Fisher & Paykel ICON series (ICON and ICON+ Auto, Premo, Novo)
How to set up the Fisher & Paykel ICON series (ICON and ICON+ Auto, Premo, Novo)
From the box to your first night. Keep the user guide that came with your machine nearby: if anything here differs from it, follow the guide.
Place the machine
Put the ICON on a level surface, level with or below your head, so water cannot run into the tube or the machine. Plug the power cord into the wall.
Take out the water chamber
Lift off the Chamber Lid, reach inside the chamber to the circular grip, and pull the water chamber up and out. Always remove the chamber before filling it.
Fill with distilled water
Fill the chamber with distilled water up to the maximum line marked on its side. Do not use hot water, and replace the water before each use.
The chamber is one piece and cannot be taken apart, and the rubber seal on it should stay in place.
Put the chamber back
Lower the chamber in with the arrow on the circular grip pointing toward the elbow. Never run the machine without the chamber in place.
Lock the Chamber Lid
Line up the large dot on the lid with the large dot on top of the machine, press down and turn clockwise until the large dot lines up with the small dot. The lid should sit flush with no gaps.
A lid that is not locked properly causes weak pressure and a hissing sound. Once locked, you can use it as a carry handle.
Connect the tube and mask
Attach the breathing tube to the elbow and connect your mask. With a ThermoSmart tube, make sure its electrical connectors meet the connectors on the elbow.
Set your humidity
Turn the SmartDial to Humidity, press, turn to a level from 0 to 7 and press to accept. The default is 4. If the air feels cold or dry, raise it by 1 or 2 steps over 2 to 3 nights until it feels right.
Start therapy
From the Home Screen, give the SmartDial a quick press to start therapy; the clock face rotates to show it is starting. To use Ramp, press and hold the SmartDial for 3 seconds after starting until the Ramp symbol appears.
If power fails or the machine stops during the night, take your mask off, because air through the mask may not clear your exhaled breath when the blower is off.
After setup: settings worth knowing
- Ramp: Starts at a lower pressure and rises to your prescribed pressure to help you fall asleep (Proportional Ramp on all models).
- Humidity: Sets the humidifier from 0 (off) to 7 (maximum). The default is 4.
- Humidity Boost: Adds three fine-tuning levels on top of the humidity setting: low (1), medium (2, the default) or high (3).
- SensAwake On/Off: On the ICON Auto, lowers pressure when it senses you waking so you can fall back asleep more easily.
- Flight Mode: Runs the machine on reduced power (75 W) for situations like long flights or camping. Humidity output drops sharply and it is not meant for long-term use.
- Display Pressure: Shows either the time (default) or the current pressure on the Home Screen, in cm H2O or hPa.
- Alarm, AlarmTunes, clock and brightness: The ICON doubles as a bedside alarm clock, with a bell or music alarm, adjustable volume and adjustable screen brightness.
Supplies that can help
Distilled water is what most CPAP humidifier chambers are meant to be filled with, because it leaves little or no mineral scale behind.
The air inlet filter keeps dust and lint out of the machine and your airway; it is a cheap part that needs regular replacement.
Plain, mild dish soap is the cleaning agent most CPAP makers and the FDA point to for masks, tubing and humidifier chambers.
A simple hook or hanger for drying CPAP tubing vertically after washing, and for keeping it off the floor.
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Sources
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. How we research · Report an error