Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
CPAP accessories are the replaceable parts that sit around the blower of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine: the mask (including its cushion), the straps that hold it in place, the tube, the filters and the humidifier chamber. Clinic staff, buyers and students use this page to tell the parts apart, to see which care points a regulator or health agency actually states, and to see how a supplier schedule differs from official guidance. For the machine itself, see what a CPAP machine is.
What CPAP accessories are
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) describes a CPAP machine as having a mask or other device that fits over the nose or over the nose and mouth, straps to position the mask, a tube connecting the mask to the motor, and a motor that blows air; it also mentions a humidifier chamber in the machine (NHLBI, checked 2026-10-30). Everything other than the motor housing is what suppliers and clinics usually treat as an accessory or replacement supply.
Who uses them: people who use CPAP therapy, the clinics and sleep labs that supply them, and durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers that stock replacement parts.
Parts of a CPAP interface and circuit
The table below ties each part to what a named source says about it.
| Part | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mask (frame and cushion) | Fits over the nose, or over the nose and mouth. NHLBI advises cleaning the mask every day. A DME supplier notes that a worn mask “loses proper fit and develops leaks”. | NHLBI; Lincare |
| Cushion / nasal pillows | Listed by the supplier as a separate replacement item from the mask frame, with full-face cushions and nasal cushions or pillows scheduled separately. | Lincare |
| Headgear and straps | Straps position the mask. The supplier notes that stretched headgear tends to be over-tightened. | NHLBI; Lincare |
| Chinstrap | Listed as its own replacement item in the supplier schedule. | Lincare |
| Tube (hose) | Connects the mask to the motor. NHLBI advises cleaning it every day; FDA says detachable hoses can be soaked in soapy water and hung to air dry. | NHLBI; FDA |
| Air filter | FDA: replace or clean filters as often as the manufacturer recommends. The supplier lists disposable and reusable foam filters separately and notes filters clog over time. | FDA; Lincare |
| Humidifier chamber (water tank) | FDA: clean the water tank as instructed in the owner’s manual. The supplier notes chambers can become discolored, cracked or pitted. | FDA; Lincare |
What a CPAP cushion is
The cushion is the soft part of the mask that touches the face. It is sold as a replacement item separate from the mask frame. In the supplier schedule below, nasal cushions or pillows and full-face cushions appear on their own lines.
Types of masks
NHLBI describes two broad interface types: a mask that fits over the nose, and one that fits over the nose and mouth. The supplier schedule also lists nasal pillows. This page does not rank or recommend types; fit and selection belong with the clinician or supplier who fits the user.
Replacement schedules: what one supplier lists
NHLBI says to refill the prescription “at the right time” to replace the mask and tube, and or “as often as the manufacturer recommends” (FDA, for filters); neither gives a single interval. Lincare, a DME supplier and not a regulator, publishes a table described as based on Original Medicare guidelines (checked 2026-10-30). Treat it as a supplier example, not manufacturer or FDA guidance. The supplier says to contact your provider to confirm how often, and coverage varies by plan.
| Item | Quantity | Per |
|---|---|---|
| Mask frame | 1 | 3 months |
| Headgear | 1 | 6 months |
| Nasal cushions / pillows | 2 | 1 month |
| Full-face cushion | 1 | 1 month |
| Tubing | 1 | 3 months |
| Disposable filters | 2 | 1 month |
| Reusable foam filters | 1 | 6 months |
| Chinstrap | 1 | 6 months |
| Water chamber | 1 | 6 months |
Cleaning and handling basics
- Follow the CPAP manufacturer’s instructions (FDA, checked 2026-10-30).
- FDA: most CPAP accessories such as hoses and masks can be cleaned with only mild soap and water. Masks and detachable hoses can be soaked in soapy water and hung to air dry; some manufacturers recommend diluted vinegar.
- NHLBI: clean the mask and tube every day.
- FDA: there are currently no FDA cleared or approved devices for cleaning, disinfecting or sanitizing CPAP machines. Both UV light and ozone can break down accessories such as hoses and masks, and ozone can leak into the home.
Common mistakes
- Using ozone or UV cleaners on masks and hoses, despite FDA’s warning that they can degrade the parts.
- Treating a supplier’s insurance-based schedule as a manufacturer or FDA requirement.
- Over-tightening stretched headgear instead of replacing it (supplier wear note).
- Leaving a clogged filter in place; FDA says filters should be replaced or cleaned as often as the manufacturer recommends.
Frequently asked questions
What is a CPAP cushion?
It is the soft part of a CPAP mask that touches the face, supplied as a replacement item separate from the mask frame (Lincare supplier schedule).
How often should CPAP accessories be replaced?
NHLBI says to refill the prescription at the right time to replace the mask and tube; FDA says filters follow the manufacturer’s recommendation. One supplier’s Medicare-based schedule is shown above; confirm intervals with your provider and the manufacturer.
Can CPAP accessories be cleaned with soap and water?
Yes. FDA states most CPAP accessories such as hoses and masks can be cleaned with mild soap and water, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Are ozone or UV CPAP cleaners cleared by FDA?
FDA says there are currently no FDA cleared or approved devices for cleaning, disinfecting or sanitizing CPAP machines, and that UV and ozone can break down masks and hoses.
Related
See the sleep clinic supply checklist for clinic stocking, and what a ventilator is for how CPAP differs from ventilation. CPAP masks are among the CPAP and oxygen masks medical supply categories.
Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Do You Need a Device Claiming to Clean Your CPAP Machine?” consumer update, https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/do-you-need-device-claims-clean-cpap-machine, checked 2026-10-30.
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, “CPAP”, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/cpap, checked 2026-10-30.
- Lincare, “Replace PAP Supplies” (supplier schedule based on Original Medicare guidelines), https://www.lincare.com/resources/Lincare-Learning-Center/replace-pap-supplies, checked 2026-10-30.
