Dirty CPAP equipment silently undermines your therapy — and your lungs. This log walks you through daily rinses, weekly washes, monthly checks, and the replacement schedule your DME supplier won't remind you about. For more background and examples, see the guidance below; for built-in tools and options, use the quick tools guide.
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Empty, rinse, and air-dry the humidifier water chamber each morning
Wipe the mask cushion or nasal pillow with a damp, unscented cloth
Perform a quick mask seal check before starting therapy each night
If your CPAP was prescribed under Medicare or most private insurance plans, your coverage is not permanent from day one. Insurers and Medicare require you to use the machine for at least 4 hours per night on 70% of nights during a consecutive 30-day period within the first 90 days — a threshold called the compliance window. A DME supplier typically downloads your usage data between day 31 and day 91 to verify this. If you fall short, coverage can be discontinued and you may owe the full equipment cost retroactively. The fix is not complex — just consistent use — but many new CPAP users don't learn this rule exists until they receive a bill.
For daily and weekly cleaning, no — the physical process is identical across all three machine types. The difference shows up in data review and pressure management. APAP machines adjust pressure automatically each night within a set range; reviewing your 90th or 95th percentile pressure each month (not just the nightly average) tells you whether the range itself needs adjusting by your clinician. BiPAP machines, used for complex sleep apnea or respiratory conditions requiring two distinct pressure levels, have IPAP and EPAP settings that should never be changed without clinical guidance — but the equipment cleaning protocol is exactly the same as for a standard CPAP. If your BiPAP includes a backup breathing rate setting, document any machine-generated alerts immediately and report them at your next visit rather than troubleshooting independently.
Distilled water abroad
Distilled water is not universally stocked in international hotels or convenience stores. Still bottled water (not sparkling) is an acceptable short-term substitute in most destinations, though it accelerates mineral buildup. Carry a small travel bottle of distilled for your first few nights until you can source it locally.
Voltage and plug adapters
Most modern CPAP machines are dual-voltage (100–240V, 50–60Hz) — check your power brick label. If it is, you only need a physical plug adapter for the destination, not a voltage converter. Bring a country-specific adapter rather than a bulky universal one; universal adapters can sit loosely in foreign sockets and cut power mid-session.
Altitude adjustment
At elevations above roughly 8,000 feet, reduced air density can cause some machines to under-deliver pressure. ResMed machines generally compensate automatically; Philips machines may require a manual altitude setting change. Check your machine's manual or call your DME before traveling to mountain destinations.
TSA and carry-on rules
CPAP machines are classified as medical devices and do not count against your carry-on bag allowance on U.S. flights. Remove the machine from its case at the security checkpoint for separate X-ray screening, and empty the water chamber beforehand — TSA officers routinely flag liquid in humidifiers. A physician's letter is worth carrying for international customs, where medical devices occasionally attract additional scrutiny.
Insurance-covered patients typically pay $0–$30 in copays per year for the same supply set. If you pay out of pocket, this table helps you budget — and all CPAP supplies are FSA/HSA eligible and may qualify as a medical expense deduction.
| Part | Replace Every | Cost Each | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mask cushion / nasal pillow | 3 months | $15–$35 | $60–$140 |
| Standard CPAP tubing | 3 months | $10–$20 | $40–$80 |
| Disposable inlet filters | Monthly | $1–$3 | $12–$36 |
| Full mask assembly | 6 months | $80–$180 | $160–$360 |
| Humidifier water chamber | 6 months | $20–$60 | $40–$120 |
| Reusable foam filter | 6 months | $3–$8 | $6–$16 |
If you're hospitalized, traveling without your machine, or pausing therapy under medical supervision, proper storage prevents damage and contamination on return. Complete a full cleaning cycle before storing. Remove the water chamber and keep it separate — never store water inside the machine. Remove all disposable filters and leave the filter slot open to prevent moisture trapping. Store the machine and accessories in a clean, dry location — a sealed bag or the original travel case both work well. On return, inspect all components as you would after any extended gap, and replace the disposable filter regardless of how old it was when you stored the unit.
The 2021 Philips Respironics recall — involving potential foam degradation and possible carcinogen off-gassing in millions of devices — caught many patients off guard because they had no system for monitoring recall status. Register your machine on the manufacturer's website immediately after purchase using its serial number, so you receive direct notification of any safety alerts. The FDA's Medical Device Recall Database, searchable by model number at fda.gov, maintains a current list of all medical device recalls. Checking it during your annual inspection takes two minutes and provides a level of protection that waiting for news coverage does not. If your device is under recall, contact your DME supplier before making any changes to your therapy independently.
Use these official sources to verify the cleaning steps, therapy adherence rules, and replacement timelines in this checklist.
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