Why Your CPAP Therapy Feels Tougher in Winter — And How to Fix It

If you use CPAP therapy to treat your sleep apnea, you know how important it is to keep using it for better sleep and health. Your CPAP machine blows pressurized air to keep your airways open while you sleep, stopping the dangerous pauses in breathing caused by obstructive sleep apnea.

But you might have noticed something: CPAP therapy can be harder in winter. The cold, dry air in winter can make your treatment uncomfortable with dry noses, irritation, and more congestion.

This isn’t just in your head—CPAP problems with cold air happen to many users every year. The mix of freezing outdoor air and indoor heating creates the perfect conditions for these issues.

In this article, you’ll learn why winter makes CPAP therapy tougher and, more importantly, easy ways to keep your treatment comfortable and working well during the cold months. From using heated humidifiers to tips on caring for your equipment, you’ll find out how to handle winter challenges and make your therapy easier.

If you’re dealing with these winter problems with your CPAP therapy, it’s a good idea to invest in quality CPAP gear that works well in tough weather. At 1800CPAP.com  we offer many CPAP machines, masks, and supplies that can help improve your therapy even during harsh winters.

Cold weather affects CPAP use because cold air holds much less moisture than warm air. When your CPAP machine pulls in this dry winter air, it pushes it into your airways under pressure. This can be tough for people with obstructive sleep apnea since the dry, pressurized air can overwhelm your nose and throat’s natural ability to add moisture. Even though these areas normally humidify the air you breathe, cold weather can cause you to wake up with a dry throat, irritated nose, and sometimes even nosebleeds.

Dryness in your nose during winter isn’t just uncomfortable—it can disrupt your CPAP therapy. When your airways get too dry from low humidity, they produce extra mucus to protect themselves. This creates a cycle: dry air irritates your passages, your body reacts with congestion, and this makes using CPAP in winter even harder to handle.

Your indoor heating system can make cold air CPAP problems worse in ways you might not expect. Central heating, space heaters, and forced-air systems all dry out the air inside your home, lowering indoor humidity. Even if you keep your home warm at 68-72°F, the air can become very dry, with humidity dropping below 30%. Ideally, indoor humidity should be between 30-50%, but many heated homes in winter fall well below this. This is why it’s important to understand how adding moisture to the air helps when using a CPAP machine in winter.

This creates a double problem: your CPAP draws in already dry air, and the warm bedroom air dries out your airways during the night. This makes using a CPAP for sleep apnea harder in cold weather because your body can’t keep up with the moisture loss. Breathing through your CPAP can end up feeling rough and uncomfortable, like inhaling sandpaper.

Heated humidifier CPAP machines are a must-have in winter, not just extra features. The built-in heated humidifier adds moisture to the air before it reaches your lungs, helping to stop dryness caused by cold outdoor air and warm indoor heat. You should set your humidifier higher than in summer—most people start around level 4 or 5 and adjust for comfort. These tips help you stick with your CPAP therapy during cold weather.

Where you place your humidifier is just as important as the temperature setting. Keep your CPAP machine lower than your bed to stop water from flowing back into the tubing. This simple step prevents dryness and stops water from pooling in your mask at night. If you use auto-adjusting CPAP machines (APAP), make sure your humidifier settings match the changing outside temperature and humidity.

Heated tubing does more than just add comfort. It keeps the air temperature steady from your machine to your mask, stopping the temperature drop that causes moisture buildup. Regular tubing lets warm, humid air cool down in cold rooms, which creates water droplets inside the tube—something you might know as "rainout." Heated tubing fixes this by keeping the air warm all the way through.

If heated tubing isn’t an option for your machine, insulated hose covers are a good alternative. These fabric sleeves wrap around your regular tubing to block cold air. This is especially helpful when using different CPAP mask types to stay comfortable.

You can buy hose covers or make your own with fleece fabric or pipe insulation. Both options help keep the airflow warm and reduce condensation that can disturb your sleep, which is important for effective CPAP therapy during winter.

If congestion makes you breathe through your mouth, a nasal mask won’t work well. Using a full face mask during these times helps you keep the right therapy pressure even when mouth breathing. Many CPAP users have both types of masks ready, especially for stuffy winter nights. This way, your treatment stays consistent without interruptions.

To learn more, see our guides on CPAP mask types and options andkeeping effective CPAP pressure while mouth breathing. 

Your bedroom setup is very important for comfortable CPAP therapy during winter. The air you breathe while sleeping affects your treatment, and you can control it more than you realize.

Also, things like age, weight, genetics, and menopause can change how bad sleep apnea gets, especially with the seasons. If your symptoms get worse in winter, it’s a good idea to talk to a sleep specialist about these factors.

A separate room humidifier can work with your CPAP machine’s built-in humidifier to create the best conditions for your therapy. Humidifying the air is especially helpful in winter because it stops dry air from irritating your airways and making sleep apnea symptoms worse. Keeping humidity levels between 30-50% helps keep the air moist, which reduces congestion and makes you more comfortable at night.

• Keep the humidifier at least three feet away from your CPAP machine to avoid moisture affecting its air intake.
• Try to keep indoor humidity between 30-50%, which you can check with an affordable hygrometer.
• Run the room humidifier for 2-3 hours before bed to let the moisture spread evenly, so the air feels better as soon as you put on your mask.

Winter can cause more dust to build up inside your home. When windows are closed and heaters run all the time, dust moves around more and can settle on your CPAP machine. This can clog filters and affect the air you breathe during therapy. This is important to keep in mind if you're deciding between home or lab sleep tests.

Cleaning your CPAP equipment in winter means being more careful than usual. Check your filters every week instead of every month because they get dirty faster indoors. Change disposable filters every two weeks during winter to keep the air clean. If you follow advice from sleep labs on how to care for your equipment, make sure to update your cleaning habits for the season.

Your mask and tubing need extra care in cold weather. Wipe them daily with CPAP cleaning wipes to stop oil and moisture buildup that happens in warm indoor air. Once a week, wash them thoroughly with warm, soapy water to remove any dirt that can hold bacteria. Let all parts dry completely in a clean place before putting them back together.

Empty and rinse the water chamber in your humidifier every day. Minerals build up faster when using heated humidification at higher settings, so soak it in vinegar once a week to stop buildup that can harm how it works.

If you have ongoing problems with your CPAP machine or notice changes in how well your therapy works, talk to lung or critical care specialists for help.

Winter doesn’t have to disrupt your sleep apnea treatment. Problems like dry air, stuffy nose, and equipment moisture can be easily managed. Now you know how to make using your CPAP machine more comfortable during cold months.

Think of winter as a chance to adjust your therapy. Changes like adding heated humidification, choosing the right mask, and controlling your environment will help you stick with treatment long-term. You’re not just getting through winter with your CPAP machine—you’re making it work better for you. Why Your CPAP Therapy Feels Harder in Winter — And How to Fix It comes down to being prepared and using the right tools. Try these tips tonight, and you’ll sleep better all winter.

If problems continue, consider reaching out to Emory Sleep Center or a local sleep expert for help tailored to you.