What to Do if Your CPAP Machine Whistles
This post was originally posted on May 27, 2018, and updated on February 28, 2022.
The leading form of treatment for people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP therapy. A CPAP machine uses a hose and mask to deliver a constant flow of pressured air to keep the airway open throughout the night and reduce apnea episodes. Some CPAP users have encountered what has been described as a very slight whistling noise when they use their machine. Here’s how to solve that problem.
Check The Fit of Your CPAP Mask
Disconnect your CPAP mask from the hose while leaving your CPAP machine on and the hose connected. If the whistle goes away, then a poorly fitting mask might be the issue. Try adjusting your mask until you no longer hear the noise. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to find a new mask.
Check the Hose Connection
Another possible reason for whistling is that the hose is not properly connected to the CPAP machine. Try readjusting the hose connection at the machine end. If you notice that you are able to stop the whistling by holding the hose tightly to the machine, yet still hear the noise when you let go, then it’s time for a new hose. Hoses can get stretched out over time and develop leaks around their point of connection.
Check for Other Hose Problems
Most likely any whistling is due to problems with the hose. Look for holes in the hose that might be letting air leak out. Submerge your hose in water and let it fill up. Plug both ends of the hose and take it out of the water. If there are holes, water will leak out from them.
Also, look for cracked or dried up sections of the hose or mineral deposits. All hoses wear out over time. Whistling may be a sign that it’s time for a hose replacement.
Quieter CPAP Machines
If noise other than whistling is keeping you (or your bed partner) up at night, then you may want to look for a CPAP machine with quieter performance.
We recommend:
ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine with Heated Humidifier
The ResMed AirSense 10 features an Easy-Breathe motor. Foam and insulation have been added to the base of the CPAP machine to reduce noise. This also helps minimize turbulence and improve performance.
The Resvent iBreeze comes with an integrated humidifier that helps users breathe easily during effective CPAP therapy. Moreover, the machine has a 3.5-inch screen that allows easy menu navigation and detailed data on sleep apnea therapy.
Looking for a quiet CPAP machine or need more help with a whistling machine? Give us a call at 866.414.9700 or email our team at questions@thecpapshop.com. Find more CPAP machines and supplies at https://www.thecpapshop.com.
Chris Vasta is the president of The CPAP Shop and an expert in sleep and respiratory therapy. He often provides insights on product design and functionality on various manufacturers’ prototypes and is frequently tapped to provide reviews on new releases.
The leading form of treatment for people suffering from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP therapy. A CPAP machine uses a hose and mask to deliver a constant flow of pressured air to keep the airway open throughout the night and reduce apnea episodes. Some CPAP users have encountered what has been described as a very slight whistling noise when they use their machines. Here’s how to solve that problem.
Check The Fit of Your CPAP Mask
Disconnect your CPAP mask from the hose while leaving your CPAP machine on and the hose connected. If the whistle goes away, then a poorly fitting mask might be the issue. Try adjusting your mask until you no longer hear the noise. If that doesn’t work, it may be time to find a new mask.
Check the Hose Connection
Another possible reason for whistling is that the hose is not properly connected to the CPAP machine. Try readjusting the hose connection at the machine end. If you notice that you are able to stop the whistling by holding the hose tightly to the machine, yet still hear the noise when you let go, then it’s time for a new hose. Hoses can get stretched out over time and develop leaks around their point of connection.
Check for Other Hose Problems
Most likely any whistling is due to problems with the hose. Look for holes in the hose that might be letting air leak out. Submerge your hose in water and let it fill up. Plug both ends of the hose and take it out of the water. If there are holes, water will leak out from them.
Also, look for cracked or dried up sections of the hose or mineral deposits. All hoses wear out over time. Whistling may be a sign that it’s time for a hose replacement.
Quieter CPAP Machines
If noise other than whistling is keeping you (or your bed partner) up at night, then you may want to look for a CPAP machine with a quieter performance. We recommend:
ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine Card-to-Cloud
The ResMed AirSense 10 AutoSet CPAP Machine Card-to-Cloud is a powerful and effective CPAP machine that is very similar to its predecessor and popular machine, the AirSense 10. The Card-to-Cloud device includes all the same features as the original AirSense 10 but without cellular connectivity. Instead, this machine uses an SD card to store sleep data that doctors can then retrieve from the SD card.
The ResMed AirSense 10 features an Easy-Breathe motor. Foam and insulation have been added to the base of the CPAP machine to reduce noise. This also helps minimize turbulence and improve performance. This machine operates at 30 dBa, which is equivalent to the sound of a whisper nearby. As this machine operates and quietly sits on a person's night stand, they and their bed partner can have a peaceful night's sleep.
Resvent iBreeze APAP Machine
The Resvent iBreeze APAP Machine provides the user with a wide range of the latest features that ensure an ideal sleep apnea therapy. It comes with an integrated humidifier that helps users breathe easily during effective CPAP therapy. Moreover, the machine has a 3.5-inch screen that allows easy menu navigation and detailed data on sleep apnea therapy.
The iBreeze operates at about a 28 dBa, which is about the size of a wisper from 5 feet away. The quiet design is ideal for those who are light sleepers or have bed partners as it provides a quiet environment for sleeping.
Conclusion
Looking for a quiet CPAP machine or need more help with a whistling machine? Give us a call at 866.414.9700 or email our team at questions@thecpapshop.com. Find more CPAP machines and supplies on our website.
This post was originally posted on May 27, 2018, and updated on July 18, 2023.
