CPAP Video & FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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 may create 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.


There are two types of humidifiers:

Heated Humidifiers
Cold (Passover) Humidifiers

Are prescriptions required for mask, machine, humidifier, and Provent purchases?

Yes. Federal law requires we have a valid prescription on file before we ship your mask, machine, humidifier, or Provent.

We provide many easy ways to get your prescription:

• We can request your prescription for you! When you checkout, just let us know you would like us to request your prescription, or you can log into your account to have us request your prescription.
• Fax your prescription to our toll free fax number: 866.353.2727, or our international fax number: 713.541.7370
• Email your prescription to cpap@cpap.com
• Upload your prescription in your account, under the Prescriptions Section
• Ask your doctor to fill out our prescription form. We have both a standard prescription form and a Provent prescription form.

For more information on prescriptions, please see our Prescription Section of the Learning Center.

Why am I congested from CPAP use?

The primary reason nasal passages can dry out from CPAP use is lack of adequate humidification.

CPAP air is an irritant - to one degree or another - to everyone. The irritation may cause the nasal passages to dry out and bleed, or the mucous membranes may try to protect the nasal passages by producing excess mucous, resulting in congestion. The irritation can be cumulative, developing over time. Furthermore, dry, cracked or bleeding nasal passages are a breeding ground for infection.

Add a Heated Humidifier to add moisture to the CPAP air and reduce or eliminate the irritation. A passover humidifier may not offer enough moisture. If you are already using a heated humidifier, try turning it up to a higher setting. If that produces condensation in the six foot hose, you should try an Insulating Cover for the hose. You can also try using a Nose Lubricant to reduce the dryness.

You can also try using a Sinus Rinse before going to bed and again once you wake in the morning to help clear your sinuses.

Why is my mouth dry in the morning?

Dry mouth is a sign that you are opening your mouth while you sleep. If you use a nasal mask, breathing through your mouth bypasses any humidification you may be using so increasing the heat will not be effective. Breathing through your mouth while using a nasal mask reduces the benefit of CPAP therapy.

First, be sure the mask is not leaking. If the mask is six to nine months old and leaking, try replacing it. If it is new and leaking, the fit could be incorrect. We can help you find a mask with a great fit.

If your mask is new and NOT leaking, try a Chinstrap to keep your jaw up and mouth from dropping open during sleep. If a chinstrap doesn't solve the problem, try masks recommended for Mouth Breathers.

If you use a full face mask and have a dry mouth, try adding a Heated Humidifier to add moisture.

Here are some items we recommend that may help with dry mouth:

Heated Humidifiers
Full Face Masks
Chinstraps
Heated Tubing

What can I do for sinus and congestion relief?

A lot of new CPAP users report having an increase in sinus congestion after starting CPAP therapy. When treating your obstructive sleep apnea, sinus congestion presents a roadblock to healthy breathing. CPAP air is an irritant - to one degree or another - to everyone. The irritation may cause the nasal passages to dry out and bleed, or the mucous membranes may try to protect the nasal passages by producing excess mucous and so congestion results.

The best option is to add a Heated Humidifier to add moisture to the CPAP air and reduce or eliminate the irritation. If you are already using a heated humidifier, try turning it up to a higher setting. If that produces condensation in the six foot hose, you should try an Insulating Cover for the hose. Other options are to:

• Wait and see if humidification adjustments help decrease the congestion.
• Visit your the ENT (ear nose and throat) doctor, and let them know you are on CPAP therapy.
• Try using a Sinus Rinse before going to bed and again once you wake in the morning to help clear your sinuses.

As a general rule, those with obstructive sleep apnea should avoid using sedating medicines. Sedatives relax the muscles of the air passage even more and can effect your apneas. You should consult your doctor before using these types of medicines.

Here are some items we recommend that may help with sinus relief:

Heated Humidifiers
Bacteria Filters (5-Pack)
Sinus Rinse
+ See More

What are the benefits of using a humidifier?

Many CPAP users experience nasal congestion and dryness of the nose and throat during treatment. This can be especially problematic for new users who are adapting to treatment. Humidification adds moisture to the air helping to reduce the symptoms of dryness and congestion.

Nasal congestion also leads to mouth breathing, which perpetuates the problem of dryness. If this is an issue for you, try a heated humidifier.

What is a heated humidifier?

A heated humidifier uses heat to warm the water to add moisture to the airstream. The heat is adjustable for more or less moisture. A heated humidifier water chamber is much smaller than a passover humidifier water chamber.

In our experience, it is common for CPAP users to report that their therapy is greatly enhanced by the use of a heated humidifier.

There are three types of heated humidifiers:

• Stand Alone Humidifiers
  
  Stand Alone Humidifiers can be used with almost any machine as long as an integrated humidifier is not being used and the machine does NOT have a built in humidifier. The Fisher & Paykel HC150 Heated Humidifier With Hose, 2 Chambers and Stand is a stand alone heated humidifier that includes ambient tracking to keep the humidity consistent independent of room temperature.
  
  
• Integrated Humidifiers
  
  Integrated Humidifiers connect directly to the machine the humidifier was made to be used with. This provides the convenience of being able to remove the humidifier from the machine for traveling or other purposes. Here are some of the integrated humidifiers we carry:
  
  PR System One 60 Series Heated Tube Humidifier with Heated Tube
  Transcend Heated Humidifier
  XT Heated Humidifier
  
  
• Built In Humidifiers
  
  Built In Humidifiers are permanently affixed to their machine and cannot be removed. The chamber can still be removed for cleaning, however the heating element is a part of the machine. The advantage of built in humidifiers is they generally take up less space than a machine with an integrated or stand alone humidifier. Here are some machines that have a built in humidifier:
  
  AirSense™ 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
  ICON Auto CPAP Machine with Built-In Heated Humidifier and ThermoSmart Heated Hose
  iCH Auto CPAP Machine with PVA and Built-In Heated Humidifier
  + See More

What is a passover humidifier?

A passover humidifier uses a chamber of room temperature water with the CPAP to add moisture to the airflow and reduce irritation to the nasal passages.

Air flows from the CPAP through a short hose to the humidifier chamber where the air "passes over" the water to pick up whatever moisture it can. The air then flows into the six foot hose to the mask.

Passover humidifiers may provide sufficient moisture with CPAPs set at lower-end pressures. However, if the moisture is not sufficient there is no way to increase the amount of moisture added. The water is room temperature. In cold climates, the water temperature will drop causing the CPAP air to become very cold, and causing the amount of moisture to be reduced.

What is an integrated humidifier?

An integrated humidifier is used with a specific CPAP and fits directly onto the machine. For most heated humidifiers, this design eliminates the need for a second hose as well as a second power cord.

An advantage of an integrated humidifier is that it works very closely with the CPAP machine to deliver humidification. Also, an integrated humidifier is a compact unit that uses fewer parts to provide moisture to the user.

A disadvantage of the integrated humidifier is the user will receive less moisture when it is used with a passover humidifier. The smaller surface area effects the amount of moisture produced. Also, a integrated humidifier will only function with the CPAP for which it was designed.

You can see if your machine has an integrated humidifier option by reviewing our Compare Charts.

An example of an integrated humidifier is the PR System One Heated Humidifier as seen below attached to a machine in the PR System One line.

Here are some of the integrated humidifiers we carry:

DreamStation Heated Humidifier
Transcend Heated Humidifier
IntelliPAP 2 Heated Humidifier with Pulse Dose Humidification
PR System One 60 Series Heated Tube Humidifier with Heated Tube

What is a built in humidifier?

A "built in" humidifier is designed as a part of the CPAP machine and cannot be removed or separated from the CPAP machine. As with an integrated humidifier, the design eliminates the need for a second hose or power cord. The water chamber can be removed for cleaning or replacement purposes.

The advantage of a "built-in" humidifier is its compact shape, which operates on fewer parts. This integrated design helps to ensure optimum moisturized comfort and effectiveness when CPAP therapy and humidification are used together. Also, it allows an option for the humidification to be turned off while the CPAP is blowing.

A disadvantage is that a built in humidifier may produce less moisture if used as passover because the surface area is typically smaller. Also, since the humidifier is "built in" to the machine, detaching it 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 replacement, not just the component that failed.

An example of a machine with a built in humidifier is the ICON Auto CPAP Machine with Built In Heated Humidifier and SensAwake as seen below.
Here are some other machines we carry with built-in humidifiers:

AirSense™ 10 CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
AirSense™ 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
iCH Auto CPAP Machine with PVA and Built-In Heated Humidifier
+ See More

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 machine. It has its own power cord and a short hose to connect it to the CPAP. Generally it will sit next to the CPAP machine and is slightly larger than an integrated humidifier.

The advantage of a stand alone humidifier is the fact that it may be used with any CPAP machine.

The main disadvantages are that the size is often larger than either a "built in" or integrated humidifier and that a short hose is needed to connect it to the CPAP machine.

An example of a stand alone humidifier is the Fisher & Paykel HC150 Heated Humidifier as seen below.

How do I care for my humidifier?

To care for your humidifier simply empty and clean the water tank each morning. Only distilled water should be used in the humidifier to avoid mineral deposit build up.
Here are some items that can help with caring for your humidifier:

Control III Disinfectant CPAP Cleaning Solution - 16 oz Concentrate
Control III Disinfectant CPAP Cleaning Solution - Home Care Kit
Hurricane CPAP Equipment Dryer

Why do I need to use distilled water with in my humidifier chamber?

Use distilled water to help keep the humidifier chamber clean and mineral deposit free. Tap water should not be used as it will leave hard white mineral deposits in the chamber as the water evaporates, or it may lead to mold growth. Cases of lung disease have been connected to using contaminated well water in a CPAP humidifier.* Source

If distilled water is not available where you live, use bottled water. It will be important to clean the chamber each morning, do not leave standing water in the chamber between uses.