How Long Do CPAPs last?

Janelle · Post by **Janelle** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:30 am

Most insurance companies will only buy a new CPAP every 5 years. But they are guaranteed for only two. Will they really last 5 years with no problems?

Ionizer · Post by **Ionizer** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:18 pm

Janelle,
How long does a cpap last. Thats a good question . Answer: until it stops working. LOL. Seriously. how long does an automobile last ? The manufacturer warrants it for 3 yrs -36000 miles whatever comes first. You still see many cars driving beyond their warranty. Why is it that some people drive the same car for 15 years with no problems and others cant go a year without difficulty. Some people just dont take care of them.

As far as cpaps go. There arent many variables. Power surges, Dropping, water spillage to name a few. Is your house dusty? Do you travel with it. I guess there all weigh in. Yes some have I year warrantys and some have 3 year warrantys.
I have had mine for nearly 3 years. It has a 2 year warranty. I did have a problem out of warranty. They fixed it for free anyway.

I work on automobiles. You can go to a discount parts house and buy a part with a lifetime warranty for 1/2 the cost of a original equipment part. Thats fine for a battery of something easily accessable. However. Are you willing to pay me $400 labor to install a $50 part instead of the $100 original equipment part Just to save $50. yea they will give you another for free. After you have paid me $400 again to install it.

So what has this got to do with cpaps? Buy quality, Take care of it... Funny how people put more thought into what color drapes go in their dining room than their medical care (or automobiles).

It is a mechanical device and things can go wrong no matter how well it is designed or built. No matter how long the warranty period is.

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:58 pm

What a cool answer, Ionizer. I liked that!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:57 pm

My dr. said up to 10 years if you take good care of it

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 7:58 pm

By the way, I'd be REALLY ticked off if my $1,700 machine had problems within 2-3 years! No way should something cost that much & have problems!

Ionizer · Post by **Ionizer** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:22 pm

What you paid for it has nothing to do with it. As we all should know by now it is BUYER BEWARE in this business. We see many posts crying of paying many thousands of dollars for what you may purchase for under $1,000 for the complete system at cpap.com and a few other sites. Do your reasearch before you buy. Avoid being rushed into a purchase that you will regret .

Do you have a surge suppressor for your cpap? They don't cost much and may prevent your cpap from being fried during a storm.

Do you change the filters regularly.

Your cpap is a precision instrument. It operates 8 hrs a day every day for most of us and can be purchased for peanuts compared to most medical items. Have you purchased a back brace or orthotic support lately. Maybe someone could explain why they cost so much.

Ionizer

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:13 pm

Uh, I didn't have a choice. At the time I got my machine the DME company charged my insurance $1,700! I paid a small percentage. No way could I afford even a "cheap" machine on my own so I had to go with the DME & insurance.

ginnylee · Post by **ginnylee** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:19 pm

I've had my cpap for over 7 years now and have had absolutely no problems whatsoever......

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 12:42 am

Mine is coming up on 14 years old.

sharonokc · Post by **sharonokc** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 12:11 pm

I just purchased a new machine in December because I was worried about mine's age. (I also wanted a smaller, quieter one.) I purchased my previous one in 1991 and it worked fine. So I guess that is 13 years. I got that one so I could fly to my sister's wedding. My first cpap I got in 1984 (I think). It still works, only the settings come in multiple of fives.

Arch · Post by **Arch** » Sat Jan 29, 2005 3:27 pm

Interesting. I'm still using the CPAP I bought in 1991. I purchased a new one in December because I had become concerned about the age of the Healthdyne and I wanted a smaller one for a trip I'd planned.

ginnylee · Post by **ginnylee** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:52 am

That's cool because I was hoping my machine would last awhile longer....I retired from the State after 35 years but I dropped my health insurance because the cost of $450.00 per month was just too much.........So, i'm hoping the machine lasts until I'm medicare eligible

Yoga · Post by **Yoga** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 4:14 am

The first Remstar Pro w/cflex that I rented lasted less than 2 months.
The machine was not damaged by me.

How Long Do CPAPs last?

How Long Do CPAPs last?

Coincidence