ResMed Heated Hose - Issues?

Has anybody had issues with the mask end connection of their ResMed heated hose? I had noticed some time ago the original gray colour had started to "yellow" in one spot on the side of the flexible rubber like material. When I was cleaning it last weekend I further noticed that this area had gotten very soft and flexible, kind of like the consistency of chewing gum. I think I could easily pull it all away with my fingers, but resisted that temptation as I suspect there are wires under that area and it has been overheating and I didn't want to expose them. BUG, I recall you have had some experience with getting zapped by your hose? Was it in this area of a heated ResMed hose? In any case it seems like an obvious manufacturing defect, but it is old enough that I just ordered a new one. Should be here today, and last night hopefully will be the last time I use this one. Other that the melted gooey area, the hose is in perfect condition...

How long has that hose been in use? In one of my more organized moments (pretty rare, I must admit) I set up a replacement schedule for my PAP accessories for both myself and my better half. I track when each item was put into service and when, according to the manufacturers’ replacement schedule, it should be removed from service.

That might help, if the cause is age. Plastic may be eternal in the ocean, but in day to day use it can break down in inconvenient and unanticipated ways.

If it’s not a vintage hose, consider what you are using to clean it. Perhaps the cleaning solution is not plastic-friendly. I assume you are not using anything involving O3 or UV light, because they can cause plastic deterioration and loss of machine and accessory warranties.

Of course, it just could simply be a defective hose and that problem sounds as though it could be a short, in which case your instinct not to tamper with or touch it was, of course, spot on.

Another thought: Is your local electrical service subject to outages and electrical surges associated with the restoration of power? My area is, and I had SO many appliances fried, that I eventually installed a whole house surge protector in addition to surge protectors on key (or expensive) appliances. Then, of course, you need to keep an eye on your surge protectors, because they, too, can require replacement. The surges can also fry them. They have only so many lives to give for the cause.

Another possibility: Have you recently tried to use it in an unconventional setting? I once managed to fry a humidifier unit by using it during a long intercontinental flight and failing to unplug it prior to the plane switching over to land power. The switchover power surge fried the humidifier, which went unrecognized at the time— and that was a tough problem to diagnose after the fact. The whole machine would not work when attached to the humidifier. “But this was long ago, in another country, and besides the wench (machine) is dead” (It was a RESMED Gen 7.)

The only problem I’ve had with the heated hose is related to the connection to the mask, which isn’t tight enough and sometimes the hose and the mask become disconnected, which is a problem. But the heated hose has gone a long way to eliminating that very annoying rainout, which was a significant issue for me because I prefer a pretty cool sleeping environment— kind of like a meat locker. (My better half, of course, has the metabolism of a lizard.)

It DOES sound like a bad electrical connection combined, perhaps, with age.
Did you happen to check the manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule? I doubt that it is nearly as long as a year…..probably more like six months, but that should be checked.

However, it sounds as though, at more than three years of age, yours was probably well overdue for retirement.

I try to be vigilant wrt replacement schedules, because as plastics age, they can breakdown and emit volatile organic compounds, and other toxic or carcinogenic substances. I don’t want to be breathing those long term.

And our PAP peripherals and accessories are mostly plastic and get daily eight hour use in an environment of heat and humidity. Hence, the recommended replacement schedules. Of course, there is also the possibility of the buildup of biofilms or other infection control issues.

So, although the hose or mask may LOOK like new long after the recommended time for replacement, it may be a better idea to try to stick more closely to the recommended replacement cycles.

I’m going to try taping the mask/hose connection.

Dear Sierra and BUG: I am about to start work on a Patient’s Bill of Rights WRT Medical Devices.
Please weigh in with any ideas and thoughts you may have.