General maintenance for you CPAP machine takes very little time or effort. What parts require maintenance?
What parts can you do maintenance on?
The following parts need to be cleaned and replaced routinely.
- Filter
- Mask
- Tubing
- Humidifier tank
Humidifier tank
You should use distilled water in your humidifier tank since it will not leave mineral build up in your tank. The humidifier tank should be rinsed daily with distilled water and allowed to dry on a dry mat during the day. Once a week you should soak the humidifier tank in a mixture of 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts warm water for roughly 15 to 20 minutes. To remove any mineral build up and clean any bacteria out of the tank, you can use an antibacterial soap that is mild and not scented.
The humidifier tank should be replaced every 6 to 12 months.
Filter
The filter on your machine should be checked once a week for dust and dirt. The sponge type filter can be washed with a mild soap and warm water, rinsed thoroughly and allowed to dry before replacing in the CPAP machine. That should be done once a month. Filters should be replaced every 6 to 12 months as needed.
Tubing
The tubing should be checked and replaced every 6 to 12 months. This too can be washed with warm water and mild soap once a month. You can soak it for 10 to 15 minutes in the mild soapy water, and then rinse thoroughly. I would suggest rinsing in the tub so that you can hold the tubing on one end and allow the water to run through it and out the other end. Rinse for at least 2 to 3 minutes to make sure that all the soap is out of it. After that you can used some distilled water to give it a final rinse. Hang up in the shower over the shower head to dry thoroughly before using the tubing again.
Mask
The majority of masks have cushions that made of silicone, to make them comfortable and reduce leaking. The problem is the silicone breaks down rapidly so they need to be taken care of and cleaned regularly.
You can clean them in mild soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and then set on a dry mat for the day to dry. Make sure that you keep the mask out of the sunlight. If you prefer you can soak them in 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts water and then rinse thoroughly.
The head gear and straps can be washed once a month if needed in mild soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and hang up over the shower to dry.
Other accessories
The power cord and the base can be wiped down with a damp cloth once a month. Depending on where you live and how dusty it is, you might choose to do this weekly. Either way, make cleaning of machine and its parts part of your routine that will also make it easier to remember when it is time to order replacements.