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My RESMED VPAP AUTO 25 went from being an almost silent machine to a very loud beast that still did it's job, but made it hard to get to sleep at almost 11,000 hours. Sounds like a pump that is struggling to get suction. It is now retired.

StuUnderPressure wrote:The air from the heated humidifier does NOT go THROUGH the machine - so, HOW can it damage the machine?

In my case: a nice coughing fit.

I have a very powerful cough. Back when I used a Resmed S8, my coughs would cause the machine software to crash and force a reboot. Obviously that is going to have some effect on the hardware.

My S9 doesn't crash, but my cough does occasionally blow water out of the humidifier tank and down the sides (yes, past the silicone seal). That can't possibly be good for the blower.

Been a long time away from this forum, started digging through it again now that my S9 is starting to make funny noises. I'm guessing there is a correlation ... though I gather my 11.3K hours is not out of line for needing replacement just from age.

Mine has over 50,000 hours and still works fine. My only problem is to get supplies, I need original purchase info but the original paperwork is long lost. I guess I'll have to sock the insurance, private and medicare, for whatever sleep lab and new equipment cost. I'd settle for headgear and filters. Oh, well.

I have a ResMed S8 I started using in 2008 and it is still going (knock on wood). So 9 1/2 years and about 24,000+ hours

Additional info from my last post. I have traveled with it a couple of times a year, but no major bangs. Also, I stopped using the humidifier after a year or so. The morning dry mouth, or occasional sip of water at night was preferable to the pain of filling, and cleaning the reservoir and the increased cleaning of the mask and tubing. The frequency of cleaning and replacing tubing and masks goes way down without the humidifier.

Bill, you can get 'replacement parts' (see mask or machine pg on Cpap.com) with no script and they're often pretty inexpensive.

Julie wrote:Bill, you can get 'replacement parts' (see mask or machine pg on Cpap.com) with no script and they're often pretty inexpensive.

You're a little late with your response, Julie!

My brother's Respironics Bipap was 8 years old before replacement. Despite the fact that machine itself was operational, when we finally got someone with a manometer to test it, the pressures were no longer accurate. So even though the blower works, the therapy may not be. He noticed immediately with the new machine (same settings) that he was getting considerably more air. It's very hard to get it tested - the DME didn't even know what a manometer was (current guy does and they now have one in the office).

Both Respironics and Resmed state that their machines have an expected life span of 5 years, if that helps any.