CPAP longevity/reliability stats

CPAPSteve · Post by **CPAPSteve** » Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:57 pm

Hey everyone, today seems to be the day where I'm asking a bunch of questions! My curiosity is getting the best of me.

All this learning about sleep apnea and treatment equipment I wanted to ask if anyone here could comment on the equipment brand reliability?

The two big names here in North America seem to be Philips Respironics and ResMed. In Europe it seems like Fisher Paykel and Devilbiss are contenders as well along with a few of the smaller lesser known names in industry.

PR and Resmed that my local sleep clinic sells say they both have the same warranties but the Resmed units seem to have less issues and warranty claims vs. PR. When I had the choice of choosing between the two brands the clinician informed me that both are very good units but the PR had more warranty claims than Resmed did without elaborating on how many or what the cause of failures were against the # of units sold.

That being said I've read that a well cared for CPAP machine can quite easily go for 7-8 trouble free years with basic cleaning and care. Is that actually mostly true? What are the primary modes of failures? Blower? heating elements? circuit boards?

Who is king in the CPAP industry and who truly makes the best machines out there?

Thanks!

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Mon Jul 30, 2018 11:33 pm

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:57 pm
Hey everyone, today seems to be the day where I'm asking a bunch of questions! My curiosity is getting the best of me.

All this learning about sleep apnea and treatment equipment I wanted to ask if anyone here could comment on the equipment brand reliability?

The two big names here in North America seem to be Philips Respironics and ResMed. In Europe it seems like Fisher Paykel and Devilbiss are contenders as well along with a few of the smaller lesser known names in industry.

PR and Resmed that my local sleep clinic sells say they both have the same warranties but the Resmed units seem to have less issues and warranty claims vs. PR. When I had the choice of choosing between the two brands the clinician informed me that both are very good units but the PR had more warranty claims than Resmed did without elaborating on how many or what the cause of failures were against the # of units sold.

That being said I've read that a well cared for CPAP machine can quite easily go for 7-8 trouble free years with basic cleaning and care. Is that actually mostly true? What are the primary modes of failures? Blower? heating elements? circuit boards?

Who is king in the CPAP industry and who truly makes the best machines out there?

Thanks!

Respironics have a history of under specing the high current connections of their humidifier heating plates, ala: viewtopic/t102275/Fix-Respironics-Syste ... blems.html

I'd heard they had problems in the M series before that, and the 60 series after that...I haven't heard about, (or taken apart) a dreamstation to see if they learned their lesson...

I *have* taken apart several Resmeds, (though not the latest) and they're better built, using soldered on, heavier wires for their humidifier, instead of a too small for the current plug.

MrsRinPDX · Post by **MrsRinPDX** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 12:40 am

I had my Philips Respironics DreamStation BiPAP only 4 months when a sensor stopped working, and received a new machine because it was still under warranty. Mind you, that was this year. I would agree that Philips has reliability issues.

CPAPSteve · Post by **CPAPSteve** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:23 am

Interesting news. That isnthebinfo I was seeking! Underspecced connectors and lack of soldering. I was a former quality assurance guy so this is information that piques my interest. Thanks for sharing that link. Will be an interesting read.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:07 am

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:57 pm
well cared for CPAP machine ... with basic cleaning

What would that be? Other than routine dusting of the case?

djams · Post by **djams** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:28 am

ChicagoGranny wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:07 am

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 30, 2018 10:57 pm
well cared for CPAP machine ... with basic cleaning
What would that be? Other than routine dusting of the case?

Filter change? That's all I can think of.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 8:46 am

Avoiding water and impact is a good plan.
No dropping, tossing, dunking, or mallets.

CPAPSteve · Post by **CPAPSteve** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:41 pm

Routine maintenance to me would be:

1. Wiping down machine
2. Keeping it out of the sun
3. Not dropping it
4. Making sure it's hooked up to "clean power" - surge protection, True sine wave UPS, etc.
5. Filter changes
6. Compressed air dusting IF I somehow neglected to change the filters or if I forgot to install a filter
7. Cleaning the electrical contacts for the heated hose with rubbing alcohol swabs to ensure good contact.
8. Cleaning of hoses/humidifier/mask (even though that technically isn't the CPAP machine itself)

Definitely overkill but I'm OCD that way

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:43 pm

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:23 am
Interesting news. That isnthebinfo I was seeking! Underspecced connectors and lack of soldering. I was a former quality assurance guy so this is information that piques my interest. Thanks for sharing that link. Will be an interesting read.

Here's the inside of a S9: https://imgur.com/a/S0ojG

MrsRinPDX · Post by **MrsRinPDX** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:53 pm

palerider wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:43 pm

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 31, 2018 6:23 am
Interesting news. That isnthebinfo I was seeking! Underspecced connectors and lack of soldering. I was a former quality assurance guy so this is information that piques my interest. Thanks for sharing that link. Will be an interesting read.
Here's the inside of a S9: https://imgur.com/a/S0ojG

Very cool stuff! Thanks for sharing.

ChicagoGranny · Post by **ChicagoGranny** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:54 pm

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:41 pm
1. Wiping down machine
2. Keeping it out of the sun
3. Not dropping it
4. Making sure it's hooked up to "clean power" - surge protection, True sine wave UPS, etc.
5. Filter changes
6. Compressed air dusting IF I somehow neglected to change the filters or if I forgot to install a filter
7. Cleaning the electrical contacts for the heated hose with rubbing alcohol swabs to ensure good contact.
8. Cleaning of hoses/humidifier/mask (even though that technically isn't the CPAP machine itself)

Well, I asked for it.

palerider · Post by **palerider** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 2:05 pm

CPAPSteve wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:41 pm
True sine wave UPS, etc.

*totally* unnecessary... the switching power supply doesn't care.

CPAPSteve · Post by **CPAPSteve** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 2:08 pm

I'd agree that it isn't necessary but all my UPSes at home are true sine wave

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 2:17 pm

My S9 has been in a drawer for 4+ years. Never taken out. Filter changed at 6-9 months, second hose in 4 years. At night I open the drawer, pull out the mask connected to the hose, put it on and press the power button. In the AM reverse the order.

Muse-Inc · Post by **Muse-Inc** » Tue Jul 31, 2018 10:25 pm

ResMed user here. Even my original (2007) brick Escape still works, it's now my hose dryer. No problems with my S8 APAP, still works. Had first S9 APAP replaced under warranty for moldy smell (tossed mask as I could not get rid of smell and sterilized hose). ResMed Tech support was great. My sleep doc handled mailing for me for $50 (not sure why I used him, maybe Tech Support said? can't remember, sorry).

CPAP longevity/reliability stats

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