Manual mode: Know your CPAP humidifier

With CPAP, comfort is everything! A CPAP humidifier helps many users enjoy maximum comfort. In most cases, the Climate Control Auto settings provide the best protection against rain-out (an uncomfortable condition in which humidified air cools too quickly and condenses in your mask, becoming water droplets that dampen your face). But some nights, it helps to have more control over your humidification to meet your individual needs. That’s why we include Climate Control Manual mode in your ResMed AirSense™ 10, AirCurve™ 10 or S9™ CPAP/VPAP machine – so long as you also have a ClimateLine™ or ClimateLineAir™ heated tube. Here’s how it works:

How do I find the Climate Control Manual mode?

Air10™ users: You can access the Climate Control Manual setting anytime. From your machine’s Home screen:

1. Select My Options
2. Select Climate Ctrl
3. Change default “Auto” setting to Manual
4. Select Humidity Level and turn the dial to change the humidity (1–8; default setting is 4)
5. Select Tube Temp and turn the dial to set the ClimateLine/ClimateLineAir heated tube to the temperature you find most comfortable (60–86⁰F; default setting is 81⁰F).

For more details, see your ClimateLineAir user guide.

S9 users: Your equipment supplier must turn on your Climate Control Manual setting for you if they haven’t already. From your machine’s Home screen:

1. For humidity: Turn the dial to highlight the water drop icon; push the dial, turning the background yellow. Then turn the dial again to set the humidity (1–6, default setting is 3). Push the dial once more to set the new humidity level.
2. For tube temperature: Turn the dial to highlight the thermometer icon; push the dial, turning that background yellow. Then turn the dial again to set the ClimateLine/ClimateLineAir tube temperature (60–86⁰F, default setting is 80⁰F). Push the dial once more to set the new temp.

(Watch this helpful S9 video.)

When should I change the humidity vs. the temperature?

Most patients find cooler air easier to breathe while trying to sleep, especially those who are new to CPAP, wear a full face CPAP mask, and women experiencing hot flashes at bedtime. However, warmer air provides the best humidity and helps reduce nasal irritation since your nose doesn’t have to warm all that CPAP air on its own. It generally helps to increase:

• Humidity if dry air is causing you to wake up with dry mouth, an uncomfortable side effect that 40% of CPAP users experience.¹ If you want more humidity, try manually adjusting it and the temperature one notch at a time. If you reach the highest levels and still feel dry, talk to your equipment supplier and doctor about whether mask leak, oral medications or other factors may be the real cause of your dryness. (You should also check for mask leak if you wake up to find your humidifier’s water chamber empty.)
• Tube temperature if you’re experiencing dryness despite increasing the humidity. Consider increasing your tube temperature by just 1–2⁰F to see if that provides the best comfort.

Having the power to make these adjustments yourself in real time gives many of our patients and their loved ones great peace of mind. As always, talk to your doctor or equipment supplier before making any adjustments to your treatment.