Ugh... repair estimate for AirSense 10

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:49 pm

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

WHO gave you that quote? ( your DME? )
Is your machine still under warranty?

If it was not from this place, contact them.

https://acbio.com/cpap-repair/


Den

.

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:49 pm

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

Hmmm ... that's $110 'cheaper' than a brand new machine. That sounds pretty silly to me.

Did they say what went wrong, other than what they want to replace? I don't think these machines fail often unless something unusual happens (water entry, drop, etc).

Wulfman has good questions too, and a good suggestion.

Wulfman... wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:55 pm

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:49 pm

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

WHO gave you that quote? ( your DME? )
Is your machine still under warranty?

If it was not from this place, contact them.

https://acbio.com/cpap-repair/


Den

.

His machines are not under warranty because one is three years old, and the other he bought off Craig's Lists.

It was ACBIO that gave him the quote.

@OP
This is why you should be keeping related content in a single topic, not three.

People can easily see the pertinent information and won't ask questions that would otherwise be known.

I didn’t often get replies when I add to my previous thread much later. That’s why I started a new one.

I don’t mind answering the questions - I’m more venting than anything else. I have crappy luck. Nothing really can be done - I’ll let them keep the machine and look for another used one.

There was zero communication from them including about what might have gone wrong - I can’t recall but I’d say the machine was less than 3 years old, and maybe 2.5 of those was in use with me. I simply got the cost estimate. I have insurance - I think a new machine is 13 payments of $22, so it’s not remotely worth it to fix. I would not be so upset if I didn’t specifically ask them (before shipping) whether it would definitely be worth sending or if it could cost than a new used machine. It took 3 requests to get them to send the shipping label in the first place.

Both of my machines are off Craigslist. My first one was from my DME and that has a humidifier fault.

None of my machines have ever had anything happen to them like water damage, drops, etc. they are all on the floor on a piece of padding. It could have happened before I got them, but this noisy one was quiet for years.

I got no response from the company about a refurbished machine to replace mine, or what might have happened to cause all of these problems. I have been quite disappointed in their service.

The noise on the newer machine is so variable - if I move the tubing, it usually stops the noise. It makes no sense to me. The noise comes from the air intake area of the machine, and I have tried 3 new hoses with no cure. It’s almost like anything I do fixes the noise for a little while, and it comes back randomly.

I think I am getting a new machine from my DME so that I have a warranty this time. I have only gotten 1 machine with insurance, and it’s been over 5 years. I need an office visit note stating why I need a new machine, so apparently I need to have an MD visit regarding this issue first.

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:49 pm

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

Wow. That's crazy pants. You can get a "gently used" S10 AirSense from SecondWind for $329 and it comes with a 1-year warranty.

Yep. That’s precisely why I asked if it sounded like it would definitely be worthwhile to fix - i.e. cost less than a new machine. I think I pay a bit over $200 in copays. I’m still working on getting physician documentation that I need a new machine...

I never got an answer to my follow up questions to ACB. I guess they can refurb my old machine and sell it.

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 16, 2020 4:45 am

Yep. That’s precisely why I asked if it sounded like it would definitely be worthwhile to fix - i.e. cost less than a new machine. I think I pay a bit over $200 in copays. I’m still working on getting physician documentation that I need a new machine...

I never got an answer to my follow up questions to ACB. I guess they can refurb my old machine and sell it.

It seems odd to me that the PC board needs replacement for what sounds like a mechanical problem. But if that board is indeed bad, and the machine wasn't very old, and also given that you are having similar problems with your other machine, you really need to consider the possibility that you have a problem with your electrical supply. I would stop using the UPS and get a good surge protector. That UPS may be causing problems. I don't think you ever mentioned which one you have, but I know APC very specifically says not to use theirs with a CPAP machine. Their statement sounds more like CYA talk to protect themselves, but still, they aren't intended for use with these.

I have another machine on the APC without any issues and I used the first machine without it.

The problem with the other machine is very different- it’s a sound it makes sometimes and it’s a completely different, milder type of sound. It’s silent when I’m not breathing, where the machine I sent back was noisy all the time.

I can still try it without the APC but I only got it to use with my CPAP, partly as an alarm and partly to give me a minute to get the mask off before it shut down.

I’m on Medicare. Unless the machine was abused My DME will usually replace equipment Until the end of five years when I can get a new model.

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 16, 2020 10:40 am

I have another machine on the APC without any issues and I used the first machine without it.

The problem with the other machine is very different- it’s a sound it makes sometimes and it’s a completely different, milder type of sound. It’s silent when I’m not breathing, where the machine I sent back was noisy all the time.

I can still try it without the APC but I only got it to use with my CPAP, partly as an alarm and partly to give me a minute to get the mask off before it shut down.

Trying it without the APC won't fix an existing problem (well better said, not a problem as a result of electrical or other damage). The point is that using the APC "may" be what has led to an electrical issue that has damaged the circuit board. Unlikely, especially since you have another in use on it with no issues. Are you saying the "first" machine was not ever used on it? How long has the one that is not having issues been on it? How about the third one that is making noises?

Yeah, the other machine has always been on it (2 years?) without a problem. The old machine was not on it at all. The newer machine with the minor noises has been on it since I got it a few months ago- it was very lightly used, and I tested it when I bought it, but I did not breathe while on it - it very well may have had this issue at the time. It is intermittent anyway. I really don’t think this is linked to the APC. I can’t imagine my newest machine would be damaged so quickly while the other one hasn’t had a problem in all this time.

My DME doesn’t replace equipment - if it were under warranty, they would. That’s why I’m going through the aggravation of buying a new one from them.

Lifeisabeach wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:12 pm

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:49 pm

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

Wow. That's crazy pants. You can get a "gently used" S10 AirSense from SecondWind for $329 and it comes with a 1-year warranty.

$329 is for the "brick" CPAP model

LSAT wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 16, 2020 1:28 pm

Lifeisabeach wrote: ↑

Mon Jun 15, 2020 7:12 pm

recipefordisaster wrote: ↑

Tue Jun 09, 2020 12:49 pm

This was for my machine that was not very old with not many hours on it. It was very noisy. The estimate is for a new PC board and pneumatic block, plus calibration and everything, and comes to $490. I was assured it was likely it’d be worth it to fix it before I sent it in, but I can’t imagine that cost is worth it... guess I’m looking for a new machine!! I no longer have a spare and my current machine is a little noisy - nothing like that one was.

Wow. That's crazy pants. You can get a "gently used" S10 AirSense from SecondWind for $329 and it comes with a 1-year warranty.

$329 is for the "brick" CPAP model

True. I only looked at the thread title for the model, but the OP lists an AutoSet in their profile, so that one would be $389. Still crazy pants. SecondWind also has a new one listed for $539 and comes with a 2 year warranty.

Now if that AutoSet is supposed to be a "For Her" version, then we're in a different value territory here.