Using the AirSense 10 Without a Humidifier for Travel

The ResMed AirSense 10 is one of the most popular CPAP machines in Australia, but its built-in humidifier adds bulk and weight that you don't always want — particularly when travelling, when running on battery power, or when you're sleeping somewhere warm and humid where humidification is unnecessary. The good news is that the AirSense 10 is designed to run perfectly well without its humidifier.

This guide covers everything you need to know: how to remove the humidifier safely, what the side cover does and why it's required, how much smaller and lighter the machine becomes, the power consumption difference (useful for battery setups), and when running without humidification is genuinely a good idea versus when you'd be better off leaving it in place.

Quick Answer: Yes, the AirSense 10 Runs Without the Humidifier

You can absolutely use the ResMed AirSense 10 without its humidifier chamber. The machine doesn't need water in the chamber to function — therapy will deliver at your prescribed pressure regardless of whether the humidifier is fitted or not. However, you can't simply leave the side of the machine open. You need to fit a ResMed AirSense 10 Side Cover in place of the humidifier chamber, which seals the rear of the device so it can pressurise correctly.

The side cover is a small, lightweight plastic cover that clicks onto the back of the machine in the same way the humidifier chamber does. With it fitted, the AirSense 10 becomes noticeably smaller and lighter — making it far more practical for travel.

Why Use Your AirSense 10 Without the Humidifier?

There are four common reasons users switch to the side-cover configuration:

Travel and Portability

This is the most common reason. With the humidifier chamber attached, the AirSense 10 takes up significant space in a travel bag — and the chamber needs to be empty and dry before packing to avoid spills. With the side cover fitted, the machine becomes roughly two-thirds the size and lighter. It also packs more easily into airline-compliant cabin bags without needing to manage water residue.

Warm or Humid Climates

If you live in or are travelling to a tropical or subtropical region — northern Queensland, the Northern Territory, far-north Western Australia — ambient humidity is often high enough that supplementary humidification adds no real comfort benefit. Many users in these regions run their AirSense 10 without the humidifier as their everyday setup, not just for travel.

Personal Preference

Not everyone benefits from humidification. Some users find that the warm, moist air contributes to nasal congestion rather than relieving it, particularly with certain mask styles. If you've trialled the humidifier and consistently sleep better without it, you have the option to remove it entirely.

Power Consumption

The humidifier and heated tubing are by far the highest power-draw components of the AirSense 10. Without them, the machine uses only a small fraction of its rated capacity — relevant if you're running on a CPAP battery, a 12V vehicle adapter, or a camper power system. We cover the exact figures further down.

How to Remove the Humidifier and Fit the Side Cover

The AirSense 10 is designed for the humidifier chamber to be removed easily, so swapping in the side cover takes less than a minute. Before you start, make sure the machine is unplugged and the humidifier chamber is empty and dry.

1. Open the chamber. Press the release at the top of the humidifier chamber and let it tilt open. Lift the empty chamber out of the machine.
2. Remove the humidifier housing. The chamber assembly slides out from the rear of the AirSense 10. There's no tools required — it's a friction-fit cradle held in place by clips.
3. Fit the side cover. Align the side cover with the slot at the back of the machine. Push it in until it clicks into place. The cover should sit flush with the body of the machine.
4. Reconnect your tubing. Plug your standard or SlimLine hose into the 22mm outlet on top of the machine, just as you normally would. If you were using ClimateLineAir heated tubing, you can either continue using it (the heated function still works without the humidifier) or swap to non-heated tubing for the smallest possible travel footprint.

To switch back to humidified mode, simply reverse the process — pop the side cover off, slot the humidifier housing back in, and replace the chamber.

The AirSense 10 Side Cover Explained

The side cover is a small ResMed-branded accessory that exists specifically for this purpose. It does one job: seal the right side of the AirSense 10 so the machine can build and maintain therapy pressure without the humidifier chamber in place. Without it, air would escape through the open chamber port and the AirSense 10 wouldn't be able to deliver your prescribed pressure correctly.

The ResMed AirSense 10/Lumis Side Cover is a once-off purchase that lasts the life of your machine. It's the same accessory used with the Lumis bi-level range, since both share the same chassis design.

Note: this side cover is specific to the AirSense 10 and Lumis. The AirSense 11 uses a redesigned chassis and requires a different side cover — see ResMed's AirSense 11 accessories range if you're on the newer machine.

Power Consumption — How Much Lower Is It Without Humidification?

This is a question that comes up frequently for users planning battery-powered or off-grid CPAP use. The AirSense 10 is rated for 24V DC, 3.75A operation — a maximum draw of around 90W — but actual consumption depends heavily on what's running:

• CPAP only, no humidifier, no heated tubing: Approximately 10–17W of typical draw. This is just the blower motor and onboard electronics.
• CPAP with humidifier (moderate heat setting), no heated tube: Roughly 30–60W, depending on heat level and ambient temperature.
• CPAP with humidifier and heated tubing: Typically 50–80W, climbing toward 90W at maximum heat settings.

The takeaway: removing the humidifier (and heated tubing) drops the AirSense 10's power draw to a small fraction of its full setup. For 12V battery-powered travel — caravans, motorhomes, camping, off-grid setups — this is the difference between needing a large dedicated CPAP battery and being able to run reliably off a modest portable power station for multiple nights. Exact figures vary by firmware version and ambient conditions, so always check ResMed's published specifications for your specific machine.

Travel Considerations Beyond Size

Going humidifier-free for travel saves more than just space. A few other practical points worth knowing:

• No water to drain. One of the biggest hassles of travelling with a humidifier is making sure the chamber is empty and dry before packing. With the side cover fitted, there's nothing to dry, no risk of spills, and no minerals to worry about if you've been running on hard water.
• Distilled water isn't always available. ResMed recommends distilled or demineralised water for the humidifier. Once you're travelling — especially internationally — sourcing distilled water can be a hassle. Running without the humidifier removes this concern entirely.
• Easier through security and customs. A smaller, simpler machine raises fewer questions and is quicker to repack at airport security checkpoints.
• 12V and battery-friendly. Reduced power draw means longer runtime on portable batteries and easier use with vehicle 12V power adapters. Browse our CPAP battery configuration guides for setup options.
• Travel cases fit better. Many third-party CPAP travel cases assume the smaller side-cover footprint. Check our CPAP travel cases range for AirSense 10 compatible options.

Trade-offs to Be Aware Of

Removing the humidifier isn't always the right call. Be honest about whether you'll be comfortable without it before committing for an extended trip.

The most common downside is dry airways. Without humidification, the pressurised air going into your nose and throat is just whatever the ambient air is — and indoor air, particularly in air-conditioned hotel rooms or heated winter bedrooms, can be very dry. This can lead to a dry mouth on waking, nasal congestion, a sore throat, or nosebleeds in extreme cases. If you're heading somewhere cold and dry (think alpine Australia in winter, or many international northern-hemisphere winter destinations), you'll probably want to keep the humidifier in place.

If you mostly enjoy humidification but want a smaller setup for occasional travel, one practical compromise is to run with the humidifier fitted but turned off (set humidity level to 0). You won't get the size or power benefits of the side cover, but you avoid the dry-air discomfort. For travellers who only occasionally go humidifier-free, this is often the simpler approach.

One more consideration if you use an over-the-head hose mask — such as the ResMed AirFit P30i, N30i, F30i, or Philips DreamWear range: running without humidification can make therapy significantly noisier. These masks route the air through narrow hollow tubes built into the mask frame, which sit close to your ears. Humidified air flows through these channels relatively quietly, but without humidification the same airflow can produce a much louder hiss or whistle — loud enough to disturb your sleep, or your partner's.

If you regularly travel humidifier-free, we'd recommend keeping a front-entry style mask in your travel kit instead — one where the hose connects at the front of the mask rather than routing over the head. Front-entry designs like the ResMed AirFit N20, AirFit P10, AirFit F20, or equivalent models from Fisher & Paykel and Philips keep the air channel away from your ears and avoid the noise issue entirely. Our guide to selecting the right CPAP mask covers the differences between mask styles in more detail.

If Travel Size Is Critical — Consider the AirMini

The AirSense 10 with side cover is much smaller than the full setup, but it's still a desktop-class CPAP. If you travel often and want the smallest possible machine, the ResMed AirMini is purpose-built for travel — it's roughly the size of a soft-drink can and weighs about 300 grams. It uses ResMed's waterless HumidX humidification system, which provides the comfort of a humidifier without the bulk of a water chamber.

The trade-off is that the AirMini is a dedicated travel machine — you'd typically own it in addition to your main AirSense 10, rather than as a replacement. For frequent flyers and people who travel for work, that often makes sense. For occasional travel, the AirSense 10 with side cover is a far more economical option since you already own the machine. For more on this decision, see our guide to choosing the right CPAP machine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the AirSense 10 still deliver the same therapy pressure without the humidifier?

Yes. Pressure delivery is a function of the blower motor and pressure sensors, not the humidifier. With the side cover correctly fitted, the AirSense 10 maintains its prescribed pressure exactly as it would with the humidifier in place. Your AHI numbers, ramp settings, and AutoSet behaviour are unchanged.

Can I use heated tubing without the humidifier?

Yes, the ClimateLineAir heated tube will still operate normally — but heating a tube that isn't carrying humidified air doesn't provide any real benefit. For travel, switching to a standard non-heated tube is typically the better choice: it's smaller to pack and uses no power. See our complete guide to CPAP hoses for non-heated tubing options.

How much smaller is the AirSense 10 with the side cover?

With the humidifier chamber and housing removed and the side cover fitted, the machine is approximately two-thirds of its full footprint — significantly shorter end-to-end and noticeably lighter. The exact dimensions depend on ResMed's specifications, but in practical terms, it goes from "needs a dedicated travel bag" to "fits in a small daypack alongside your other gear".

Do I need to change any settings when I remove the humidifier?

No. The AirSense 10 detects the presence or absence of the humidifier automatically. With the side cover fitted, the humidity settings in the menu simply become inactive — you don't need to manually disable anything.

Can I use the side cover on the AirSense 11 instead?

No. The AirSense 10 side cover is not compatible with the AirSense 11. ResMed redesigned the chassis between generations, and the AirSense 11 uses its own dedicated side cover accessory.

Will my CPAP be noisier without humidification?

The CPAP machine itself sounds the same with or without humidification — the blower noise is unchanged. However, if you use an over-the-head hose mask (such as the ResMed AirFit P30i, N30i, F30i, or Philips DreamWear range), the air can flow significantly more loudly through the mask's hollow frame tubes when it's not humidified — loud enough to disturb sleep. If you regularly run humidifier-free, we'd recommend using a front-entry style mask for travel — like the ResMed AirFit N20, AirFit P10, or AirFit F20 — where the hose connects at the front of the mask rather than over the head.

Will running without the humidifier extend the life of my machine?

Modestly. The humidifier's heating plate and the heated tubing element are the components most likely to need replacement over time, simply because they cycle through heat-up and cool-down constantly. Running blower-only operation does reduce wear on these components — though not enough that you should make the decision based on this factor alone.

Travelling Light With Your AirSense 10

The AirSense 10 was designed to give you flexibility — full humidification when you want it, blower-only operation when you don't. With the side cover fitted, you get a smaller, lighter, lower-power version of the same therapy you're used to, ready for the next trip away from home.

Pick up your ResMed AirSense 10 Side Cover as a one-off purchase that lives in your travel kit, and you're set for years of easier travel. If you'd like advice on travel setups, battery options, or whether the AirMini is worth adding to your kit, feel free to get in touch — our team can help.