Any use for old machine?

[BeckyLC]

I'm sure this has been answered before, but none of the search terms I tried turned up anything useful. I just replaced my still working ResMed S9 AutoSet with the AirSense 11. What do you all do with old machines - just throw them away? I don't need a back-up machine because I have a travel CPAP. Would hate to toss it if there's something useful that could be done with it. The power supply is newer - had to replace that.

EDIT....this machine has found a new home.

[Wulfman...]

I'm sure this has been answered before, but none of the search terms I tried turned up anything useful. I just replaced my still working ResMed S9 AutoSet with the AirSense 11. What do you all do with old machines - just throw them away? I don't need a back-up machine because I have a travel CPAP. Would hate to toss it if there's something useful that could be done with it. The power supply is newer - had to replace that.

Keep it for ANOTHER backup machine. You can never have too many.


Den

.

[clownbell]

@OP - If you are satisfied with one backup, another option would be to donate it. There are organizaions that recycle equipment for use by those who cannot afford to buy new. How many hours on it? For comparison, 8 hours times 365 days times 5 years would be some 14,600 hours. Many machines last much longer. I found my local recycler by googling "CPAP recycling." Of course, we aren't in Wisconsin. Too cold in the winter for native Californians!!

[greatunclebill]

Ask your DME or other local DME's. My DME doesn't call itself a recycler but does accept old machines and gives them to customers that might need a machine but can't afford to pay for it.

[D.H.]

If you're comfortable with only one backup machine, you certainly ought to donate it!

There is a critical shortage of CPAP machines at the moment. This is for the following reasons.

1. The general supply chain issues that affects many goods and services.
2. Many CPAP machines were repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients and are no longer suitable to treat sleep apnea patients.
3. There was a very large recall affecting many of the CPAP machines that were in use at the time of the recall (many of which are still in use despite the recall).

[chunkyfrog]

Before giving it to my DME, I would check my sleep doc's office.
The DME might just consider it one less sale--or sell it!
Forget about Goodwill--they destroy them.

[zonker]

What do you all do with old machines - just throw them away? I don't need a back-up machine because I have a travel CPAP.

if you don't want to keep it as a triple redundancy back up, then there is this article-

"Where to Donate a CPAP Machine
When looking for a place to donate, be careful about the organization you choose. Some charitable organizations3, like Goodwill, will not do anything with your CPAP, but will simply destroy it.

Look for organizations that specifically deal with sleep disorders, breathing conditions, and lung conditions. You can also discuss your donation with companies that take durable medical equipment donations. Make sure the organization cleans and inspects the devices and either gives them to individuals who need them or sells them at a deeply reduced price.

This will ensure that your device is able to help someone in need. Finally, choose an organization that is a registered charity, so you are confident they are not looking to make a profit off of your donation.

Some good options to consider include these:

Breathe California of the Bay Area
The Reggie White Sleep Disorders and Research Foundation
American Sleep Apnea Association
Advocates for World Health
Durable Medical Equipment Aid Society
Each of these organizations has its own requirements for donation. Some will require you to pay the shipping fees, but all will provide you with a donation letter that will allow you to write off the donation on your tax return. This is an added perk that you will enjoy as you enjoy the benefit of knowing you helped save someone’s health and potentially their life with your used machine.

If you would prefer to keep your donation local, consider reaching out to your local homeless shelter, food pantry, or churches in your area to see if they know of someone who needs help. It is not illegal to give your lightly used machine to another person, but do make sure that they actually need it or have a prescription for it. Remember, CPAP machines are medical devices and they should not be used without the direction of a doctor.

CPAP therapy is an effective way to treat the dangerous condition of sleep apnea. If you have a CPAP machine that you are no longer using, consider using it to be a blessing to someone else through donation. By donating your machine, you keep it out of the landfill, avoid the legalities of selling it, and give someone less fortunate a new lease on life!"

sorry, i don't know the providence on this. it's something i captured here a few years ago.

good luck!

[BeckyLC]

Thanks, folks - good to know that I don't just need to junk it. I'll start looking into the suggestions for where to donate it.

[D.H.]

Thanks, folks - good to know that I don't just need to junk it. I'll start looking into the suggestions for where to donate it.

Here's one ===> https://www.sleepapnea.org/cpap-machine-donation/

[zonker]

Thanks, folks - good to know that I don't just need to junk it. I'll start looking into the suggestions for where to donate it.

Here's one ===> https://www.sleepapnea.org/cpap-machine-donation/

huh. looks a lot like what i gave her in my answer-

"American Sleep Apnea Association"

does anyone bother reading any other answers before posting their own?

[chunkyfrog]

Nope.
Just in case somebody gets the bright idea to hide valuables inside,
remember, if one passes away, the post-memorial activities may include DONATION.
Without checking inside, of course.

They will never know; because nobody read this . . .

[Lane101]

For really old machines with 1000's of hours and over 5 years old I couldn't find any options beyond dumping in in our town recycling station. Resellers/Charities that take used machines tend to want younger more gently used units. Also, with all the recent CPAP foam degradation issues there could be a safety risk with a really old machine even if it is still working.

Over the past two years I recycled an old Goodknight 420 from 2005 and a ZZZPap from 2007. Out of curiosity I disassembled both units prior to recycling and found that almost all the inflow air path on both units was through foam. In the case of the Goodknight 420g the foam had turned into mush in the same way as the foam in many Dreamstations and the ZZZPap foam had an odd odor to it. Goodknight had long ago been relegated to a few days of use per year while camping. ZZZpap was my travel unit. Never used an Ozone cleaner however time in hot car trunks may have eventually taken its toll.

[Pugsy]

If at all possible I always encourage people to not toss a still working old cpap machine in the trash because we never know when someone might come here and be in critical need for ANY machine...no matter the age or the model or the hours on it.

A lot of those places that do dispense machines to people in need have restrictions....certain age or hours of use will disqualify a machine or maybe they are like one I know of that requires someone to pay $100 and / or have the machine sent to a doctor to have them set it and they won't send directly to a patient.
In other words...sometimes some extra hurdles for someone in need. I don't like hurdles.

If someone wants to donate a machine and they don't want to hang around here on the forum waiting for someone to post that they need ANY machine.....send it to me and I will hold onto it and when someone comes here needing it I can send it on to them straightaway....no hurdles.....and no waiting for all the hurdles to get jumped either.

A while back I had someone who had 2 System One 50 series BiPaps to donate but they were high hour and had a broken knob....no one wanted them. Wife of a man who had used them and who had passed away...she wanted them out of the house.
So I had her send them to me...I spent 5 bucks on each and replaced the broken knobs and eventually they found new homes to someone who really needed them and didn't have money or insurance to go buy one themselves.

I have several of those type of stories to tell.
I am here most days so I keep an eye on posts and I don't mind shipping out machines.

Even a really old machine could help someone at least short term sometimes.

[Lane101]

Hi Pugsy, Good to know. Thanks.

[greatunclebill]

no argument from me, send it to pugsy. just to explain a little more about what i said about donating to a dme, at the time i was with american homepatient or whatever it was. my stepson had had a sleeptest and told the doc he couldn't afford a machine and didn't really want one anyways. so the doc sent him to a local mom and pop dme. they gave him a machine and mask, etc no charge. he's a knucklehead that thought they were trying make money when he didn't need it and would have nothing to do with it. he said take it back or he was going to trash it. so i brought it back. long story short, they are my dme now. i've gotten to know the techs. they said when an old machine comes in they fix it up or use it to fix another one and donate them to needy patients for free. they do not sell old machines. good dme's are few and hard to find and it's going to be mom and pop outfits, not multinational corporations like apria.