Replacement of tubing hose

What is the reason the long tube needs to be replaced every 3 months? Can bacteria get in it? I just replaced my first tube, and it looks fine to my naked eye.
It doesn't seem like something that wears out after 3 months.

Cardsfan wrote:What is the reason the long tube needs to be replaced every 3 months? Can bacteria get in it? I just replaced my first tube, and it looks fine to my naked eye.
It doesn't seem like something that wears out after 3 months.

well, basically, it comes down to this... if you don't buy new tubes, then the profits of the tube makers would be lower, and our landfills would be a bit less full.

and we can't have that, now can we!

Aside from Palerider's remarks...Tubes can last for a long time. There is NO REASON to change them unless they leak or become so stretched out that they don't stay attached to the mask or machine. There is only filtered air going through the hose.

Been using the same one(s) for a decade.

Yea, thanks. One less thing to buy.

How about the water tank replacement? Can I use it till it falls apart if I keep it squeaky clean? A new one every 6 months is what I was told to do.

Mine gets dinged every 6 months or so then I switch it out, and I let my insurance buy me a new one every 3 months so I have a private stash! And two identical machines (spare/travel plus main)

Cardsfan wrote:Yea, thanks. One less thing to buy.

How about the water tank replacement? Can I use it till it falls apart if I keep it squeaky clean? A new one every 6 months is what I was told to do.

again... most of the replacement schedule for parts was written by marketers, and/or sue phobic lawyers.

replace things when there's a problem, not when you're told to by the DME/insurance.

for instance, the manual for the resmed machines says every six months, or as needed on filters. the marketeers on the resmed website somewhere somewhere say every couple weeks.

I trust the engineers who probably had more input into the manual

englandsf wrote: And two identical machines (spare/travel plus main)

only two? slacker.

The same applies to O2 tubing, use high quality parts, they don't need replacing unnecessary, except to keep up Corp profits. Jim

Just to keep " Murphy's Law", at bay, it pays to have a spare of everything or even two, Murphy doesn't like that, so he won't mess with you! However Hoarding, is a disease, and is wasteful. Products have a shelf life, too many and you end up with drawers if junk, even if you get them free, someone else is paying dearly. Jim

Cardsfan wrote:Yea, thanks. One less thing to buy.

How about the water tank replacement? Can I use it till it falls apart if I keep it squeaky clean? A new one every 6 months is what I was told to do.

Been using mine for over 10 years........machines, hoses, HH tanks, masks, etc.
I have a "sufficient" number of backups of everything, but am determined to see just how long some of this stuff will last when properly cared for.
I've always used distilled water and "passover" (cool) humidification.......which simplifies a number of things.

Just keep in mind that what they tell you helps put more money in their pockets.
Always have some backups of everything. "Murphy's Laws" apply to this therapy, too. (Edit: I just saw Jim's post referring to the same thing.)


Den

.

Murphy, is a good fun loving old boy, who prays on the unprepared. He has a long list of victims to chose from. (Socialists are on that list and sheeples)

Many people set themselves for grief, by not preparing for what life throws at us. Read about the Grasshopper and the Ant, Fables and Parables were passed down generation after generation for a reason, in times before T.V... Jim

Thanks everybody. Being new to this is much easier when I have all this help.
I will make sure I have one spare hose and a spare water tank. ( Don't want to tempt Murphy's law) But I will not keep replacing those unless there is a problem.

The schedule doesn't require you to buy replacements. It just says you can if you need to. Everybody lives in different environments. I wish they were as generous with test strips for my glucose monitor.

What we need is non-invasive glucose testing, on the fly, maybe the Apple Smart watch can do this, or a imbedded RDIF chip and a reader, that can be checked 24/7, maybe even with a tie in to a insulin pump control. Test strips are a rip off, the profit margin is so high, the chances of other solutions are stifled by Corp greed, and their ties to the FDA. Jim

Goofproof wrote:What we need is non-invasive glucose testing, on the fly, maybe the Apple Smart watch can do this, or a imbedded RDIF chip and a reader, that can be checked 24/7, maybe even with a tie in to a insulin pump control. Test strips are a rip off, the profit margin is so high, the chances of other solutions are stifled by Corp greed, and their ties to the FDA. Jim

Huh, that was weird.. I posted the post you replied to, but it said I was a guest.

Anyway, I agree with you that the profit margin on test strips is ridiculously high. That's why they give away the meters. I don't know the exact date, but this year, all meters are supposed to meet a tighter % error - it's going from 20 to 15%. Accuchek (sp?) was the only one that met it at the time, but most of the major makers are coming out with new ones. I use two different meters - one that Medicare pays for the strips and the other for me paying for the strips. If I wasn't on disability, I'd just use the lower end strips (I'm not on insulin). They work fine for me. There are continuous blood glucose monitors, but so far, they fall somewhat short of the mark. Medicare doesn't cover at all because they haven't seen evidence that they help any but a very small part of the population. Some insurances still cover it, but most have dropped it.

To keep this thread related, my brother used the same hose for 2 years - no apparent leaks. He only got a leak when he used it at the hospital. Maybe angle of use plays a role in this or it was already 'on the edge' for leaks. He normally sleeps in a recliner due to his health issues and the unit is placed to the side in front of him, while at the hospital, he is in a bed (raised head) and the unit is to the side of him. It has that autostart feature (starts when you put the mask on). I was surprised that they had that feature 8 years ago (resprionics bipap). He just bought a replacement hose at Amazon.