CPAP Machine for Sale

What Is Sleep Apnea & What Are Sleep Apnea Machines?

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by interrupted breathing during sleep, which can cause your oxygen levels to drop. Common sleep apnea symptoms include daytime fatigue, morning headaches, mood changes, loud snoring and gasping/choking during sleep. Without treatment, sleep apnea can have serious consequences on your health and quality of life.

Sleep apnea can increase the risk of cardiovascular related health issues such as hypertension, stroke, atrial fibrillation etc. It can also affect blood sugar management and make it difficult to lose weight. To treat sleep apnea, medical professionals often recommend the use of a sleep apnea machine, also known as a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine.

CPAP machines can significantly improve the quality of life and health outcomes for people with sleep apnea. These machines work by delivering a stream of pressurized air through a mask worn over the nose and/or mouth. The pressurized airflow helps keep the airway open and prevent interruptions in breathing. CPAP therapy also helps stop snoring and dips in oxygen level during the night so you can wake up feeling rested and ready for the day.

How Do I Choose a Sleep Apnea Machine?

When you buy a CPAP device online, the most important thing to consider is whether or not the machine is compatible with your prescription. Once that's confirmed, it's time to focus on machine key factors such as size, noise level, features, compatibility with other CPAP accessories, brand, cost and whether or not the machine will be used outside the home.

Our 2024 CPAP Machine Buying Guide  covers these factors in detail and provides our recommendations for the best CPAP machines of 2024. We cover the important questions to ask yourself before your make a purchase and review the best home and travel size CPAP machines on the market today. Make sure to check this out before you buy a CPAP machine online! 

Sleep Apnea Machine Types

Machines for sleep apnea are divided into two main categories: CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) and BiPAP (Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure). Both CPAPs and BiPAPs deliver PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) therapy where pressurized air is used to prevent airway obstructions, stop snoring and improve oxygen levels. The main difference between the two is that CPAP machines deliver one level of pressure on inhalation and exhalation while BiPAP machines deliver a higher pressure on inhalation and a lower pressure on exhalation.

Another major difference is what they are used to treat. CPAP machines treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), an uncomplicated form of sleep apnea that occurs when the airway is obstructed. This can be from the tongue falling back or from the collapse of upper airway tissues. BiPAP devices on the other hand, are used to treat central sleep apnea (CSA), a type of sleep apnea where the brain fails to send signals to the muscles controlling breathing. They also treat complex sleep apnea, a combination of OSA and CSA, as well as help improve oxygenation for people with medical conditions that make it hard for their lungs to expand. BiPAPs can also be prescribed for people with OSA who need higher pressures.

CPAP machines are further divided into automatic vs manual and BiPAP machines consist of many subtypes. Let's look at each type of CPAP and BiPAP machine in detail below.

For more information on the different types of sleep apnea machines, read our comprehensive guide written by Anne , RespShop's resident Registered Polysomnographic Technologist.

No Prescription? See How RespShop Can Help You

Know Before You Buy: Important CPAP Machine Features to Look For

Sleep apnea machines can have a variety of features depending on the brand and whether it is a home or travel unit. Here are the most important CPAP machine features to look when buying a machine online.

1. Heated Humidifier: Many home CPAP machines come with a humidifier that adds moisture to the air, preventing dry mouth and nasal irritation. To reduce size, travel machines generally do not have heated humidifiers and instead opt for waterless humidification systems that differ by brand.


2. Heated Tube: CPAP humidifiers can sometimes cause condensation buildup in the hose and mask. This is where having a heated CPAP hose comes in handy. A heated hose prevents condensation by keeping the temperature consistent along the length of the tube. Most home sleep apnea machines with heated humidifiers are compatible with heated CPAP tubing. 


3. Ramp: Ramp is a comfort feature that makes it easier to fall asleep. This feature starts therapy off at a lower pressure and gradually increase it over a set period of time. The idea is to let the user fall asleep before the pressure fully kicks in. 


4. Exhalation Relief: Exhalation relief reduces pressure when you breathe out for a more natural breathing experience.


5. Data Recording: Most modern CPAP machines record and store sleep data such as AHI (number of breathing events/hr), usage hours and information on your mask seal. Some machines can be paired with smartphone apps for convenient data access on the go.


6. Auto Start/Stop: This is a feature for starting/stopping therapy hands-free. The CPAP machine detects when you start breathing into the mask and begins delivering the prescribed pressure automatically. When you remove the mask, the machine stops therapy.

Why Buy Your Sleep Apnea Machine From RespShop?

Sleep apnea machines, like many other products, are cheaper to buy online. But why should you buy your CPAP machine from RespShop and not another online CPAP supplies store? 

The answer is simple. If you purchase or rent a CPAP machine from RespShop, you won't be be left on your own. RespShop is here to help you, every step of the way. From choosing a machine to finding the best CPAP mask and adjusting to CPAP , we have resources and expert staff that's readily available.

Expert Help: A common concern of online CPAP shopping is that no one is there to guide you through the process. At RespShop, we have a team of dedicated medical professionals and customer service agents who can guide you through the CPAP buying process, step by step. They’ll know which machines work with your prescription and help you find the machine that fits your specific needs. All you have to do is get in touch .

Easier than Insurance: Not all insurance plans cover CPAP machines, and when they do there are many requirements. Going through insurance can be time consuming and time is money. Before you buy a CPAP machine, make sure you're familiar with your insurance coverage. Our CPAP Machine Insurance Guide answers commonly asked questions about insurance coverage.