If you have questions regarding oxygen equipment, sleep therapy or other respirator topics, look no further. Our team of oxygen specialists and respiratory therapists is here to answer questions. These in-depth answers to all your oxygen therapy questions are always kept up to date.
Respiratory diseases often create the need for more oxygen than what is available in the air. If you have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD), you may already be using supplemental oxygen, and if not, you may have already discussed it with your doctor.
However, if you’re still unsure about supplemental oxygen and its meaning, this post will give you an overview.
Home oxygen concentrators (HOCs) operate with AC power, and since they’re larger units that plug into the wall, you may see some changes to your electric bill. How much electricity your HOC uses depends on your model, how often you operate your unit and your oxygen flow setting. Fortunately, newer units are becoming more energy efficient, reducing your bill.
Since your HOC is medically necessary for your health and well-being, there are things you can do to get some help. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions and answers about oxygen concentrators and your electric bill.
“Why CPAP mask leaks?”, “How do I get correct air pressure from the CPAP machine?” and “Which CPAP mask is best for me?” are some questions arising from a common issue – air leakage from a CPAP mask. A leaky CPAP mask is a serious problem. If air is escaping from your mask, you aren’t getting the proper air pressure to treat your sleep apnea completely. It can also cause discomfort in the airways and nasal passages, causing them to dry out and become irritated, even with the use of the CPAP humidifier.
The air coming from your CPAP machine through the mask is supposed to act as a splint to hold your airways open while you sleep. Depending on the severity of your sleep apnea, you might need a higher air pressure than someone with a less severe case of sleep apnea.
Once you’ve selected your portable concentrator or stationary concentrator, there are a few safety and maintenance tips you should be aware of. The following is a list of some of the most important do’s and don’ts you’ll want to keep in mind. Of course, this is just a reference and you shouldn’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have!
To purchase an oxygen concentrator, you do need a prescription from your doctor, stating your oxygen level. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) makes the rules about prescription sales, and at this time, oxygen concentrators are one of the medical devices for which the FDA requires a prescription. This is to ensure proper care has been taken in selling you an oxygen machine that is appropriate for your needs, and a prescription is the only evidence we have of exactly what those needs are.
The oxygen machine you purchase and use is also largely determined by your prescription, and that’s why you may have completely different needs from your friend who also uses supplemental oxygen, even if you both have the respiratory condition. Several important health indicators factor into a prescription for supplemental oxygen that results from a pulse oximetry test and arterial blood gas test.
Just like any other piece of electrical equipment, an oxygen concentrator can stop working due to technical issues or after it’s gotten over a certain age. You might also have instances where it can malfunction due to an outside influence, with no problems in the concentrator itself.
If an oxygen concentrator is not providing oxygen, it could be due to several different reasons. The system in an oxygen machine is made up of a few intricate parts that all work together to purify and deliver medical-grade oxygen, so you can breathe it in.
However, before you call a maintenance technician, you can do some troubleshooting on your own to see if you can fix the problem yourself. Sometimes, the cause of a big problem can be a small and easy fix.
“Hello, I just received my first portable oxygen concentrator the other day, and I’m very satisfied with the service. I’m glad that it also came with a free nasal cannula and tubing, which saved me some hassle even though it doesn’t seem like a big deal. I was wondering how often I should change the nasal cannula, or how I know when to change it. Thanks in advance!” – Bobbi J.
Thank you for this question, Bobbi, we’re very glad that you are satisfied with your new concentrator and our service. The question of changing your cannula is very important and the answer depends on a few different factors.
Naturally, the bigger the oxygen concentrator and the higher the dosage setting, the more electricity it will use. If you’re worried about how much your stationary oxygen concentrator will make your electric bill go up, we’ll help you figure it out. It actually might not be as bad as you think!
Stationary oxygen concentrators run on AC power, and do not use batteries or are able to run on DC power. They are normally bigger than portable concentrators and usually operated at home with the ability to move from room to room on the wheels at the bottom.
The Inogen One G3 is one of the top-rated portable oxygen concentrators on the market. Like all the others, it still needs maintenance and will require replacement parts to keep it in good working order. This vital piece of medical equipment needs to be continually working to the best of its abilities because you rely on it for your health.
One of the major parts that will need to be replaced is the Inogen One G3 columns, which are the sieve beds of the unit. The sieve bed works to filter out nitrogen from the air coming into the concentrator. It’s the second filter that the air passes through to be concentrated into oxygen.
One of the most significant advantages of oxygen concentrators is the lack of those bulky, heavy and conspicuous oxygen tanks. Instead of dragging around an oxygen tank, your concentrator provides oxygen in a mobile, discreet, and powerful unit. That convenience does come with some small maintenance, but cleaning and maintaining an oxygen concentrator is straightforward and simple — including the all-important filter.
