Is it worth buying a backup machine?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
razor488
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Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by razor488 » Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:43 pm

I have been using an airsense 11 for about two years now and I can't imagine sleeping a night without it. I saw that at cpap.com you can buy an airsense 11 for $500, I was wondering if it is worth buying it as a backup in case my current machine fails. Is this over kill or how long are these machines supposed to last? Is it reasonable possible to quit working on me in the next year or so?

Thanks

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jimbud
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by jimbud » Sun Nov 24, 2024 8:17 pm

I would not feel comfortable without one. I currently have four machines. One for every night in the bedroom and one in the living room by the couch for naps One for travel. One I bought brand new when it was on sale at cpap.com.(that I ran for a few minutes and then put up for just in case.)
Call me paranoid. :D

It is a machine, they can and do fail. It could last you for years or could fail tonight.

Get a back up.

JPB

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Dog Slobber
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by Dog Slobber » Sun Nov 24, 2024 9:52 pm

Yes it's possible for it to fail.

New products fail all the time, cars, TVs, computers, phones, CPAPs.

How are you going to makeout a night without CPAP? A weekend? Thanksgiving long weekend? Add to that, the time to order, ship and receive. What if your practitioner wants another sleep study?

I have two spare AirCurves and a battery backup.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Mon Nov 25, 2024 7:50 am

razor488 wrote:
Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:43 pm
Is it worth buying a backup machine?Quote razor488


Only if you are going to bed exhausted one night, and your machine fails.

I always keep a backup. I dread having a machine failure on a trip. It's not practical to take two machines when traveling. If I did have a failure, I would fly home on the first available flight. That would be more expensive than buying a backup.

If you do buy a backup and your current machine is out of warranty, use the newest machine until its warranty expires. I use my backup once per quarter to make sure it is still in good condition.

BTW, which machine do you have and which are you considering buying?
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SMenasco
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by SMenasco » Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:01 am

I have been on CPAP for 29 years. I have always kept a backup machine, although I've never had to use one. I am on my 6th machine. I use my backup for travel so I don't disrupt my setup by the bed. My son uses my old S10 and has an 11 as a backup I got from Lucretia Borgia. His S10 gave him a message three years ago that the machine was nearing its life and should purchase a new one.

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ChicagoGranny
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by ChicagoGranny » Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:04 am

"It's not the number of breaths we take, it's the number of moments that take our breath away."

Cuando cuentes cuentos, cuenta cuántas cuentos cuentas.

MyIdaho
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by MyIdaho » Mon Nov 25, 2024 5:46 pm

Most definitely! My S9 was always a champ and never failed for many hours past the hours of useful life. After upgrading to an S10, I've had to pull my backup machine (the S9) out of storage three times... A true blessing to have a fallback device.

D.H.
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Re: Is it worth buying a backup machine?

Post by D.H. » Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:13 am

A backup machine is always a good idea. If you get a new CPAP and your old one still works, you might want to keep the old one as a backup.

When my Dream Station was recalled, I reverted to a machine that was eleven years old at the time. It might not have been the ideal machine to use, but given there was a CPAP shortage at the time (due directly to the recall and also due to the pandemic), it was good to be able to use it.

The caveat about using an older machine is that you might not be able to get parts for it (ex, filters, water chambers, power cords, etc.), even if it's in good working order.

You should run you backup machine for a few hours each month, even if you don't use it. Also, never use it during your compliance period!

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Last edited by D.H. on Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:20 am, edited 2 times in total.