How to Increase the Air Pressure in a CPAP Machine

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are used by people with sleep apnea, which causes them to stop breathing repeatedly during sleep, a potentially dangerous condition. A CPAP machine regulates breathing during sleep by forcing air into the nasal passages and mouth of the wearer. The force with which the air goes into the user is controlled by the machine's pressure setting. This is usually adjusted by your physician before you take the machine home, but in some cases it may be necessary or beneficial to adjust the pressure on your own. Here's how to change the pressure on three popular CPAP machines.

Things You'll Need

• CPAP machine

Instructions

REMstar machine

1. Unplug the machine. Hold down the two "User" buttons located under the display screen while simultaneously plugging the machine back into the electrical outlet.

2. Check that the LCD screen says "Welcome."

3. Use the menu button to cycle through the setting options until you reach the pressure setting.

4. Use the user buttons to follow the on-screen prompts to change the setting. Press the button below the "+1" to increase the pressure. It can be increased up to the number "3."

5. Click the button below "Apply" to save the setting. Use the machine or turn it off until needed.

ResMed machine

1. Unplug the machine. Press down the two buttons beneath the display screen at the same time while plugging the machine back in.

2. Verify that the screen says "Setup" in the lower right-hand corner. If it does not, repeat Step 1.

3. Use the "Menu" button to cycle through the setting options until you reach "CPAP Pressure."

4. Press the "User" button that functions as an "up" arrow to increase the pressure on the machine.

5. Press the "Menu" button to save the selection and exit the setup. Turn off the machine until further use.

Puritan Bennet GoodKnight machine

1. Plug in the machine, and locate the button beneath the word "GoodKnight," just below the display screen. Hold down that button and the "Information Access" button for three seconds.

2. Continue to pulse the "Information Access" button until you see the "Pressure" setting.

3. Press the forward arrow button to increase the pressure. Press the "Information Access" button to return to the menu.

References

• REMstar manual
• ResMed manual
• Puritan Bennet Goodnight