Get The Best Equipment. Watch Out! There is a significant difference between basic and high end CPAP equipment. High end equipment is generally smaller, lighter, quieter, less prone to leaks, easier to breathe against, better humidified and easier to travel with than basic CPAP Equipment. The key to CPAP treatment is comfort, choose wisely!
Many traditional, brick and mortar CPAP providers will set you up on a CPAP and bill your insurance company. If this approach to getting your equipment is used, you will most likely be given basic equipment. This is because there is only one billing code for all CPAP Machines and very few unique codes for CPAP Masks. Due to this, the insurance company will pay your CPAP Provider the same amount if you get a high end or basic machine. Usually, the amount paid to traditional CPAP Providers by insurance companies is not enough to cover the cost of high end CPAP equipment and the patient is left to make due with basic equipment.
If you would like high end equipment, there are a variety of ways to obtain it online for equal or lesser cost than dealing with traditional CPAP dealers.
- CPAP.com (CPAP Retailer)
CPAP.com sells high end CPAP Supplies and Equipment direct to consumers. Many times buying with cash is less expensive than the copay and deductible charged through insurance. If you want a way around the hassle and low end equipment provided by insurance companies and local providers, this is a good choice.
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I have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, what should I do?
- Get The Best Equipment. For effective treatment, you must wear your CPAP nightly. Due to this, it is a good idea to get the most comfortable equipment possible. Our company provides a low cost, hassle free alternative to the stress and risk of dealing with private insurance and traditional providers to obtain CPAP equipment and supplies.
- Get Support and Information From Other CPAP Users. The prospect of adjusting to CPAP Therapy can be daunting. You are not alone. The online CPAP Community cpaptalk.com is a free, no registration required resource where CPAP users from all over the world gather to ask questions, provide encouragement, review CPAP Equipment and stay up to date on the latest treatment techniques and options.
cpaptalk.com Online Sleep Community
- Replace Disposable Equipment Regularly. CPAP Filters should be replaced every 2-3 months. CPAP Masks should be replaced every six months. Sinus infections and nasal congestion often result from the failure to replace disposable equipment regularly.
Staying up to date on your equipment replacement is easy with our reminders. After placing orders with our company, you will be given the option to have email reminders sent to you at the period time after your order has shipped that you specify. This allows our customers to "order it and forget about it" without putting themselves at risk of using out of date equipment.
- Stay Informed. The market for CPAP goods and services is competitive and dynamic. Manufacturers are frequently coming to market with products that make CPAP therapy more comfortable and effective. You do not want to be stuck using an inferior product! Subscribe to our CPAP newsletter and get the product and industry news that affects your therapy.
CPAP Newsletter Archive
CPAP Newsletter Sign Up
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How do I choose the machine that is right for me?
We provide our customers with many tools to make informed decisions about their machine purchases. Options include:
- Calling a CPAP Expert Toll Free. 1-800-356-5221.
- Comparison Charts. These charts compare available machines, feature by feature. Click on the name of any feature you are not familiar with for a definition. Click on the image or name of the product for more detailed product information, pictures and resources.
CPAP Comparision Chart
APAP Comparision Chart
BiPAP Comparision Chart
- CPAP Video Library, CPAP Comparison Video. We maintain an extensive video library available for download free of charge. We have created a video that walks you through the variety of machines available and highlights key differences.
CPAP Comparison Video, Introduction to Sleep Machines
www.cpap.com Video Collection
- Browse Our Machine Product Categories. These categories show each machine our company offers, ranked by popularity. Popularity is determined by a mix of sales data and our in house opinion of the quality of the machine based on our experience and customer feedback. The best products float to the top of our categories.
CPAP Machine Category
APAP (Auto Adjusting) Machine Category
BiPAP (Two Pressue) Machine Category
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Are prescriptions required for machine purchases?
Yes. Federal law requires we have a valid prescription on file before we ship your machine. We provide many easy ways to fax us your prescription and also have created a section of this FAQ that lists what phrases are required for each machine type.
www.cpap.com FAQ, Machine Prescription Section
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What maintenance is required on machines?
The only care the machines require is that you clean or change the filters in the back of the machines to keep the internal parts from accumulating dust.
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What comes with my machine?
Machines come with a six foot hose, manuals and a carrying case. They do not come with a CPAP Mask. CPAP Masks must be purchased separately.
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Which CPAP Masks work on which machines?
You can safely mix and match nearly all machines and CPAP Masks.
Be aware that there are known issues with APAP Machines and certain styles of CPAP Masks as well as with sensor tubes and some CPAP masks. If you are purchasing a new style mask for use with APAP for sensor tubes, check with us first!
Please see the CPAP Mask section of our FAQ for more details:
www.cpap.com FAQ, CPAP Mask Section
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What is C-Flex?
C-Flex is a feature that makes breathing back against CPAP pressure easier to do. Independent studies conducted by leading universities indicate that patient comfort, and therefore, patient CPAP compliance, is higher with machines that use C-Flex. C-Flex is a technology invented by Respironics, is proprietary, and is not available on other brands of CPAP Machines.
C-Flex vs. Traditional CPAP: Brown University Study
cpaptalk.com Interview, C-Flex in the Remstar Pro and Remstar Auto
www.cpap.com Video Collection, Respironics C-Flex Videos
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How do I change the pressure setting of my machine?
When a physician orders a pressure change, or a patient moves to an area with a very different altitude and does not have an altitude compensating machine, there are a number of ways to ensure you are receiving CPAP therapy at the correct pressure.
Most sleep laboratories and sleep disorder centers are very willing to make this change at no cost. This is routine in most facilities. Just call a big local hospital or ask you physician for sleep lab phone numbers. Be sure to bring your prescription.
A second way is to do it yourself. We sell manometers that are very portable, accurate, and simple to use. All the machines we sell come with instructions on how to set pressure to physician orders. Most patients have little trouble doing this themselves. If they need help we can talk them through the procedure.
Tiara Water Column Manometer
Fisher and Paykel Water Column CPAP Manometer with HC325 Chamber
A third option is to ship the machine to us with the new prescription. We will set it and ship it back.
It is the law and good common sense to run all sleep disorder devices at the prescribed pressure. If you think your prescribed pressure is wrong, talk to your physician.
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What is a CPAP Machine?
A CPAP machine blows one constant pressure. Your ideal pressure was determined during your sleep study. However, many factors can affect your ideal pressure over time, like weight fluctuations and even sleeping positions.
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What does CPAP stand for?
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.
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What does CPAP therapy do?
CPAP therapy provides a constant airflow which holds the airway open so that uninterrupted breathing is maintained during sleep. It is traditionally provided through a nasal mask that seals around the nose to maintain the pressure level.
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Is there a CPAP that runs on batteries? How long do they last?
Many CPAPs operate from 12 volt DC power. If your CPAP has a DC jack, a round, single hole in the back or side of the unit, then you should be able to operate it from a 12 volt DC power source with only the use of a DC power cord; an inverter is not necessary. Typically, the DC power cords plugs into the CPAP and end in a cigarette lighter plug. To connect a CPAP directly to a battery, you would need a DC adapter cable that fits over the cigarette lighter plug on the DC power cord and ends in alligator clips.
For the longest usage time, we suggest you use a deep-cycle marine type battery. It will operate most CPAPs at most pressures for about three nights before needing to be recharged. We sell a smaller, portable, rechargeable Battery Pack on our site that will operate most CPAPs and most pressures for one night.
Heated Humidifiers will not operate on DC power without an inverter.
The AEIOmed Aura is newly released and is the worlds first CPAP with integrated battery system. The Aura's optional battery attachment that will run the CPAP and its integrated heated humidifier for one night before needing to be recharged. The AEIOmed Aura CPAP is pictured below.
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What does APAP stand for?
APAP stands for Automatic Positive Airway Pressure.
This definition is less than stellar and due to this, many variants of the definition have sprung up including:
- Auto Adjusting CPAP
- Auto Titrating CPAP
- Self Adjusting CPAP
- Auto PAP
- Automatic CPAP
- Auto
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What is an APAP Machine?
An APAP machine automatically adjusts on a breath by breath basis to blow the minimum pressure needed to keep your airway open during sleep. This allows your machine to provide you with your ideal pressure nightly.
APAPs tend to be more advanced, more feature rich and more expensive than CPAP machines.
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What is the difference BiPAP and BiPAP ST?
A BiPAP alternates blowing two set pressures, a higher pressure for inhalation and a lower pressure for exhalation.
A BiPAP ST Machine is a non-invasive ventilator. ST stands for Spontaneous Timed.
A BiPAP has two set pressures but some patients require a back up timed response in which the BiPAP will initiate a breath if a breath is not taken within the set timed parameters.
For example, a BiPAP ST might be set with an inhale pressure of 10 and an exhale pressure of 5 with a BPM (BPM=Breath Per Minute) of 12. A BiPAP ST will not breathe for you but will initiate a breath if you do not inhale 12 times a minute.
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What size mask should I use?
We have created the only CPAP Mask Sizing Guide on the internet. Just take a few measurements of your nose, enter them in and you will receive a list of masks in the sizes that will fit you best.
CPAP Mask Sizing Guide
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What is a nasal mask?
A nasal masks seals around the entire nose and is held in place with straps, or headgear. This is a good device for first-time CPAP users.
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What is a full face mask?
A full face mask seals around both the nose and mouth and is held in place with straps, or headgear.
Full face masks are good alternative for 'mouth breathers'. For some people the mouth tends to drop open unknowingly during sleep. This allows the treatment pressure blowing through the nose via a traditional nasal mask to escape. If this happens, it renders CPAP therapy ineffective as the pressure intended to hold a patient's airway open instead flows out of the patient's mouth. The full face mask equalizes pressure between the nose and mouth allowing the patient to receive the proper treatment pressure at all times.
Sometimes nasal blockages like a common cold or those who have nasal congestion due to illness or allergies might also need a full face for consistent treatment.
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What is a nose cushion mask?
A nose cushion mask seals over both nostrils, similar to a nasal mask, but it fits under the nose instead of around the entire nose. The cushion does not fit over the tip of the nose or rest on the bridge. These devices include different sized cushions for ease of fit.
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What are nasal prong devices?
A nasal prong device is inserted into each nostril and seals inside rather than around the outside edge as a nasal pillow device does. Sizing of such devices is best accomplished in person with the actual product.
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What is an oral mask?
An oral mask fits into the mouth to deliver the CPAP pressure. One size is intended to fit any user. Since the CPAP air will not be conditioned by the mucous membranes in the nose, an oral mask tends to dry out the mouth and should be used only with a heated humidifier.
Currently, the only oral mask on the market is the The Oracle from Fisher and Paykel.
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What is a nasal pillow device?
A nasal pillow device seals against the outside edge of each nostril rather than around the entire nose. The pillows open into the nostril but are not inserted inside to seal. This device is helpful for people who sleep on their side or stomach, or for those with facial hair. It is sold with different pillow sizes for ease of fit.
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What is a total face mask?
A total face mask seals over the entire face, at the forehead, down the sides and under the chin. It can only be used when sleeping on the back and is somewhat of a last resort.
There are special circumstances or needs for this mask, like patients who leak air out of the corner of their eyes. This mask is like a Full Face mask in that it equalizes pressures for an even treatment, but this mask encompasses every opening on the face where air might escape like the eyes.
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How often should I replace my mask?
Medicare allows for mask cushion replacement every three (3) months and complete mask system replacement every six (6) months. CPAP manufacturers and vendors suggest these replacement schedules as well.
In our experience, most mask cushions begin to deteriorate after about six months of use. The silicone eventually becomes too soft to hold a seal and headgear straps must be tightened more and more to get the same quality seal.
We strongly suggest replacing cushions and pillows as soon as they start to soften. Air leaks may reduce the effectiveness of CPAP therapy and headgear that is too tight may cause facial sores at pressure points.
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How do I care for my mask?
Masks should be washed daily in warm water with baby shampoo and left to air dry.
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What is Humidification?
Humidification adds moisture to the CPAP air, reducing irritation to the nasal passages caused by the increased airflow.
CPAP air is an irritant - to one degree or another - to everyone. In some cases the irritation dries out the nasal passages and may cause bleeding. It may also cause swelling, excess mucous, congestion or sneezing. The irritation also creates a very fertile ground for infections to begin. The irritation may be cumulative, building up over time. The only way to reduce the irritation is to add moisture.
Humidification is therefore a critical part of CPAP Therapy.
CPAP Humidification Guide
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What is a heated humidifier?
A heated humidifier uses heat to produce moisture. The heat is adjustable for more or less moisture, and the chamber is much smaller than a passover humidifier.
It is our experience from over ten years of specializing in CPAP equipment, that patients who use heated humidifiers have a much higher rate of therapy effectiveness to CPAP therapy.
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What is a passover humidifier?
A passover humidifier is a chamber of water added to the CPAP to help moisten the airflow and reduce irritation to the nasal passages.
Air flows from the CPAP, through a short hose to the humidifier, then into the six foot hose to the mask. The air picks up whatever moisture it can as it "passes over" the water in the chamber.
Passover humidifiers may provide suffcient moisture with CPAPs set at lower-end pressures, but if not, there is no way to increase the amount of moisture produced. Furthermore, in cold climates, the water temperature in the chamber will drop, causing the CPAP air to become very cold and reduce the amount of moisture.
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What is an integrated humidifier?
An integrated humidifier is a component to a specific CPAP that fits directly to the CPAP, eliminating the need for a second hose and in some heated humidifiers, a second power cord.
The advantage of an integrated humidifier is a more compact unit that uses fewer parts.
A disadvantage is that they may produce less moisture if used as passover humidifiers because the surface area is typically smaller. Also, most integrated humidifiers will function only with the CPAP for which they were designed.
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What is a built in humidifier?
A “built in” humidifier is designed so that it is part of the CPAP machine and cannot be removed or separated from the CPAP machine. This is similar to an all-in-one unit eliminating the need for a second hose or second power cord. Usually the water chamber can be removed for cleaning or replacement purposes.
The advantage of a “built in” humidifier is a more compact unit that uses fewer parts. This design also helps to ensure therapy effectiveness by including the heated humidifier which may provide comfort to the CPAP user they may not have received otherwise.
A disadvantage is that they may produce less moisture if used as passover humidifiers because the surface area is typically smaller. Also, since the humidifier is “built in” to the machine, the ability to detach the humidifier is not an option. This can be an issue for frequent travelers. Lastly, if the machine or humidifier stops working, the entire unit must be sent in for repair or replaced, not just the component that failed.
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What is a stand alone humidifier?
A stand-alone humidifier is a component that will work with any CPAP and does not attach directly to the CPAP. It uses its own power cord and typically a short hose is used to connect it to the CPAP. Usually it would sit next to the CPAP machine and is slightly larger than a integrated humidifier.
The advantage of an stand-alone humidifier is superior humidity and control and often a larger water capacity with the chamber. Also, the fact they may be used with any CPAP machine can be useful.
The main disadvantage is that the size is often larger than the a “built in” or integrated humidifier and the short hose is needed to connect it to the CPAP machine.
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What type of power does my CPAP need?
Most CPAP and bilevel machines today are designed to operate on both AC current as well as DC / battery current. In the United States, the AC current from wall outlets is 110 volt and most batteries produce 12 volt DC current. Overseas, the AC current is usually 220 or 240 volt.
We include information about the power needs and capacities in the description of our products.
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Will my CPAP operate overseas?
Most CPAPs and bilevels, and all the models we sell, contain internal converters that enable the machine to operate on any AC current from 100 to 240 volts without any adjustment or addition to the machine.
An adapter may be required to plug a US power cord into a wall outlet in a foreign country. We suggest that these be purchased from an electronics or travel store.
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Will my CPAP operate on DC / battery power?
All CPAPs will operate on DC power with the use of an inverter to change the current from DC to AC before it reaches the machine.
Many will operate on DC power without the need for an inverter, just a power cord that plugs into the CPAP and ends in a cigarette lighter plug.
To determine if your CPAP will operate without an inverter, look for a DC outlet on the machine, either at the back or on the side, with a single opening directly in the center. It should be labeled "DC Power" or similar term.
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How do I use a battery to operate my CPAP?
If your CPAP is configured to operate directly from a DC power source without the need of an inverter, you first must use the DC power cord that plugs into your CPAP and ends in a cigarette lighter plug.
Then, to connect directly to a battery, you need an adapter cable that fits over the cigarette lighter plug and ends in alligator clips.
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What type of battery should I use?
For longer battery use, we suggest a deep-cycle marine battery. A CPAP set at 10cm will usually run for about three nights before having to recharge a deep cycle marine battery. A car battery will usually run a machine for 8 hours and still start the car.
There are small, portable battery packs that will operate a CPAP set at 10cm for at least one night, or about eight hours.
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Overview
CPAP machines use filters to remove dust and other impurities from the air that can collect inside the CPAP and cause damage, especially to the motor/fan assembly.
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Do all CPAPs use filters?
Yes, all CPAPs use at least one filter that is usually a type of foam material and washable. Some CPAPs offer finer filtration with the addition of a disposable paper filter.
The filters are located at the back of the machine at the air intake.
Cleaning and changing filters is the only maintenance required for a CPAP machine.
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