semiatic

The humidifier symbol on a CPAP machine

The heated humidifier warms a tub of water so the air you breathe is moister. Its icon shows either the level (a number, a word, or a row of drops) or whether the water is warming or cooling. What the drop, the number and the warming or cooling icons mean on each machine. Which level suits you is a question for your equipment provider or clinician.

Therapy settings: This page explains what a CPAP machine’s screen or light is telling you, in the maker’s words. It is not medical advice: ask your equipment provider or clinician about your therapy settings, and do not change your pressure or any prescribed setting because of anything here.

ResMed

  1. ResMed AirSense 10 An icon on the screen

    Humidity, Humidifier warming, Humidifier cooling

    Three of the icons the AirSense 10 screen can show. Humidity Level is set in My Options, from Off or 1 (lowest) to 8 (highest). Warming and cooling show the humidifier heating up before therapy or cooling down after it.

    These icons need no action.

    Source: AirSense 10 user guide (AirSense 10 AutoSet, AutoSet for Her, Elite and CPAP, with HumidAir) (ResMed, 378947/1, 2021-02), checked 2026-09-29.

  2. ResMed AirSense 10 Something the machine does

    Still blowing air after you stop therapy

    The machine is cooling down: it blows a small amount of air so that water does not condense in the air tubing.

    What ResMed says to do

    1. Nothing to do: ResMed says it stops automatically after 30 minutes.

    Source: AirSense 10 user guide (AirSense 10 AutoSet, AutoSet for Her, Elite and CPAP, with HumidAir) (ResMed, 378947/1, 2021-02), checked 2026-09-29.

  3. ResMed AirSense 11 An icon on the screen

    Humidifier warming, Humidifier cooling

    Status-bar icons: the water in the humidifier tub is pre-heating, or is cooling.

    These icons need no action.

    Source: AirSense 11 user guide (Americas) (ResMed, 398133/2, 2021-10), checked 2026-09-29.

Everything else ResMed’s machines show: ResMed CPAP icons and messages.

Philips Respironics

  1. Philips Respironics DreamStation 2 An icon on the screen

    Humidification symbol

    Shown on the therapy screen when the adjustable humidifier setting is enabled. Tapping it shows the current setting: Off, Low, Medium or High.

    No action is needed. The manual explains how to change the setting; ask your equipment provider which suits you.

    Source: DreamStation 2 Auto CPAP / CPAP user manual (Philips Respironics, 1143534 R02, 06/11/2021), checked 2026-09-29.

Everything else Philips Respironics’s machines show: Philips Respironics CPAP icons and messages.

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare

  1. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare SleepStyle An icon on the screen

    Humidity drops (0 to 7)

    The humidity level is drawn as a row of drops: 0 is all drops clear, 7 is all drops shaded. Humidity is only in use when the water chamber has water and the level is at least 1 (one drop shaded).

    No action is needed; ask your equipment provider which level suits you.

    Source: F&P SleepStyle Use and Care Guide (SleepStyle Auto, SleepStyle CPAP) (Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, Use and Care Guide, English section A), checked 2026-09-29.

Everything else Fisher & Paykel Healthcare’s machines show: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare CPAP icons and messages.

React Health

  1. React Health Luna G3 An icon on the screen

    Humidifier icon with a number

    The number next to the humidifier icon on the main screen is the humidity level. 0 means the humidifier is off.

    No action is needed.

    Source: Luna G3 APAP / Luna G3 CPAP User Manual (React Health, V1.7, issue date February 29, 2024), checked 2026-09-29.

Everything else React Health’s machines show: React Health CPAP icons and messages.

Other things a CPAP machine shows

Sources

Each maker’s own user guide only, read on the date shown. Nothing here comes from third-party CPAP forums or “error code” sites.

Find any icon, message or light on your machine →