Portable Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance Guide

Portable Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance Guide

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Your portable oxygen concentrator (POC) keeps you active; it’s your lifeline and keeps you breathing comfortably throughout the day. Because your POC is vital to your life, you want to maintain it to ensure it works correctly and lasts.

These days, manufacturers provide low-maintenance machines. But POCs still require routine cleaning and maintenance. We’ve put together a portable oxygen concentrator maintenance checklist so you understand how to care for your unit; caring for your POC allows it to care for you.

General POC Maintenance

Although all manufacturers provide maintenance requirements for each POC, here are some general guidelines to get you started.

    Weekly POC Maintenance
  • Each week, ensure the unit is clean and free from dust, dirt, pet hair, and other debris. Wipe down the machine’s exterior with a dry or damp cloth.
  • If your unit contains a gross particle filter inspect it every week. If your filter appears dirty, remove it from the unit, run it under warm tap water until it’s clean, fully air dry, and then reinstall it into the unit.
  • Monthly POC Maintenance
  • Each month, ensure your unit runs for 10 hours; it does not have to run for 10 consecutive hours. Running the unit ensures that the lubricants continue to move and the sieve bed stays active. This step is crucial since the sieve bed filters nitrogen and other gases from the air and delivers medical-grade oxygen.
  • Change your nasal cannula and tubing monthly.
  • Quarterly POC Maintenance

  • If your machine contains a HEPA filter, change it if it appears dirty. HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. HEPA filters trap mold, bacteria, dust, pollen, and other airborne particles including Coronavirus, preventing you from breathing them in. So, your HEPA filter must remain clean. Depending on your environment, you may need to change your HEPA filter more frequently.
  • Quarterly run your battery until it drains, then fully recharge it before using it again. Draining the battery prevents battery memory issues and ensures a long battery life.

Other Maintenance Considerations

  • If you own multiple batteries, rotate your primary battery. For example, if you own three batteries, you could use battery one during January, battery two during February, and battery three during March, and then continue the rotation.
  • Always store batteries fully charged in a cool, dry, dark place.
  • If you don’t use your POC daily or only for travel, know that concentrators work best when they’re frequently run. Prolonged storage can cause problems that require factory servicing. Therefore, if you plan to travel, run your POC two months before your trip, giving yourself time to address any issues.
  • POCs measure your breathing while in pulse mode, but some POCs also provide a continuous flow option. If your POC doesn’t detect breathing for a specific amount of time, it will alarm and alert you to check your cannula. If this occurs, your POC will still puff to ensure oxygen delivery until it detects your breath. However, if the alarm doesn’t stop, contact customer support.
  • On all Inogen POCs with sieve beds, an alarm message will occur 30 days before you need a replacement. There isn’t a rush to change these, so you don’t need to pay for overnight shipping.
  • CAIRE covers the sieve beds under its warranty. So, you don’t have to bear the cost of sieve bed replacement until the warranty lasts.

Unit-Specific POCs

The guidelines above give you a general maintenance schedule. However, refer to your POC’s user manual for unit-specific maintenance requirements. To help you get started, we’ve summarized some vital information to help you care for your specific POC. Refer to the user manual for detailed instructions.

CAIRE FreeStyle Comfort Maintenance

Clean the air intake filter weekly:
The air intake filter prevents large particles like dust from entering the unit. Clean this filter weekly or more often if recommended by your provider.

Follow these steps to clean the air intake filter:

  • Remove the two filters from the front of the unit by pushing up on the tab and pulling outward.
  • Wash the filters using warm water and mild soap.
  • Rinse them thoroughly and remove excess water.
  • Allow the filters to air dry thoroughly.
  • Replace the filters.

Considerations for Cleaning Your POC:

  • Ensure your unit is powered off and removed from any power source before cleaning.
  • Spray your cleaning solution onto a cloth. Do not spray the unit directly and avoid getting the cloth too wet.

For more information, view the FreeStyle Comfort Manual.


CAIRE SeQual Eclipse 5 Maintenance

The CAIRE SeQual Eclipse 5 requires yearly preventative care, so schedule this with your equipment provider.

Monitor your air inlet filter daily:
Cleaning your air inlet filter keeps particles like dust from entering the unit, ensuring your POC continues to run correctly. Check the filter daily, cleaning when it becomes dirty.

  • Remove the air inlet filter.
  • Wash the filter with warm tap water and mild soap.
  • Rinse with tap water and remove excess water.
  • Allow the filter to air dry fully and reinsert it into the cabinet.

For more information, view the SeQual Eclipse 5 Manual.


Respironics SimplyGo Maintenance

The Respironics Simply Go requires little maintenance, but you’ll want to clean your unit as needed.

  • Disconnect from the power source before cleaning.
  • Wipe the battery and battery bay with a dry cloth (if the battery is removed).
  • Using a mild household cleaner, spray a cloth. Keep the cloth damp, not wet, and wipe down the unit.
  • Dry the unit with a towel.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions if using a medical disinfectant.
  • If using an optional humidifier, follow instructions from your home care provider or the manufacturer.

For more information, view the Philips SimplyGo Manual.


Respironics SimplyGo Mini

While caring for your SimplyGo Mini, do not remove the SimplyGo Mini covers or allow liquid into any controls. If liquid gets into the controls, contact your service provider.

Clean your SimplyGo mini as needed:

  • Always power off your unit and disconnect it from its power source before cleaning.
  • Remove the unit from its carrying case.
  • Wipe the battery and battery bay with a dry cloth (if the battery is removed).
  • Wipe the unit using a damp cloth and mild household cleaner.
  • Wipe the unit dry.
  • If needed, wash the carrying case in the washing machine with mild detergent and air dry.

For more information, view the Philips SimplyGo Mini Manual.


Inogen One G5 and Inogen One G4 Maintenance

Although routine cleaning and maintenance are similar for the Inogen One G4 and G5 models, always refer to the correct user manual.

Clean the particle filters weekly: Weekly filter cleaning ensures adequate airflow. Clean the particle filters with mild detergent and water. After cleaning, rinse the filters and allow them to air dry.

Change the columns yearly: The columns in the Inogen One G4 and G5, which contain the sieve beds, typically last for about a year. An alarm will appear when it’s time to replace the columns. The manufacturer’s user manual provides step-by-step instructions on changing the columns without tools or sending your unit in for repair.

For more information, view the Inogen G5 Manual or the Inogen G4 Manual.


Other Maintenance Considerations:

  • Clean the carrying case as needed using a damp cloth and mild liquid detergent (like Dawn).
  • The Inogen One G4 and G5 contain an output filter to prevent you from breathing in particles from the machine’s output. This filter should last the lifespan of the POC under normal conditions.

Oxlife Independence Maintenance

The Oxlife Independence is another POC with minimal routine maintenance; you’ll only need to clean the air inlet filter. Clean your air inlet filter weekly to keep your unit working correctly or more frequently in dusty environments.

Follow these steps to clean the air inlet filter:

  • Remove the air inlet filter.
  • Clean the filter with warm tap water and mild detergent.
  • Rinse thoroughly and squeeze out excess water.
  • Allow the filter to air dry thoroughly before reinserting; a damp filter can damage your POC.
  • It’s helpful to have an extra filter to use while one is drying.
  • Never run your POC without an air inlet filter.

For more information, view the O2 Concepts Independence Manual.


Rhythm Healthcare P2 Maintenance

  • Clean the pre-filter weekly, using water and mild soap. Ensure that the filter is completely dry before reinstalling.
  • Replace the intake filter after about six months of daily use, but more often in environments high in dust or dirt.
  • Store the battery in temperatures between 41˚F (5°C) and 95˚F (35°C) to extend battery life.
  • Clean the case using a cloth dampened with water and mild detergent.

For more information, view the Rhythm P2 Manual.


Portable Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance Summary

For questions about the maintenance of your POC, these guidelines are an excellent place to start. However, routine maintenance needs can change depending on the environment and how often you use your machine. Factors like humidity, altitude, and temperature variations change how often a sieve bed requires replacement.

If you have questions or think your POC isn’t working properly, call our Customer Support Team a call at 1-877-774-9271. For information on home units, view our Home Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance Guide.

Updated: March 27, 2023
Published: May 15, 2018

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Kristina Diaz, RRT, is a health writer and registered respiratory therapist with over a decade of emergency and critical care experience. She earned respiratory care and journalism degrees in Michigan, where she was born and raised. She now resides in Florida, where she works as a full-time freelance writer and part-time respiratory therapist.

Kristina began her respiratory career in 2011 in Saginaw, Michigan. She now works in Lakeland, Florida, in one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation, treating people with various lung conditions, like COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea, among others. She maintains her Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification and is a member of the trauma team at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Her favorite part of being a respiratory therapist is providing relief to people struggling to breathe.

Kristina began freelance health writing in 2014, and her work is published on multiple websites, including Philips Respironics, the American Sleep Association, the Sleep Doctor, and more. She writes about lung health, sleep disorders, nutrition, and other health-related topics. Since she was a child, she’s always wanted to write, and now she gets to combine her passion for writing with the knowledge obtained from her respiratory career.

About Kristina Diaz, RRT:

Kristina Diaz, RRT, is a health writer and registered respiratory therapist with over a decade of emergency and critical care experience. She earned respiratory care and journalism degrees in Michigan, where she was born and raised. She now resides in Florida, where she works as a full-time freelance writer and part-time respiratory therapist. Kristina began her respiratory career in 2011 in Saginaw, Michigan. She now works in Lakeland, Florida, in one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation, treating people with various lung conditions, like COPD, asthma, and sleep apnea, among others. She maintains her Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification and is a member of the trauma team at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Her favorite part of being a respiratory therapist is providing relief to people struggling to breathe. Kristina began freelance health writing in 2014, and her work is published on multiple websites, including Philips Respironics, the American Sleep Association, the Sleep Doctor, and more. She writes about lung health, sleep disorders, nutrition, and other health-related topics. Since she was a child, she’s always wanted to write, and now she gets to combine her passion for writing with the knowledge obtained from her respiratory career.

16 thoughts on “Portable Oxygen Concentrator Maintenance Guide

  1. I have an Easy Pulse POC that isn’t working properly and needs repair. It starts up fine, but isn’t making oxygen like it should. Can you please tell me how I can get this repaired? Thanks so much.

    • The warranties and repairs must go through the companies where the units were purchased. Therefore you will have to contact the company where you bought the unit.

  2. My simply go oxygenated seems to work okay on the 1.0 setting but as soon as I switch to 2.0. It gives an error and beeps. Can you help me? Thanks, Jerry Miller

      • I purchased a clone of an easy go from China that worked perfectly for years. I have 3 batteries, AC cord and car charger. I’ve changed the filters but the unit doesn’t put out any volume at all now. Help please.

  3. My Inogen One G3 gives a low oxygen error after about 15 minutes of operation on the 2.0 setting. But, as soon as I switch to 1.0 setting the low oxygen level error changes to setting 1.0. ( RP-321 G3 Columns were replaced 1/10/2021). The G3 was purchased 02/20/2019. Can you help me? This cycle happens each time the power button is activated.
    Thanks John White

    • Please contact your equipment provider (where you purchased the concentrator from) or the manufacturer to get your unit serviced. It might be an easy fix and could be corrected over the phone.

  4. I have a respironics everflo concentrator with 24000 hours on. I don’t know the history or when it was serviced. It seem to be working perfectly but need to know if it should be serviced and the cost involved
    Thanks
    Schalk

    • If you are getting not alerts, the unit might be working fine or the alert system might have failed. I recommend getting the oxygen concentration level of the unit checked. The sieve beds may require a replacement for better concentration.

  5. I have an Inogen One (1 to 5 flow) that when I am using it start flashing that is working with low oxigen no matter that it has 80 or any number high. What you think is happening? I don’t how to clean it and and what you call the filters. Can you help? Thanks!

    • Your unit probably needs new sieve beds. Our Oxygen Specialists would be happy to understand your requirements and advise the way forward. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

  6. Is it a problem to get new sieve beds replaced in todays crazy world? Do the sieve beds come from China and are hard to get like computer chips for cars?
    I know a few people (me included) that are having a unestimated time for their Resperonics Simply Go to be returned to them because of the wait on the units to serviced or for the sieve bed part.
    Are you having issues too?

    • Sieve beds are safe and available. However, some of the Respironics service parts are facing delays due to global supply chain issues. We do not repair the SimplyGo in-house and they are repaired at an authorized repair center. If your repair center is facing a service part supply chain issue, it is likely that that issue is present at other repair centers as well.

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