At What Point Does a CPAP machine become "old"?

dnelms · Post by **dnelms** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:16 pm

I've had a CPAP machine since 1993 and still have and use the original machine. It has never been serviced. Is there a "shelf life" to these machines to a point that they do not perform their functions in longer? I know it's working, but is it working to optimal level?

Had a Breeze Nasal Pilloe mask to break the other night and found this forum when I ordered a new mask from cpap.com. This has got me to thinking about whether my machine could be too old?

Thanks for any comments.

yardbird · Post by **yardbird** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:25 pm

If it's still working... I wouldn't mess with it. The old..."if it ain't broke, don't fix it" thing.

You MIGHT want to see if there's a place locally that can clean it for you, but I wouldn't even do THAT if you're feeling fine.

dnelms · Post by **dnelms** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:47 pm

Thanks. Anything on the market to test the machine to see if it's still providing 11cm at it's highest level?

johnnygoodman · Post by **johnnygoodman** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 1:57 pm

Greetings,

The two things you want to make sure about are filters and the pressure it is putting out. If it is blowing the right pressure and that air is passing through fresh filters, than the only reason to upgrade is if you want the bells and whistles of the newer machines.

The tool to test a machines pressure is called a manometer.

Here is the manufacturer version:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/fisher ... amber.html

Here is the $10 bucks cheaper but still works knockoff:

https://www.cpap.com/productpage/tiara- ... meter.html

Filters can also be purchsed through cpap.com. Call them up and they'll help you determine which you need.

Lastly, through the end of the month, you get a free breeze system with any Puritan Bennett machine purchase. If you were ever going to upgrade that old machine, now is the time.

Johnny

dsg · Post by **dsg** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:25 pm

dnelms, very recently I asked my DME rep essentially the same question you've posed. She said their experience is that the usual lifespan of the machine's optimal effectiveness is between 5-10 years. Her words to me were that it will likely fail all at once and you'll know it (how? Will it just not turn on? Don't know the answer to that.) My insurance (Tufts) will pay for a new one after 5 years regardless of performance, and before if it goes bad. I know my brother in CA has Kaiser Permanente, and they won't ever replace a machine until/unless it fails.

Check with your DME AND your insurance. Their policies may well have changed since you started on treatment.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:34 pm

Your CPAP might be old if...

If your CPAP is louder than your vacuum cleaner, your cpap might be old.

If the lights dim when you turn it on, your cpap might be old.

If your mask still requires using glue, your cpap might be old.

And the finale

If your mahine was made by Thomas Edison, your cpap might be old.

dsm · Post by **dsm** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:32 pm

To be 'old' or not !

In one sense, with the advances being made in xPAPs at the moment, many machines are 'old' in the technology sense even before you buy them.

Recently I got my hands on a PB318 that must be easily 10 years or so old.

The one thing I see about these 'old(er)' machines is the robustness of the components in them.

Newer machines are without a doubt far more delicate. The fans in the older units were really built to last a very long time. I am not confident that some newer ones are made with longevity in mind.

As these machines become smaller and the way the fans are driven changes, the blowers are being pushed to their limits of performance.

The flimsiest fans I have ever seen are in the PB420 line and yet these are thought of so highly by their owners.

The fans in the newer RemStars are getting smaller but still look like they can last a few years. Same for ResMed S8s.

The Polaris and F&P fans are more old fashioned and robust but these xPAPs are not as technologically advanced as the latest PBs, Respironics & ResMeds.

So, old can mean 'built to last longer'

Cheers

DSM

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, resmed

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): respironics, resmed

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:26 pm

dsm wrote:To be 'old' or not !

In one sense, with the advances being made in xPAPs at the moment, many machines are 'old' in the technology sense even before you buy them.

]

I have my personally owned Respironics BiPAP STD that I got 2 years ago- it was outdated when I got it but it only had something like 16 hours total use & still had the full factory packaging & everything. My DME provided me with a VPAP STA- first one died after 12 hours total use and my CSA never did well with the second one either so I ended up with a Respironics Syncrhony. The Synchrony is a great machine- its one of the most expensive xPAPs available and is very well made, but if I had to pick between it and the older BiPAP STD, I'd go with the the later- as far as longevity is concerned. Of course it is a little louder and it weighs a bit more...but I'd be more worried about damaging the floor if I droped itwith its metal case then actually damaging the unit its self. And besides, its so much easier to set the pressures...you just have to ignore the little sticker that says not to open the access pannel on the back All the bells & whistles are nice with the newer machines, but every one of them is one more thing that can go wrong. I'm not daring enough to take the BiPAP STD apart to see whats on the inside, but it would be interesting to see compared to the newer machines.

I say as long as you have the pressure check periodically to make sure its still accurate and you're doing well with an older machine, then keep using it. Even if the pressure reading isn't accurate, as along as its consistant they can always adjust it so that it give you the proper pressure. The only other concern is if the OP has had any follow up sleep studies since 1993? A lot can change in that time and it might be time to check back in just to make sure you are on the right track.

tomjax · Post by **tomjax** » Fri Dec 16, 2005 8:55 pm

Broken Breeze?
You can get parts for it- no need usually to orfer a nerw one.

Most breaks reasonably easy to repair.
Get your soldering iron out and melt the broken parts together.

May be necessary to get extra piece of plastic to make splint to strengthening it.

pm me for details.

At What Point Does a CPAP machine become "old"?

At What Point Does a CPAP machine become "old"?

Machine Oldness

broken breeze??/