CPAP troubleshooting
Pick the problem closest to yours. Each page explains the likely causes, then lists fixes from the easiest and free to the ones that need a new part, and says when to call your doctor instead.
Mask problems
CPAP Headgear Straps Slipping or Stretched: FixesHeadgear that slips, rides up, digs in or will not hold a setting is usually stretched, dirty, or adjusted unevenly. Washing it, …CPAP Mask Leaks: Causes and FixesMost CPAP mask leaks come from three things: a mask that does not fit or was put on wrong, a cushion coated …CPAP Mask Making Noise: Hissing, Whistling and FixesA soft, steady whoosh from the vent is normal, because every CPAP mask vents exhaled air on purpose. Hissing, squeaking or whistling …CPAP Mask Marks on Face: Why They Happen and How to Prevent ThemRed lines or dents that fade within an hour of taking the mask off are common, especially when you are new to …CPAP Mask Rash and Skin Irritation: Causes and FixesA rash, redness or breakouts under your CPAP mask usually come from buildup of oil and sweat on the cushion, pressure from …CPAP Mask Too Tight: How Snug Should It Be?Your CPAP mask should be just snug enough to seal with the air on, not tight. If it leaves deep marks, hurts, …CPAP Mouth Leak With a Nasal Mask: Causes and FixesIf you wear a nasal or nasal pillows mask and wake with a dry mouth, air is probably escaping out of your …CPAP With a Beard: How to Get a Good Mask SealFacial hair can stop a cushion from sealing because air escapes through the hair under the edge. Masks that sit inside or …Nasal Pillows Hurt My Nostrils: Causes and FixesSore, red or tender nostrils with a nasal pillows mask usually mean the pillows are the wrong size, the headgear is pulling …Sore on Nose Bridge From CPAP Mask: Causes and TreatmentA red, painful or broken spot on the bridge of your nose usually comes from a nasal or full face mask pressing …
Comfort and side effects
CPAP Bloating and Gas (Aerophagia): Causes and FixesWaking up bloated, burping or gassy on CPAP is called aerophagia, which means pressurized air went into your stomach instead of your …CPAP Claustrophobia: How to Get Used to the MaskFeeling trapped or panicky in a CPAP mask is common at the start, and most people can work through it. Practicing with …CPAP Dry Eyes or Red Eyes: Mask Leak FixesWaking up with dry, red or watery eyes on CPAP is a classic sign of air leaking from the top of your …CPAP Dry Mouth: Causes and FixesDry mouth on CPAP usually means air is escaping through your mouth, your humidity is too low, or your mask is leaking. …CPAP Dry Nose: Why It Happens and How to Fix ItA dry, crusty or burning nose on CPAP comes from air that is not humid enough for your nose to handle, especially …CPAP Headaches: Causes and FixesMorning headaches on CPAP are often caused by tight straps, sinus irritation from cold dry air, or congestion. Loosening the headgear and …CPAP Pressure Feels Too Low or Not Enough Air: What to DoFeeling like you cannot get enough air on CPAP (air hunger) is often caused by a long ramp at low starting pressure, …CPAP Pressure Too High? Signs and What to DoIf CPAP feels like too much air, fighting to breathe out, leaking, bloating or dryness may follow. Comfort features like ramp and …Can't Sleep Since Starting CPAP? Insomnia FixesTrouble falling or staying asleep after starting CPAP is common in the early weeks and usually improves as you adjust. Good sleep …Chest Pain or Discomfort With CPAP: What It MeansSome new CPAP users feel chest muscle discomfort or a burning feeling from dry or cold air, which often fades. But chest …Ear Pain or Pressure From CPAP: What to DoEar pressure or pain while using CPAP can happen when you are congested from a cold or allergies, since air pressure and …Hard to Breathe Out on CPAP? Exhale Relief and Other FixesDifficulty breathing out against CPAP air is common in the first weeks. Exhale relief (EPR or Flex), the ramp and practice usually …Nosebleeds From CPAP: Causes, Fixes and When to WorryCPAP nosebleeds usually come from dry, irritated nasal lining, and better humidification is the main fix. Most are minor, but a nosebleed …Runny Nose and Sneezing on CPAP: How to Stop ItA runny nose or sneezing fits on CPAP are usually your nose reacting to dry, cool air. Heated humidification is the main …Sore Throat From CPAP: Causes and FixesA scratchy or sore throat on CPAP is usually caused by dry air, often from mouth breathing or low humidity. A humidifier, …Still Tired on CPAP? Why and What to DoIf you still feel tired on CPAP, the most common reasons are not using it long enough each night, mask leak, a …Stuffy Nose With CPAP: Causes and Fixes for CongestionA stuffy nose on CPAP is usually caused by dry air irritating the lining of your nose, though colds and allergies play …Taking Your CPAP Mask Off in Your Sleep: Why and How to StopWaking up with your mask off is common, especially in the first weeks. It usually points to discomfort: a mask that is …
Machine and humidifier
CPAP Air Too Hot or Too Cold: How to Adjust the TemperatureThe temperature of your CPAP air depends on the room, the humidifier, and whether you use a heated tube. With a heated …CPAP Condensation in a Cold Bedroom: How to Stop ItA cold bedroom is the most common trigger for condensation in CPAP tubing and masks, because warm humidified air cools quickly as …CPAP Hose Problems: Tangled, Pulling, Kinked or Too ShortA CPAP hose that tangles, tugs the mask off, kinks under your pillow or pulls the machine off the nightstand can break …CPAP Humidifier Not Working: Water Not Going Down or Not HeatingIf the water level in your CPAP chamber barely changes, or you still wake up dry with the humidifier on, the humidity …CPAP Humidifier Water Runs Out Before MorningIf your water chamber is empty by morning, the most common reasons are mask leak, high humidity or tube temperature settings, a …CPAP Machine Too Loud: Why It Is Noisy and How to Quiet ItModern CPAP machines are designed to run quietly, so new or growing noise usually points to air leaking at the mask or …CPAP Machine Won't Turn On: Step by Step ChecksWhen a CPAP machine will not power on, the cause is usually the outlet, a loose power cord or power supply connection, …CPAP Smells Bad: Musty, Plastic or Burning Smell ExplainedA musty or sour smell from a CPAP usually comes from a water chamber, mask or hose that needs cleaning or from …CPAP Turns On but No Air Is Coming OutIf the screen lights up but you feel little or no air, therapy may not be started, the hose may be disconnected …CPAP Water Chamber Leaking: What to CheckA CPAP water chamber usually leaks because it is not assembled or seated correctly, the seal is missing or misplaced, or the …CPAP Water in Tube or Mask (Rainout): Causes and FixesWater in your CPAP hose or mask is called rainout. It happens when warm, humidified air cools on its way through the …CPAP Whistling Noise: How to Find and Fix ItA whistle usually means air is escaping somewhere it should not: around the mask cushion, at a loose or cracked tube connection, …
Sleep data and AHI
CPAP Compliance Hours Not Counting: What Counts for InsuranceFor Medicare, adherence means using PAP at least 4 hours per night on 70% of nights during a consecutive 30 day period …CPAP Data Missing or Not Uploading: How to Fix ItWhen your app shows no data for a night you used your machine, the cause is usually power, a weak wireless signal, …CPAP High Leak Rate: What Your Leak Number Means and How to Fix ItYour machine reports leak because every mask vents air on purpose, and it estimates any extra air escaping around the cushion or …Central Apneas on CPAP (Clear Airway Events): What They MeanCentral apneas, often labeled clear airway events on your machine, are pauses in breathing when your airway is open but your brain …High AHI on CPAP: What It Means and What to DoAHI is the average number of apneas and hypopneas per hour your machine detects while you use it. An AHI under 5 …myAir Score Explained: How ResMed Calculates ItYour myAir score is out of 100 and is built from four parts: usage hours (up to 70 points), mask seal (up …
Everyday life with CPAP
CPAP After Weight Loss: Do Your Settings or Mask Need to Change?Losing weight can lower the pressure you need and can change how your mask fits, but it does not cure sleep apnea …CPAP and Allergies: How to Breathe EasierAllergies cause nasal congestion that can make CPAP uncomfortable and push you to breathe through your mouth. Heated humidification, a clean filter, …Camping With a CPAP: Power, Water and Setup TipsYou can bring CPAP camping. At sites with electricity you plug in as usual. Without power, a CPAP battery or a DC …Can You Sleep on Your Stomach With CPAP? Tips That WorkStomach sleeping with CPAP is harder because the pillow presses on the mask, but many people manage it. Sleep Foundation says most …Drinking Alcohol and CPAP: What Happens to Your Sleep ApneaAlcohol can make sleep apnea worse. Studies show it makes breathing events longer and lowers oxygen levels. If you drink, still use …How to Sleep on Your Side With a CPAP MaskYou can sleep on your side with CPAP, and for many people with sleep apnea side sleeping is a good position. The …Should You Use CPAP When You Nap?Yes. Sleep apnea happens whenever you sleep, so NHLBI and the AASM both say to use your PAP machine for all sleep, …Using CPAP With a Cold or Stuffy NoseMost people can keep using CPAP with a cold, and a heated humidifier often makes it more comfortable. If your nose is …Using CPAP at High Altitude: What to Know Before You GoMost CPAP machines are rated to work up to a set altitude, and humidifiers can have their own limit. The ResMed AirSense …What to Do With Your CPAP During a Power OutageWhen the power goes out, your CPAP simply shuts off. You can still breathe room air: nasal mask users breathe through the …
Getting used to CPAP
CPAP First Week Tips: Getting Through the First NightsThe first week on CPAP is often the hardest, and the habits you form now tend to predict how well you do …How Long Does It Take to Get Used to CPAP?Many people adjust to CPAP in about two weeks, though some take longer and some feel settled within days. The early weeks …What Happens If You Stop Using CPAP?CPAP treats sleep apnea only while you use it, so when you stop, the breathing pauses come back, often within days. In …
Error codes by machine
ResMed AirSense 11 AutoSet8 error codesResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet8 error codesResMed AirCurve 11 VAuto8 error codesResMed AirCurve 10 VAuto8 error codesResMed AirMini5 error codesResMed S9 series (S9 AutoSet, S9 Elite, S9 Escape)8 error codesFisher & Paykel SleepStyle (Auto and CPAP)7 error codesFisher & Paykel ICON series (ICON and ICON+ Auto, Premo, Novo)3 error codesPhilips DreamStation 2 Auto CPAP Advanced12 error codesPhilips DreamStation (CPAP, CPAP Pro, Auto CPAP)11 error codesPhilips Respironics System One REMstar 60 Series11 error codesPhilips DreamStation Go (CPAP and Auto CPAP)10 error codesPhilips DreamStation Auto BiPAP (and BiPAP Pro)9 error codesReact Health Luna G3 Auto CPAP11 error codesReact Health Luna G3 BPAP 25A10 error codes3B Medical Luna II CPAP / Auto CPAP8 error codesBreas Z2 Auto Travel CPAP8 error codesTranscend 365 miniCPAP19 error codesTranscend 3 miniCPAP13 error codesResvent iBreeze 20A Auto CPAP15 error codes