backup machines

oak wrote:

hyperlexis wrote: And, frankly, the whole 'what happens if your machine breaks' argument isn't compelling enough reason to buy an extremely expensive hardware just to have it sit in the closet waiting for doomsday. I'd be better off planning now, before needing a repair, to find a DME or vendor that offered overnight shipping of loaner machines while the main one was being serviced. Far more cost effective.

Hyperlexis, thanks for this post. It will help people like me who don't have cash to spare on something that will sit in the closet. I am going to try to find a DME that offers loaners in an emergency while machine is being repaired/serviced.

This is wishful thinking....Most DMEs will only handle repairs if the machine was purchased through them. Resmed and Resperonics will only handle in warranty repairs if they go through the DME. Buy a back up.

I would not be comfortable without a backup of some kind in the closet even if it was nothing but an old brick.

An old brick that works IMO is better than nothing

My Autoset is off warranty; my travel machine is intended to fill in when/if necessary.
It has a 5 year warranty.

Watch craigslist or other sources for a good buy. If you find one at a good enough price, grab it.

In my case, it might be worth it to buy an identical machine to your main machine. You get a spare water tank, humidifier, power supply that are compatible with your existing machine. Plus, perhaps a hose and mask or two.

I had a PRS1 Auto as my main machine, I bought another PRS1 Auto for $200 when it popped up.

Sometime later, I bought an S9 AutoSet just out of curiosity for $300 and liked it enough to switch over.

I bought a spare machine for about $250. It's the earlier model of my current machine. I have used it for travel so I don't disturb my main machine like another poster had written, and then most recently having had surgery, I set up the spare machine in the living room for when I may sleep on the couch during recovery.

I run into patients that come in for a new cpap machine all the time. They come in for a replacement machine because theirs broke and they are usually very tired and pretty upset. Why? For most of them it has taken a few days (for the ones that call and scream at everyone to make it happen) to a few weeks (!) to get a new machine. I usually tell patients that love their machine and cant sleep without it to think about a backup unit because by the time the doctor sends over a new RX, insurance approves it and the DME sets it up you are looking at a few days (at the least) of no sleep! So I would recommend saving some money and looking for a good deal.
Good luck!

PS-most new machines do have a 2 year warranty. If it breaks during weekdays many DME's will exchange that day (you may have to bring it in to the office) but if it breaks on the weekend you will have to wait until the next business day.

I bought a backup from mcdover . I went with an S9 Escape Auto as the backup because frankly, it was cheaper. It uses all the same consumables (tank, filters, hose) as my S9 AutoSet and I use it as my travel machine to limit my AutoSet to bumps and bruises.
-tino

Here on CPAPtalk, Accurate Biomed Services Inc is reputed to be a good repair service that handles all types of machines up to ASV and will replace circuit boards and motors if necessary. I saw the price for a motor replacement on a ResMed VPAP Adapt recently and it seemed very fair (considering the price of a machine new) Note: I have not tried them, however many here have while reporting good results and fast turnaround. They will ship overnight if desired. Just click the Members icon above and type in 'Accurate', which will give you the info you need. There are one or two other repair shops that are sometimes mentioned but I can't remember their names at the moment... maybe someone else can provide more info.

When I got my Beastie, it was top of the line and VERY expensive.

I looked into getting a plain Bipap Auto as a back up and then stumbled across (with the help of someone here who happened to spot the deal) a Beastie for about 25% of the list price of my original Beastie (a Bipap ASV).

I couldn't afford it, but I snapped it up, anyway.

I haven't had an emergency, but in the five years now (almost) my confidence in my DME's ability to get me a loaner or a replacement has dwindled to somewhere south of "Fat Chance."

After my experience with Hurricane Isaac last year when we were seven days without power, I swore I was not going to do without a machine, so I'm glad I have a back-up.

Still, I didn't get one right away, so if funds are short, you might hold off a few months.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Just purchased a backup based. I think it'll be worth it to have both a travel machine and a backup.

I just picked up an S9 AutoSet for $250 as a backup to my "main" AutoSet.

I had watched craigslist for probably a year, saw someone offer one for $300, and made him an offer for $200, and settled on $250.

If you want a backup, just keep looking and maybe you'll find something.

hyperlexis wrote:I would never get a duplicate machine -- if it's the only chance you get to try a different make and model (although in five years they will all be different....) so I would switch. The new one may end up being your favorite and the old one become the backup. Based on features and noise, etc., alone.

And, frankly, the whole 'what happens if your machine breaks' argument isn't compelling enough reason to buy an extremely expensive hardware just to have it sit in the closet waiting for doomsday. I'd be better off planning now, before needing a repair, to find a DME or vendor that offered overnight shipping of loaner machines while the main one was being serviced. Far more cost effective.

My machine broke completely last sat evening, after being a bit haywire on Friday. It is now very early Monday morning as i write this. A few days without proper sleep, just the odd half hour doze through exhaustion. I am pacing the floor waiting for the nearest supply shop to open in a few hours. If they want to charge double the usual price for a new machine frankly I will pay. Being without sleep for a few days has been torture. Do I wish I had got a backup machine?

Hell yeah!

archangle wrote:I just picked up an S9 AutoSet for $250 as a backup to my "main" AutoSet.

I had watched craigslist for probably a year, saw someone offer one for $300, and made him an offer for $200, and settled on $250.

If you want a backup, just keep looking and maybe you'll find something.

I bought one from mcdover at the end of last week; should arrive tomorrow. After reading these replies that decision is looking better and better. I told my wife we'd consider it my birthday present.