Planning for machine replacement

[desiderata]

I'm still on my first machine, and since I know its days are numbered, want to have a plan for the inevitable.

• Are there reliable estimates of how many hours a machine is good for?

• Are there usually signs that it's nearing the end of its life?

• How have you managed the transition? Do you buy a new machine before the old one fails and wait for it to die, do you pick a date to switch even if the old one is running fine, do you have another approach?

TIA!

[Dog Slobber]

I bought a used spare machine from online buy/sell sites: (Craigs list, FB Marketplace, Let Go, Kijiji)

If you're patient you can get a helluva a deal. Get an identical machine (or better) to what you currently have, set it up the same way. Now you have a drop in replacement as a backup or for travel.

Insurance lists the typical replacement period as 5 years. So that's about 3000 hours a year, 15,000 for 5 years.

There is no single identifying characteristic for when machines are about to break, but some have had warning signs. Some symptoms I've seen reported here:

• Error messages on screen
• Intermittently turning on or off
• Noisey
• Buttons stop working

Others have reported no previous symptoms or signs. Just stops working one day.

[chunkyfrog]

Mine is over 5 years with over 17,000 hours.
I think I'll call ACS (my local DME) and ask if they will check it out.
Since I am well past my 5 year point, their say-so is all Medicare needs to pay for a replacement.
Since I own my machine, I expect to retain it for travel.