CPAP guides
Everything around the machine: getting diagnosed, the first month, cleaning, insurance and Medicare rules, flying and camping, reading your data, recalls and the alternatives to CPAP.
Getting started
Adjusting to CPAP: The First 30 DaysMost people need a few weeks to get used to CPAP. Use it every night and for naps, practice while awake, use comfort settings …CPAP First Night Setup: A Step by Step GuideSet the machine on a stable surface below head height, fill the humidifier with the water type your manual specifies, connect the hose and …CPAP vs APAP vs BiPAP: What Is the Difference?CPAP blows one fixed pressure all night, APAP (auto CPAP) adjusts pressure within a range your clinician sets, and BiPAP uses a higher pressure …Home Sleep Test vs In-Lab Sleep Study: Which Do You Need?A home sleep apnea test is a good first test for most adults who are likely to have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea …How to Choose a CPAP Mask: Nasal, Pillows or Full FaceChoose by how you breathe and sleep: nasal pillows and nasal masks suit nose breathers, while a full face mask suits mouth breathers and …How to Get a CPAP Machine in the US: Prescription, Sleep Test and SupplierIn the US you need a diagnosis of sleep apnea from a sleep test and a prescription before anyone can sell or supply you …Understanding Your CPAP Prescription and Pressure SettingsA CPAP prescription names the device type, the pressure in cm H2O (or a minimum and maximum for auto CPAP), humidification and a mask. …
Cleaning and care
CPAP Cleaning Routine: What to Clean Daily and WeeklyDaily, empty and clean the water tub and wipe or wash the mask cushion. Weekly, wash the tubing, tub and mask parts in warm …CPAP Filters: Which to Clean, Which to Replace, and How OftenDisposable filters are not washable and should be replaced on schedule or sooner if dirty. ResMed says to replace the AirSense 11 air filter …Distilled Water vs Tap Water in a CPAP Humidifier (and Using Vinegar)Philips says to use distilled water in DreamStation 2 tanks, and ResMed says to use distilled water in the HumidAir 11 Standard tub and …How to Clean CPAP Tubing (Standard and Heated)Wash CPAP tubing weekly in warm water with mild dish soap, swish it so the whole inside is wet, rinse thoroughly and hang it …How to Clean a CPAP Water Chamber and Remove White BuildupEmpty the water chamber every morning, wipe or wash it and let it air dry. Wash it weekly in warm soapy water, and use …Ozone and UV CPAP Cleaners: What the FDA SaysIn February 2020 the FDA warned that devices claiming to clean CPAP equipment with ozone gas or UV light were not legally marketed for …
Insurance, Medicare and cost
Buying a CPAP Without Insurance (Cash Pay)You can buy a CPAP without insurance from a retailer, but you still need a valid prescription because CPAP machines and masks are prescription …CPAP with Private Insurance: How DME Suppliers WorkMost private plans cover CPAP as durable medical equipment (DME) supplied by an in-network supplier, often as a rental for a set period and …Can You Use an HSA or FSA for a CPAP?Generally yes. IRS Publication 502 says medical expenses include the costs of equipment, supplies and diagnostic devices needed to diagnose or treat disease, which …Medicare CPAP Compliance: The 4 Hours, 70% of Nights RuleTo keep Medicare paying for your CPAP after the first 3 months, you must use it 4 hours or more per night on at …Medicare CPAP Coverage Rules Explained (2026)Medicare Part B covers a CPAP for adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea who meet sleep test criteria, starting with a 12 week trial. …Replacing Your CPAP After 5 Years: Medicare and Insurance RulesMedicare treats 5 years as the reasonable useful lifetime of a CPAP. After that, it can pay for a replacement if your treating practitioner …
Travel and power
CPAP at TSA Security Screening: What to ExpectTSA allows CPAP machines in carry-on and checked bags. In a standard lane the device can usually stay in its case for X-ray, though …Flying with a CPAP: Carry-On Rules, FAA Labels and In-Flight UseYou can bring your CPAP on the plane as a carry-on, and medical devices do not count toward your carry-on limit. Under US Department …Travel CPAP Machines Compared by TypeYour choices are to travel with your regular machine, buy a dedicated compact travel CPAP such as the ResMed AirMini AutoSet, or pair either …Traveling Abroad with a CPAP: Voltage, Plugs and WaterMost modern CPAP power supplies accept 100 to 240 volts at 50 or 60 Hz, so abroad you usually need only a plug adapter, …Using Your CPAP in a Hotel: Practical TipsIn a hotel, find an outlet near the bed before unpacking, place the machine below head height on a stable surface, and use distilled …Using a CPAP While Camping: Batteries, DC Power and TipsTo camp with a CPAP, use the manufacturer's DC power converter with a deep cycle battery or a CPAP battery, and turn the humidifier …
Reading your sleep data
Central vs Obstructive Apneas on Your CPAP ReportAn obstructive apnea means your airway collapsed while you kept trying to breathe; a central apnea means your brain briefly did not signal a …How to Read Your CPAP Data: AHI, Leak, Usage and EventsYour CPAP records four main things: how long you used it, how many breathing events per hour still happen (AHI), how much air leaks …OSCAR CPAP Software: How to View Your SD Card DataOSCAR (Open Source CPAP Analysis Reporter) is free software that reads the detailed data stored on your CPAP's SD card and turns it into …ResMed myAir and Philips DreamMapper: What the Apps ShowResMed's myAir works with AirSense and AirCurve machines and gives a nightly score out of 100 from usage, mask seal, events per hour and …What Is a Good AHI on CPAP?On a diagnostic test an AHI under 5 events per hour is considered normal, and many clinicians look for a treated AHI on CPAP …
Supplies
Buying CPAP Supplies Online: Which Items Need a PrescriptionIn the US, CPAP machines and masks are prescription devices, so online sellers will ask for your prescription before selling a machine or mask. …CPAP Humidifiers: Settings, Water and Common ProblemsA heated humidifier adds warmth and moisture to CPAP air and can reduce dry throat, nasal congestion and runny nose. Adjust the humidity and …CPAP Resupply Programs: How Automatic Refills WorkResupply programs from DME suppliers send you replacement masks, cushions, tubing and filters on your insurer's schedule. Under Medicare rules, suppliers must contact you …CPAP Supply Replacement Schedule (Medicare Table)Medicare's usual maximums, which many private plans mirror, allow a new mask frame every 3 months, cushions or pillows up to twice a month …Heated CPAP Tubing and Rainout: How to Stop Water in the HoseRainout happens when warm, humid air cools in the hose and condenses into water that gurgles or splashes into your mask. Heated tubing keeps …
Safety and recalls
CPAP Masks with Magnets: Implant Warnings and What to DoSome CPAP masks have magnetic headgear clips that can interfere with implanted medical devices and metal in the body. Philips added a contraindication in …CPAP Power Outage Plan: Batteries, Generators and SafetyMake a plan before an outage: tell your electric company and fire department you use a medical device that needs power, keep a charged …Philips CPAP Recall: What Happened and What to Do Now (October 2026)In June 2021 Philips Respironics recalled millions of CPAP, BiPAP and ventilator devices because sound reducing PE-PUR foam inside could break down. A 2024 …Using CPAP When You Have a Cold, Flu or COVIDMany people keep using CPAP through a cold or flu, using extra humidity, saline and sometimes a full face mask for congestion. For COVID-19, …Using CPAP with Supplemental Oxygen: Safety RulesSome people need supplemental oxygen bled into their CPAP circuit, which your clinician prescribes and your supplier sets up. Manufacturers say to turn the …
Alternatives to CPAP
Inspire Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Who QualifiesInspire is an implanted device that stimulates the hypoglossal nerve during sleep to move the tongue forward and keep the airway open. It is …Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea: Who They HelpAn oral appliance is a custom mouthpiece that holds your lower jaw forward to keep the airway open. The AASM and the American Academy …Positional Therapy for Sleep Apnea: Sleeping Off Your BackSome people have most of their breathing events while sleeping on their back, called positional obstructive sleep apnea. Positional therapy uses devices that keep …Sleep Apnea Surgery: A Factual Overview of OptionsSurgery can help selected adults with obstructive sleep apnea who cannot use CPAP, or can make CPAP easier to use. The AASM's 2021 guideline …Weight Loss, GLP-1 Drugs and Zepbound for Sleep ApneaOn December 20, 2024 the FDA approved Zepbound (tirzepatide) as the first drug for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity, …