CPAP or continuous positive airway pressure is a way to treat sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder where a person’s breathing stops and starts during sleep because their upper airway gets blocked preventing oxygen from reaching the lungs. Common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea include excessive daytime fatigue, loud snoring during sleep, gasping for air during sleep, morning headaches, and trouble concentrating during the day.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from untreated sleep apnea, you should consult a doctor right away. CPAP therapy can effectively treat sleep apnea and provide you with relief from symptoms, but you need a doctor to help you get set up with a CPAP machine.

How Does a CPAP Machine Work?

A CPAP machine is made up of air filters, tubing, a mask, and a humidifier. This machine pulls air in from the room and filters out any dust or particles. Then, the CPAP machine pressurizes the air and delivers it through the tubing, into the mask, and into your lungs.

Your CPAP machine treats your sleep apnea by delivering air at a specific pressure. This pressure prevents your airway from closing up as you sleep, allowing you to experience restful sleep. However, there may be a time where your CPAP machine isn’t working correctly for some reason. We are going to talk about some common issues you may have with your CPAP machine below.

Why Isn’t Your CPAP Machine Working?

CPAP machines are not immune to technical difficulties. If you are experiencing some trouble getting your CPAP machine to work properly, you could have one of the following issues.

  • A Problem with Your Mask – The mask is the part that connects you to your CPAP machine. The mask delivers the pressurized air that treats your sleep apnea, so if your mask isn’t working, it could be causing problems with your treatment. Common problems with a CPAP mask could be the wrong size mask or a leaky mask. Consult your doctor or CPAP supplier to make sure your mask is functioning correctly.
  • You Need to Replace Parts – Your CPAP machine is made up of several parts, and sometimes these parts need to be replaced. If your CPAP machine isn’t working correctly, and you haven’t replaced any of your parts recently, that could be the cause of the problem you are experiencing. Above, we discussed incorrect sizing or leaking of your CPAP mask. In addition to these issues, CPAP masks do wear out eventually, so you might need a new one. You also will need to replace your CPAP tubing a couple of times a year. Your tubing can experience wear and tear, which means it won’t always work properly for you. Lastly, you will want to replace the filters on your machine regularly, so you aren’t breathing in dusty, dirty
  • Your CPAP Machine is Old – How long have you had your CPAP machine? CPAP machines are getting more technologically advanced, but that doesn’t mean they last forever. If your CPAP machine is getting old, it might not be functioning correctly, and it might be time for an upgrade on your old machine.
  • Your CPAP Machine is Dirty – Believe it or not, a dirty CPAP machine could be causing your problems. When not cleaned properly, a CPAP machine can cause skin irritation, a sore throat, and more. If you are getting sick after using your CPAP machine, that is a sign your CPAP machine is dirty. However, there is an easy fix; the VirtuCLEAN CPAP cleaning device can help you get your CPAP machine clean and ready to use. VirtuCLEAN is a CPAP cleaner that gets rid of 99.9% of germs and bacteria from your CPAP machine in just 30 minutes. The VirtuCLEAN also cleans your CPAP machine for you, so you do not have to do any of the work. If your CPAP machine is dirty, it will not work properly. Check out VirtuCLEAN today.

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can affect a lot of people, but you don’t have to let it keep you down. CPAP therapy is the most common way to treat sleep apnea, and it can be very effective. The issues discussed above are many of the common problems you may be having with your CPAP machine. If your CPAP machine is not working, don’t panic, the problem you are encountering could have a simple solution. You may need to replace certain parts of your CPAP machine, or you may just need to use a CPAP cleaning device to clean your CPAP machine.