Air Temperature and Humidity Settings

As a new CPAP user, one of the things I've found difficult to adjust to is breathing heated humid air instead of the cool dry air to which I'm accustomed. I understand the humidity is needed to prevent dry mouth/nasal passages and that the heated air hose that came with my F&P SleepStyle machine prevents water condensation in the hose. However, I'm disappointed there is no way to adjust the air/hose temperature independently from the humidity level. I'm guessing the higher I set the humidity, the higher the heat setting will be in the air hose to prevent condensation; is this correct?

Do other machines such as the ResMed AirSense 10/11 have separate settings for the humidity and the air/hose temperature? I think cooler humid air would be easier for me to tolerate.

I may be able to buy an unheated air hose for the S&P SleepStyle, and I'm wondering how much trouble water condensation might cause with an unheated hose. I purchased a hose holder that elevates the middle of the air hose about 19" above my head and 22" above the CPAP machine; would this cause condensed water to flow back into the water tank rather than into my face mask?

MJS_ wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:17 pm

Do other machines such as the ResMed AirSense 10/11 have separate settings for the humidity and the air/hose temperature?

Yes. I can either use the auto function for humidity and hose air temp or I can use the manual setting and have the humidity setting be independent of the hose air temp....which is what I have done. Humidity setting is 8 and hose air temp can vary depending on what I want or need to prevent condensation. In the winter with cooler bedroom temps I have to use more heated air but in the warmer months I can reduce the hose air temp.

I have no idea what the F & P machines/hoses will offer in terms of settings.

You can get the provider manual and see if it offers manual setting for humidity and hose air temp...or you can try a non heated hose and see if you get much condensation and if you do there are other options available with a non heated hose to prevent condensation. A hose cozy might be enough....that's what we used for years before heated hoses were available.

MJS_ wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:17 pm

I understand the humidity is needed to prevent dry mouth/nasal passages \

Not necessarily, some people like myself rarely use any added humidity, my tank is empty and the humidifier is off.

Other people want a LOT of humidity.

Everyone's nose is different. Try less and less until you've got it off, and see how your nose reacts.

Thanks for your responses. My F&P machine does not have an air hose temperature setting, which is why I assumed it automatically adjusts the temperature based on the humidity level that the user chooses (and possibly the ambient temperature?). It has 7 humidity levels and I read some stupid article advising new CPAP users to set their humidity close to the maximum level; I think this is a big reason why I struggled and had a sensation of suffocating.

I subsequently tried using it with the humidifier turned off, but that did cause my mouth to dry out. So I may be able to get away with a low humidity setting and I'll explore either exchanging my machine for a ResMed or buying an unheated hose.