You can use the ResMed AirSense 11 without humidification by changing two settings in the My Options menu: switching Climate Control to Manual and turning Humidity Level to Off. If you want to physically remove the water tub entirely, you’ll also need a side cover accessory to seal the opening. Here’s how to do both.
Turn Off Humidification in Settings
The AirSense 11 defaults to automatic climate control, which actively manages humidity and tube temperature. To stop humidification, you need to override this by switching to manual mode first, then setting humidity to zero. Both changes happen in the same menu.
Start by tapping My Options from the Home screen, then scroll down the list of settings.
- Step 1: Switch to Manual Climate Control. Tap Climate Control, select Manual, then tap OK to save.
- Step 2: Turn off humidity. Tap Humidity Level, select Off (the scale runs from Off to 8), then tap OK to save.
That’s it for the software side. The machine will now deliver air pressure without adding moisture. You can leave the water tub in place and simply keep it empty, or you can remove it entirely if you prefer a more compact setup.
Why Manual Mode Matters
If you only turn off humidity but leave Climate Control set to Auto, the machine may try to adjust humidity on its own based on room conditions. Switching to Manual first ensures the device respects your Off setting and doesn’t override it during the night. Always change Climate Control to Manual before adjusting the humidity level.
Removing the Water Tub
Running without the water tub is common for travel or when you simply don’t want the extra bulk on your nightstand. Slide the tub out from the side of the machine the same way you would for cleaning. Once it’s removed, you’ll see an open port on the side of the device. The machine can’t deliver air properly with that port exposed, so you need to cover it.
ResMed sells a side cover designed for exactly this purpose. It’s officially called the AirSense and AirCurve 11 Side Cover, part number 39226. It clicks into the slot where the water tub normally sits, sealing the airflow path so pressure is delivered through the tube as expected. You can find it through most CPAP supply retailers, typically for under $10.
Without either the water tub or the side cover in place, the machine will have a large air leak at the tub port. This makes therapy ineffective and will likely trigger a leak alert. So if you’re pulling the tub out, the side cover isn’t optional.
Tubing Options Without Humidification
The AirSense 11 is compatible with the ClimateLineAir 11 heated tube and with standard non-heated CPAP tubing. If you’ve turned off humidification entirely, a standard tube works fine and is lighter, more flexible, and cheaper to replace. The heated tube won’t cause any problems with humidity off, but you’re not getting any benefit from its heating element in that configuration unless you set a tube temperature to help prevent condensation in cooler rooms.
If you do keep the ClimateLineAir 11 connected with humidity off, you can still independently adjust tube temperature through the My Options menu. Some people find a low tube temperature setting (without humidity) helps keep the air comfortable in cold bedrooms without introducing moisture.
When Skipping Humidification Makes Sense
Most people skip the humidifier for practical reasons: traveling light, avoiding the hassle of distilled water, or sleeping in a humid climate where added moisture causes condensation (commonly called “rainout”) in the tube. If you live somewhere with naturally high humidity, turning off the humidifier can actually make therapy more comfortable by eliminating water buildup in your mask.
On the other hand, if you notice a dry nose, sore throat, or nosebleeds after a few nights without humidification, your airways are telling you they need more moisture. Dry air at continuous pressure can irritate nasal passages over time, especially in arid climates or heated indoor environments during winter. In that case, consider turning humidity back on at a low setting (1 or 2) rather than going without it entirely.
The transition is easy to reverse. Go back into My Options, set your preferred humidity level, and switch Climate Control back to Auto if you want the machine to manage things for you. If you removed the water tub, slide it back in (with distilled water filled to the max line) and remove the side cover.