Practical Tips for Maintaining Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator

A portable oxygen concentrator is a supplemental oxygen machine that sucks oxygen from the atmosphere and continuously purifies it, delivering an unlimited supply of oxygen to its user.

Oxygen therapy is an ideal solution for persons with chronic lung or other respiratory diseases that require aided breathing. 

This device is excellent because it saves patients the hassle of being confined to fixed and heavy oxygen tanks. Thus, it benefits patients suffering from medical conditions like:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Heart failure and disease
• Severe and chronic asthma
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Cystic fibrosis
• Breathing challenges resulting from obesity and other underlying conditions

But how do you maintain your portable oxygen therapy device to ensure it serves you better and longer? This post shares practical and easy maintenance tips. Keep reading to optimize your concentrator. 

• Mind Your Storage

When enjoying a fire, always maintain a distance of at least three meters between your concentrator and the fire. Otherwise, you could expose yourself to risk due to the fire. It’s also safe to keep your device at least 1.5 meters away from other electrical devices like TVs, hairdryers, and electric heaters.

• Frequently Check the Tube

Regularly check the concentrator’s flexible tube to detect any damage or wear sign. If the tube displays any such sign, you have to replace it immediately. 

• Charge or Replace the Battery on Time

Some portable oxygen concentrators have internal or removable batteries. But irrespective of your concentrator’s battery type, always replace or charge the battery on time.  

Avoid discharging or recharging your batteries completely when possible and never let batteries stay dormant for more than 90 days at a time. 

• Clean Nasal Cannula Daily 

The nasal cannula is one of your breathing machine’s most critical components. Thus, maintain it well to get the best from the concentrator. Many manufacturers recommend cleaning the cannula daily and replacing it after two months if you use it daily. Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for best cleaning practices.

• Clean Your Portable Oxygen Concentrator Filter Regularly

Your oxygen concentrator behaves like your home’s cooling and heating system by sucking air from the room and converting it into pure oxygen. The system eliminates dust, pollen, and debris from the air to purify it. Thus, it becomes dirty, necessitating  regular cleaning and filter replacements to prolong the concentrator’s life. FIlters can be cleaned using mild dishwashing soap and water, weekly.

• Don’t Let It Stay Idle
  
  It is also vital not to let your concentrator stay idle for a long time. Therefore, let the unit run for at least 10 hours every month, although it isn’t necessary to operate consecutively. Running it for these minimum hours guarantees that the appliance’s lubricants remain in motion. This step also keeps its sieve bed from hardening because it filters nitrogen and other unwanted gases from the air.
  
• Be Cautious When Showering or Bathing

Be cautious with your device when showering or bathing. It’s safer to place the oxygen concentrator away from the shower or bathtub to avoid getting it wet or exposing it to moist air. 

• Never Smoke Near or While on a Portable Concentrator 

Never smoke near or while using your oxygen concentrator. Open flames should always be avoided where oxygen is in use. That includes matches, lighters, candles or smoking in any form.. 

Portable oxygen concentrators are excellent breathing tools for patients with various breathing difficulties. Thus, proper maintenance helps you enjoy their service better and for longer. This post shared practical maintenance tips to help you maintain your medical device and use it properly.