3 Signs for Replacing Your CPAP Face Cushion

I lost track of the last time I changed out my mask. My memory is horrible, but I found 3 ways to know when it’s time to replace your CPAP face cushion if you’re unsure or lose track.

Your mask should be replaced every 3 months and the cushion every month if you have one that comes in 2 separate pieces. With the AirFit F30i, there isn’t a separate cushion. It’s all 1 piece and that you replace monthly.

Feeling tired? It may be time for replacements

Since I couldn’t quite remember, I just kept using it and then I started to notice little things that let me know it was time to toss it and get a new one. I noticed that I was feeling more tired than normal, even though everything else was the same. Then, as I was tracking my numbers with the myAir app, I could see that my events per hour were tracking higher than normal.

3 signs it's time to replace your CPAP face cushion

Signs of wear and tear on the pillow

The first sign that it was time to change out the pillow was the section under the nose was starting to show wear. The cushion part under the nose had started to stretch out.

More events per hour

The next thing I noticed was my event per hour went up. I was up to about 1.6 to 2 events per hour when I checked the myAir app. This was high compared to what my baseline is, which is just around .7 events per hour. I just changed out the cushion portion of my mask, and my events per hour were cut in half.

Louder air noises from the machine

The 3rd thing I noticed is the air blowing from the machine was louder. I would tighten and adjust it, but you could still hear it leak. When I noticed my husband was sleeping with headphones to drown out the noise of a usually quiet machine, I knew it was time to change it out.

I could feel the difference right away. I didn’t have to tighten as much, it felt better, and was so much quieter.

Changing CPAP supplies is important

Keeping up with changing out your CPAP supplies is an important part of using your machine that I haven’t kept good track of. If you aren’t sure when you last changed things out, your mask will show signs of wear and tear, fit differently, and your events per hour may increase. These signals alerted me that it was time to switch out the mask cushion.

Tips and reminders to get replacement CPAP parts

When I replaced it with a new face cushion, I put it down on my calendar. Since I couldn’t remember when I changed my filter last, I changed it as well and also put it down in my calendar.

Tracking the hose and headgear

The hose and the headgear are a little bit easier to track because they are sent when I’m due for a replacement, along with 3 face cushions as well. Auto-filling your supplies make it so much easier to know when to change things out.

Calendar reminders and app alerts

I do wish the myAir app had a section to log when you change out your CPAP pieces, but since it doesn’t, I utilized the calendar on my phone with an alert to go over every 30 days to make replacements.

Are you feeling tired? It may be time to change your CPAP face cushion too. What do you use to keep track of your supplies?