The biggest cause of machine break down is from machines breathing in dirty, wet air. Over time, the intake of this air leads to the abrasion, erosion, adhesion and fatigue of your machinery, causing it to break down much more frequently than it should do.
Breathers prevent machines from taking in this air, expanding their lifespan and improving their reliability. A small investment in a breather at the start of a machines life will save you a great deal of costly downtime later.