How do you keep your 2nd cpap machine?

[crappyman]

I have noticed that there are a lot of people here keeping more than 1 cpap.

For me, I am going to have 2 identical cpap machines.

My primary reason of getting a 2nd one was because it was cheap and had the same function as my original one.

I am just worried if I keep the 2nd one idle too much, there would be some problems.

I am still thinking if getting the 2nd one was a good decision.

[Sheriff Buford]

Having a backup machine is a great idea. I keep mine in a gallon zipper-type Ziplock bag. It keeps the moisture and the dust outta' the machine. Some machines are different size. I have the original brick (Resmed S8 Escape) and my S9 Vpap in the Ziplock baggies. Works great for me.

Sheriff

[LAGrandpa]

I keep my old PR System One packed in its original packaging. It had sit idle for about five years and I recently loaned it to a friend to get him out of a bind and it worked perfectly for him for about a month. Your mileage my vary.

[herefishy]

My m-series Remstar (with 23,562 hours) got dragged out of the closet the other night and performed flawlessly - no packaging, just sitting there.

[Hose_Head]

Having a second cpap on hand as a backup is always a good idea. You never know when your "nightly driver" is going to break down (eventually, they all do) but having an operable Plan B is best.

Having a second operable cpap packed up and ready to go in its travel case is also a good idea for those of us who have health issues that could mean a sudden trip to the hospital at a moment's notice.

Finally, I use my back-up cpap for travel. That way, I don't put my "nightly driver" at risk of the ravages of travel.

As for storage of your back up, just make sure you put it away clean, and ready to go in its travel case. store it someplace clean and dry. And it's a good idea to take it out periodically (at least a couple times per year) and test it to make sure it's operating ok. My use of my backup for travel meets this need perfectly.

[Omne]

I keep mine in it's case. I use it for napping during the day, if needed, so it runs a couple of hours a couple of times a month. I don't use the humidifier though.

[Sir NoddinOff]

The only different way I store my backup machines is that I take out the tank, pull that apart then store the pieces separately wrapped in some bubble wrap. I also separate the humidifier from the blower and wrap those separately and store them in a box. The reason I do these things is that the silicone seals in the machine, humidifier and tank won't be continually compressed and possibly deformed... remember it could be stored for multiple years. As I recall the ResMed humidifiers compress the lid against the body of the humidifier when latched... there's a silicon seal in place around there. I simply ball up some clean paper and sort of prop the lid open so that seal isn't compressed. It really doesn't take any extra effort to store them in this way, so why not? Obviously keep the box out of overly cold, hot or damp places.

[Bryman31]

My m-series Remstar (with 23,562 hours) got dragged out of the closet the other night and performed flawlessly - no packaging, just sitting there.

thats about 8 years or so right? i have an M series ive used for apx 8 hrs a night from 8/2008 to 5/2016. GREAT machine. now its one of my backups as well.....

[Wulfman...]

I have noticed that there are a lot of people here keeping more than 1 cpap. YUP!

For me, I am going to have 2 identical cpap machines. Good idea.

My primary reason of getting a 2nd one was because it was cheap and had the same function as my original one. Good reason.

I am just worried if I keep the 2nd one idle too much, there would be some problems. Not too likely, but it doesn't hurt to use the backup as a nap machine, travel or something like that.

I am still thinking if getting the 2nd one was a good decision. You won't regret it. Especially when your primary machine needs to be sent for repairs.

I keep most of my machines in the padded travel bags. The ones that are not packed up get rotated for occasional naps.
If we do any traveling (by vehicle.....I don't fly anymore), I take TWO of everything.

If you find you like what you have, buy more of them. Everything will then be interchangeable and they'll be cheaper as time goes on (someday they'll probably disappear altogether). Their primary job is to "blow air" and once you find your optimal settings, that's what counts (along with providing data).


Den

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[Bryman31]

so im curious............are you asking if a 2nd machine kept stored it might have problems? i cant see how having 2 or 3 machines unplugged, and in the closet as backup for however long would cause problems. correct me if im wrong here.........

[Wulfman...]

so im curious............are you asking if a 2nd machine kept stored it might have problems? i cant see how having 2 or 3 machines unplugged, and in the closet as backup for however long would cause problems. correct me if im wrong here.........

Shouldn't be any problems leaving them "stored".
The only "problem" I can think of is if the internal clock battery goes dead and it then fails to timestamp events (it may then revert to the BIOS date and create error conditions), but other than that, no.


Den

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[cant_sleep_in_nj]

i travel for a living so my backup/travel unit is always in my travel bag.

[palerider]

[/quote="crappyman"]How do you keep your 2nd cpap machine?'[/quote]
I keep mine by not selling it or letting anybody walk off with it.

[SewTired]

I have an Airsense For Her, but bought an S9 Auto as backup before my 'rental' period ended (no more free backups from DME if machine has problems). While the algorithm isn't quite the same, it still works for me. I store it in the padded case complete with hose and mask as I'm using this as my travel cpap. Even when I go to sleep clinic, they never look at data older than 2 weeks. The only thing I can see going wrong with the machine in storage is damage by rodents. The plastic seals on these things seem to stand up to time very nicely and that would be likely the first thing to go.

We've had some ancient electronics stored for 30 years - so long as it is kept DRY, shouldn't be a problem. Generally, don't store it on the floor in a basement. Placing inside a large ziplock would likely help if you are in a damp environment (I'm thinking Florida), but do check the seal now and then.