What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

[Chuck98104]

Who or what determines the useful life of a CPAP machine? Does the machine need to fail or not work properly to justify requesting a replacement?

[Nocibur]

Who or what determines the useful life of a CPAP machine?

Your insurer.

Does the machine need to fail or not work properly to justify requesting a replacement?

Again, depends on your insurer. Usual RUL is 5 years.

[LSAT]

The manufacturer....This Warning message will appear at about 20,000 hours on Resmed machines..(About 7-8 years).

[tlohse]

The determination of the life of a cpap is determined by your insurance and how it’s being used and also your doctors opinion. The general rule is 5 years but you could probably stay on what ever model of cpap you’re using and be okay for a while longer.

[mlmollenkamp]

My advice is to replace it whenever your insurance allows, then keep the previous one as a spare and travel machine. They don't fail often, but I've had it happen and it can be extraordinarily difficult and time consuming to get a replacement. Travel can be a real killer of machines so its especially important to have a separate machine even if you don't check it as luggage. I killed two machines over the years with business travel, never checked luggage or the machine.