Safe to run cpap near computer?

I just picked up my first CPAP machine (Respironics Dreamstation w/ heated humidifier) roughly 2 hours ago. My father had one years ago that he kept on a chair next to his bed, but I was able to clear a spot on the computer desk that sits next to my bed.

I have my big iMac on the same desk, maybe 8-12 inches away. In the booklet for the CPAP machine, it says to protect the furniture from water damage (it's a pressboard desk that already has some water damage, so I'm not that concerned here), not to place on flammable objects, etc.

Is it safe for me to run the unit that close to my computer or would it cause some kind of irreversible damage to the computer?

It should be fine. If either the computer or the cpap machine starts acting flakes when the other is running, separate them. Just don't pull the cpap machine off the table by accident!

The only issue that I can think of is getting water in the computer. Just don't let that happen.

BTW, my computer is much noisier than my CPAP; it would probably annoy me if I slept that close to it and left it on.

The only problem may be that the cpap machine is higher then you mattress. It may cause condensation to run down into your mask (rainout as it is known) and it may sound louder.

@jim22 - Thanks. Pulling it off of the table shouldn't be an issue - Keeping my cat from attacking the tubing, well, that's another issue altogether

@D.H. - If it were my laptop, I'd agree, but the Mac is so quiet that you can't even hear it running.

@BlackSpinner - I'm really hoping that's not too much of a problem, as I don't think we really have any adequate surfaces that would sit lower than my mattress.

A milk crate behind your bed can work... water can't run uphill.

A hose cover will protect it from the cat and make it feel nicer.

(lost a hose that way - nice warm place to sit on and knead....)

Shouldn't be a problem, but since there is a risk of a leak from the humidifier, make sure that your Mac wouldn't get wet if it did leak. Chances of a leak are small, but not zero.

My cat attacked the tubing the first day. After that, she went out of her way to lay on it. Now she doesn't bother it. I pulled the hose under the covers until she was accustomed to it. I had an S9 at first. She would step on the on/off button while I was sleeping and the Autostart would restart it. Made for some interesting graphs on Sleepyhead until I figured out what was happening.

Only the radio is picky about stray RF signals.
Computers and cpaps are designed differently.
Pets are not allowed in our bedroom.
The dog is gassy, and the cat is sharp!

A hose cover will help to protect the hose from the cat.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cpap+ho ... 8&oe=utf-8

grayghost4 wrote:A hose cover will help to protect the hose from the cat.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cpap+ho ... 8&oe=utf-8

But THIS cat is very playful, and will claw ME.
Better she sleeps elsewhere.

Well, the cat hasn't really shown any interest in the hose so far, but I'm able to tuck it between the desk and the bed so she can't really get to it. The sound of it turning on gets her attention, but mostly, she just ignores it (the one time her "I don't care" attitude actually pays off)

I don't think there were any moisture issues last night, but I did end up turning the humidifier down. The woman at the DME warned me that some people preferred cooler air rather than the warm, humidified air and I'm apparently one of them.


I ended up at the ER earlier for some heart palpitation issues and am now hooked to a Holter Monitor for the next 48 hours, so hopefully, between the wires from the monitor and getting used to the CPAP, I'll be able to manage a few decent hours of sleep tonight.

If your hose is long enough, try putting the cpap machine on the floor just under your bed. If you have carpeting, you'll need something flat on top of the carpet. The pipes will run uphill from the floor, so you won't have to worry about water running over the pipes, or leaks around your computer. Anyway, on the floor worked best for me. Hides some of the noise too.