Everyday life with CPAP
What to Do With Your CPAP During a Power Outage
When the power goes out, your CPAP simply shuts off. You can still breathe room air: nasal mask users breathe through the mouth, and full face masks have an anti-asphyxia valve that opens to room air. If you live where outages happen, a CPAP battery or a compatible DC setup lets you keep therapy going.
Signs
- Machine stops in the middle of the night
- Waking up with the mask on and no airflow
- Unsure how long a battery will run
- Humidifier not working on battery power
Common causes
- CPAP needs constant power
- ResMed explains that in a power outage your CPAP shuts off, and it can plug into either the wall or a battery, not both at the same time.
- No backup plan
- Without a battery or DC option, you have no therapy until power returns.
- Humidifier power demand
- The DreamStation 2 manual says some battery power setups do not support humidification and that an 80 W power supply is required to support humidification.
Fixes to try, easiest first
Know you can still breathe
ResMed says nasal and nasal pillows users will naturally breathe through the mouth, and full face masks have an anti-asphyxia valve that opens to room air if the CPAP shuts off. If you wake up, take the mask off or switch to backup power.
Keep a charged battery ready
ResMed suggests a battery if you live where storms cause outages. Its RPS II battery can provide up to 13 hours. Charge it before storm season and after each use.
Switch the plug by hand
The machine cannot use the wall and battery at once, so you must unplug from the wall and plug into the battery.
Turn off the humidifier on battery if needed
Check your manual. On some machines the battery does not support humidification, so you run therapy dry until power returns.
Use a compatible DC cord
ResMed notes you can power some machines from a 12 V battery such as a car battery using the right converter. Check your machine's specifications for compatibility first.
Have a plan for long outages with your clinician
Know where you could go with power, and keep your provider's number handy. If you rely on PAP for a condition other than sleep apnea, ask your doctor what backup you need.
Call your doctor before an expected long outage if you have heart or lung disease, use oxygen, or use your machine for a condition other than obstructive sleep apnea. Get urgent care if you are short of breath. For ordinary sleep apnea, missing part of one night is not an emergency, but resume therapy as soon as you can.
Supplies that can help
A battery pack that runs a CPAP machine without mains power, for camping, power outages or long flights.
A cord or converter that runs a CPAP from a 12 V or 24 V DC source, such as a car outlet, RV or deep cycle …
A heat and moisture exchanger (HME) that captures warmth and moisture from your breath and returns it on the next breath, used mostly with travel CPAPs …
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Mask types this applies to
Frequently asked questions
Is it dangerous if my CPAP turns off while I am asleep?
ResMed says you can still breathe room air. Nasal mask users breathe through the mouth, and full face masks have an anti-asphyxia valve. You lose therapy, so your apneas return until the machine restarts.
How long will a CPAP battery last?
It depends on the battery, your pressure, and whether you use the humidifier. ResMed says its RPS II can provide up to 13 hours. Test your setup at home before you need it.
Does insurance cover a CPAP battery?
ResMed says most insurers will not cover a CPAP battery because they consider it a convenience, but ask your plan.
Sources
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. How we research · Report an error