What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

Chuck98104 · Post by **Chuck98104** » Tue Mar 24, 2026 1:25 pm

Who or what determines the useful life of a CPAP machine? Does the machine need to fail or not work properly to justify requesting a replacement?

Nocibur · Post by **Nocibur** » Tue Mar 24, 2026 1:57 pm

Chuck98104 wrote: ↑
Tue Mar 24, 2026 1:25 pm
Who or what determines the useful life of a CPAP machine?

Your insurer.

Does the machine need to fail or not work properly to justify requesting a replacement?

Again, depends on your insurer. Usual RUL is 5 years.

LSAT · Post by **LSAT** » Wed Mar 25, 2026 1:23 pm

The manufacturer....This Warning message will appear at about 20,000 hours on Resmed machines..(About 7-8 years).

tlohse · Post by **tlohse** » Thu Mar 26, 2026 10:05 pm

The determination of the life of a cpap is determined by your insurance and how it’s being used and also your doctors opinion. The general rule is 5 years but you could probably stay on what ever model of cpap you’re using and be okay for a while longer.

mlmollenkamp · Post by **mlmollenkamp** » Fri Mar 27, 2026 8:40 am

My advice is to replace it whenever your insurance allows, then keep the previous one as a spare and travel machine. They don't fail often, but I've had it happen and it can be extraordinarily difficult and time consuming to get a replacement. Travel can be a real killer of machines so its especially important to have a separate machine even if you don't check it as luggage. I killed two machines over the years with business travel, never checked luggage or the machine.

Skuddle · Post by **Skuddle** » Sun Mar 29, 2026 8:31 am

>>My advice is to replace it whenever your insurance allows, then keep the previous one as a spare and travel machine.<<
^^This.

betam4x · Post by **betam4x** » Wed Apr 08, 2026 3:21 am

mlmollenkamp wrote: ↑
Fri Mar 27, 2026 8:40 am
My advice is to replace it whenever your insurance allows, then keep the previous one as a spare and travel machine. They don't fail often, but I've had it happen and it can be extraordinarily difficult and time consuming to get a replacement. Travel can be a real killer of machines so its especially important to have a separate machine even if you don't check it as luggage. I killed two machines over the years with business travel, never checked luggage or the machine.

I wish I could do this, however my AirCurve 10 barely made it through 5 years, and my new machine (the 12 I think?) is so much higher quality that I cannot imagine going without it.

OP, my suggestion is to find out when your insurance allows, and replace as often as you can.

D.H. · Post by **D.H.** » Wed Apr 08, 2026 8:10 pm

Just a word of caution. When my Dream Station I was recalled in April, 2021, I pulled my trusty F&P HC-231 (from 2005) out of the closet and used in until my Dream Station II came in August of that year.

It worked fine (but no stats and no heated hose).

What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

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Re: What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

Re: What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

Re: What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

Re: What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

Re: What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

Re: What determines the "useful life" of a CPAP machine?

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