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Three settings not to confuse
A dry nose, a sore throat and droplets in the mask all come from the same place: humidification. But three different settings control it, and mixing them up means going round in circles.
| Setting | What it controls | Values |
|---|---|---|
| Humidity Level | How much water is added to the air | Off, or 1 to 8 |
| Tube Temperature | How warm the air is when it reaches the mask | Off, automatic, or 16 to 30 degrees |
| Climate Control | How the two above are managed | Automatic or manual |
Tube temperature and Climate Control are only available with ClimateLineAir heated tubing. Without it, only the humidity level exists. Our heated CPAP tube guide explains what that tubing brings.
Which level should you choose?
There is no universally correct setting. It depends on your bedroom, the season and your nose. The method that works is to start from the symptom.
- Dry nose, sore throat, nosebleeds: raise the humidity level
- Droplets in the mask or tubing: lower the humidity level, or raise the tube temperature
- Very dry mouth on waking: this is not the humidifier. Air is escaping through your mouth overnight
Change one step at a time and give it two or three nights. Jumping from 3 to 7 swaps one problem for another without ever finding the right point.
Setting humidification on a ResMed AirSense 11
Everything happens in MY OPTIONS, on the touch screen.
Automatic mode, the one to prefer
Climate Control on Auto is the setting ResMed recommends, and the one shipped by default. The device holds the tubing at 27 degrees and 85 percent relative humidity, and protects against condensation. There is nothing for you to set.
- From the Home screen, tap MY OPTIONS.
- Tap Climate Control.
- Tap Auto, then OK.
Manual mode, if automatic does not suit you
In manual mode you set temperature and humidity separately. You gain control, but protection against condensation is no longer guaranteed.
- MY OPTIONS, then Climate Control, then Manual, then OK.
- Go back into MY OPTIONS and tap Humidity Level. Pick 1 to 8, then OK.
- Tap Tube Temp. Pick a value between 16 and 30 degrees, then OK.
Setting humidification on a ResMed AirSense 10
The AirSense 10 runs on the dial: turn to move, press to confirm.
- From the Home screen, turn the dial to My Options, then press.
- Turn to Humidity Level, then press.
- Turn to pick a level from 1 to 8, or Off.
- Press to save.
Condensation in the tubing
You hear water gurgling, or you get droplets on your face. That is condensation: humid air cools as it travels down the tubing and the water settles on the walls.
Three levers, in this order:
- Raise the tube temperature, so the air stays warm all the way to the mask
- Lower the humidity level by one step
- Take the tubing out from under the duvet and move the bed away from a cold window
A correctly set heated tube solves the problem in the large majority of cases.
Three common mistakes
Filling the tub with hot water
ResMed forbids it: the water must be at room temperature. Hot water can send excessively warm air all the way to the mask.
Using the wrong water
The standard tub requires distilled water. Only the cleanable tub accepts drinking quality tap water. They look alike, but the standard one has a white thumb grip and the cleanable one a grey grip.
Leaving the humidifier on while running on battery
The humidifier is by far the biggest power draw on the device. On a CPAP battery, turn it off to double your runtime.
Read more
- CPAP humidifier: the complete guide
- The heated CPAP tube
- Setting your CPAP ramp
- CPAP side effects and how to fix them
All our settings tutorials
Each tutorial gives the procedure for both the AirSense 11 and the AirSense 10.
- Setting the ramp
- EPR and SmartStart: what you set yourself
- Running the mask fit test
- Cleaning and maintaining your device
- Replacing the air filter
- SD card, myAir and therapy data
- Turning on airplane mode
Frequently asked questions about CPAP humidification
On an AirSense 11, leave Climate Control on Auto, it is the manufacturer's recommended setting and it handles everything. On an AirSense 10 without heated tubing, start in the middle of the scale. Then adjust one step, depending on whether your nose is dry or you find droplets in the mask.
Yes. The humidity level can be turned off, and the device runs with a side cover in place of the tub. That helps when travelling or on battery. Many patients do find dry air hard to tolerate over time, though.
It depends on your tub. The standard tub, with the white thumb grip, requires distilled water. The cleanable tub, with the grey grip, accepts drinking quality tap water. Never fill past the maximum level mark, and never with hot water.
That is condensation, caused by humid air cooling inside the tubing. Raise the tube temperature if you have heated tubing, otherwise lower the humidity level by one step. Getting the tubing out from under the duvet also helps a great deal.
Then the humidifier is not the problem. A dry mouth on waking means air is escaping through your mouth overnight. The fix is a chin strap or a full face mask, not another humidity setting.
Yes. ResMed recommends emptying the tub every morning, wiping it with a clean cloth and refilling with fresh water before the next night. Standing water is a breeding ground, and this is the single most important maintenance habit there is.
Yes, it is the hungriest part of the device because it heats water all night. On mains power that makes no difference. On battery however, ResMed recommends turning the humidity level off to maximise runtime.