each have our own individual mask, yet share the same SCBA backpack/unit. Being positive pressure, they are not contaminated with the wearer's germs, breath, etc.

I for one don't change filters like recommended (use the gray sponge with no white filter and I just wash the gray one out periodically) because anything the filter would filter out, you would be breathing anyway if not wearing CPAP (everything my wife is breathing or the other guys at the station are breathing). Keep in mind this is coming from a guy who used to have two sinus infections a year, but has had only one since going on CPAP 3.5 years ago and using these practices the whole time.

And just like Den said, I have not had a moment's hesitation about using tubing and masks I got used (usually came along with units) after washing them out with hot soapy water and giving them a nice soak in several Efferdent tablets. Now if they were brownish or dirty-looking when I received them, that would have been a different story. One thing I definitely would NOT use to clean with is bleach, as it can deteriorate the pliability/durability of delicate rubber or plastic components, and would leave a very long-lingering scent.

Tracy

ycartf wrote:... Keep in mind this is coming from a guy who used to have two sinus infections a year, but has had only one since going on CPAP 3.5 years ago and using these practices the whole time. ...

Everything that ycart (aka tracy) said, but I've been doing that almost 20 years. I usually find that when I clean the system (humidifier, hose, mask and replace filters) with a baby shampoo and let it run for a couple hours, the smells from hotels and such are gone. Germs are not an issue due to the positve pressure. And as is the case here, prior to xPAP therapy, I would have a case or two of bronchitis once a year along with a perpetual sinus infection. Now, I hardly ever have a head cold!

Hopefully you will find the suggestions here help remove that smoke smell. The germs are not really an issue.

I've bought (and used) many used machines (yeah, it's a crazy hobby) and have never worried about cleaning them.

Used masks, too. I give them a quick soapy water wash, and don't worry about it any further.

I have a somewhat compromised immune system from drugs I take for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I have bought used machines on cpapauction, and have had no problems at all. I do change the filters and run them for maybe 30 minutes if they are used.

I have bought several masks. I most often buy ones that are "never used" and "unopened". Sometimes I buy a lightly used one. I have never had a problem with a mask. Of course, if it arrived looking dicoloured or dirty, I would probably toss it.

I wash every mask I get (new or used) before I wear it. I use just Ivory Dishwashing Liquid. I use it for all my cpap equipment cleaning. When I get a new mask (never used, unopened, or slightly used) I soak the mask for 20 to 30 minutes in the Ivory and warm water before I wear it.

When I have used the mask myself, the cushion or pillow gets a quick - few minutes - wash with the Ivory every day.