How Often Should I Change my Oxygen Cannula?

Customer Question: How Often Should I Change my Oxygen Cannula?

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“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.

Changing your cannula isn’t just to clean it every so often, it’s because it is made of plastic which can deteriorate over time. You may not be able to see the microscopic deterioration but tiny cracks and pores in the plastic can occur. In these tiny cracks and pores, bacteria and mold can start to breed, and dirt, dust and other small irritants such as pollen spores can get stuck. Bacteria and mold thrive in moist places, and nasal cannulas and tubing are prime environments, especially if you are using a humidifier.

How often do you use your concentrator?

If you are only using your cannula and tubing a few hours a day, it is recommended that you change your cannula and tubing every 3-6 months.

If you use your concentrator more than a few hours a day, it is recommended to change your cannula on a monthly basis. Extension tubing should also be replaced regularly – usually every three months – or according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Have you recently been sick?

If you’ve been sick recently or just gotten over a cold, you need to replace your cannula and tubing right away. A bacterial infection can return once you’ve gotten over it if the bacteria is still present in the tubing. A virus can mutate if it’s still living in the tubing and come back stronger than ever. While you are sick and for a few weeks after, it is recommended to change your cannula at least 1x per week just for good measure.

How often should you wash the tubing?

 In general, you should clean your nasal cannula daily, in between replacements, with a sanitizing wipe to keep it free from bacteria that may cause infection. You should wash it about once a week using vinegar and water solution, as well as a mild detergent such as Dawn dish soap. It’s recommended that you wash the nasal cannula with 1 part water and 1 part vinegar to safely kill the germs, and then wash it in hot water with a small amount of Dawn. Rinse it thoroughly and hang it to dry. Make sure it is completely dry before using it again.

You should have two cannulas on hand at all times, especially if you use your oxygen therapy all day just in case you need to wash one, or if you lose one. Interested in purchasing a replacement cannula? Feel free to contact one of our oxygen specialists at 877.774.9271. Our nasal cannula and tubes are inexpensive and always stocked so you won’t have any trouble purchasing one when you need it.

Changing a Nasal Cannula Video

Updated: February 6, 2024
Published: February 24, 2014

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Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more.

Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

About Scott Ridl:

Scott joined American Medical Sales and Rentals in 2008 as a Web Manager and Content Writer. He is a writer and designer. He is extensively trained on oxygen therapy products from leading manufacturers such as Inogen, Respironics, Chart, Invacare, ResMed and more. Scott works closely with respiratory therapists and oxygen specialists to educate the community about oxygen therapy products, COPD, asthma and lung diseases. He writes weekly columns and is passionate about educating the community on oxygen therapy and respiratory issues.

69 thoughts on “Customer Question: How Often Should I Change my Oxygen Cannula?

    • Thank you for your comment, Wendy. Cannulas should be changed every 3-6 months depending on your usage. Pink coloring can occur starting at the nose piece due to the material not being chemically bleached and treated. As long as the unused cannulas are in their sealed bag in a moisture free environment they are safe and effective to use. Feel free to give our Service department a call at 877-303-9289 if you have any further questions.

    • When operating your machine you should NEVER smell anything akin to smoke or burning. If you are smelling burning or smoke we suggest you immediately find an oxygen replacement and stop using your machine and accessories that smell like smoke, burning, or fire of any kind. Please contact our Customer Service Department immediately at 877-303-9289.

      • What can I do to get my order for cannulas and tubing . I am getting tired of being told over the phone that they will come very soon. I have waited and contacted imogen three times and I’m at my wits end. In the meantime, is there any place in my area that I can just buy them! I am a lung cancer survivor with COPD.

        • We have got tubing and cannulas in stock. You can place the order over the phone with us. Our Oxygen Specialist would be happy to help you out with your requirements. Please give us a call at (877) 644-4581.

    • Why does my inogen one g5 tubing colapse all the time at the connector it’s only 3 wKS old very upsetting when out shopping ,I have to squeeze it open and hold it?

      • Nasal cannulas are supposed to be replaced every two weeks and need to be cleaned every week. If you think the length of your cannula is too long, then order a shorter one. Or you can shorten the current one and join the two cut ends via a swivel tubing connector.

    • Thank you for your comment, Mary. If you are experiencing an unpleasant smell in your cannula, we suggest replacing the cannulas. If the problem persists, the smell may be coming from your machine itself. Once you replace the cannulas, and are still experiencing the smell, we recommend contacting our customer service department at 877-303-9289.

        • Sometimes this happens just from them being wrapped in plastic. You may need to let them air out for a day.

        • I’m on oxygen 24/7, set mostly 3, sometimes 4. I try to stay active walking my house and outdoors, dragging my so called hose. How often should I clean my cannula and “hose”.

          • Wash your nasal cannula and nasal prongs with mild liquid soap and thoroughly rinse them once or twice a week. Replace the nasal cannula every two weeks.

    • Thank you for your question. Cannulas should be changed every 3-6 months depending on your usage. Pink coloring can occur starting at the nose piece due to the material not being chemically bleached and treated. As long as the unused cannulas are in their sealed bag, in a moisture free environment, they are safe and effective to use. Feel free to give our Service department a call at 877-303-9289 if you have any further questions.

    • Unfortunately, the smell will be the cannula off-gassing. You can try and let the cannula sit outside the bag for a few days and see if the smell goes away. Alternatively, you can purchase a different brand or style of the cannula as a different plastic will be used.

    • There isn’t a better or worse it is really dependent on what your personal preference is. You may have to try a few to find what works best for you.

  1. I am on continuous flow 3 liter oxygen 24×7. Should I change my cannula weekly? My doctor stated a cannula could cause my nose to bleed. This week I changed tubing and cannula. My nose is not bleeding anymore

    • Every situation is different and there are always a variety of factors that go into this. If you find that changing your cannula every week is preventing your nose bleeds the yes that is what you should do. If you want to test you can start by changing it every week and then try adding an additional day on to each change to find out what the right length of time is for your situation.

  2. I find that my cannula gets hard and swappable after a week or so. Not just one it consistently. Up til then their my favorite.

  3. The sliders on my cannulas don’t stay in place. I push it up under my chin and it tightens up and pretty soon it has slid down the tubing and is not holding my cannula in place anymore. What can I do about that?

  4. when you say “tubing” do you mean the 50 foot long tube connected to the concentrator; it can be washed and I should keep two on hand?

    • Hi Dolores, Yes that is what we are talking about. As to keeping a second one on hand? It can not hurt and since they are small and easy to store and can help make an easy switch if needed. Thanks for the post.

    • Using oxygen does create some minor issues such as dry/sore throat for some. Ask your physician about what you are able to take to help with this. There are some solutions that can help and over time hopefully the soreness will subside. Good Luck!

  5. My refilled E and C tanks that are delivered from my oxygen company every couple of weeks or so have deep gouges , scratches and deep dings on the sealing surface. It is tearing up washers and many will not seal and cause dangerous leaks. Some of them I can smooth out with fine sand paper the blow out the dust. It’s thing regulators and eating washers. The O2 company tells me that it’s their supplier that’s doing it but nothing ever changes. What can I do about this obvious lack of quality control and incompetence.

    • Dear Alan,

      We are sorry to hear of your troubles with your oxygen provider. If you are interested in switching to a portable oxygen concentrator, please give us a call at: 1-877-644-4581.

      Sincerely,
      The AMSR Team

  6. Is it normal for a portable oxygen concentrator to feel very warm to the touch when charging (on a counter) and also feel warm when using it in it’s carry pouch–running errands for an hour or more using battery power. There are no warning lights indicating overheating, but it does get warm. People tell me it’s normal for these large batteries to put off heat.

    • A portable oxygen concentrator is warmer while putting out oxygen than when it is turned off. If it’s hot, excessively, then the machine will alert you that the system is hot.

  7. How are you suppose to wash the tubing? I mean what do you put it in. To wash it?? Like a bathtub? And let the vinegar and water go thrugh it?

    • It’s recommended to wash the tubing at least two times a week. You can use warm soapy water (use mild dish detergent) to wash the tubing in a sink. Rinse it thoroughly and hang it to air dry. And remember to clean the nasal prongs daily using a clean damp cloth.

  8. Can I buy tubing that has a mouthpiece instead of the nose thing,whatever it’s called. I only use oxygen at night and I sleep with my mouth open so the nose piece don’t seem to do much good. I try not to but as soon as I fall asleep the mouth is open.

    • Respiratory nurse told me I would have to adjust the oxygen flow upwards if I used a mask instead of nasal cannulas. I suggest you contact whoever wrote your oxygen prescription when you do this to find out your flow rate.

  9. I change my cannulas every two weeks.and they are so hard by that time that they will stand up alone could not go anylonger.Ken.

  10. I changed my cannula about 4 days ago. I do not use it continously, but this cannula nose piece has turned a pink-orange color, but not in any of the tubing. Is this sign of an infection of some sort in my nose being transferred to the cannula? If it is an infection, can I do anything to disinfect the cannula to keep this from happening?Should I throw this cannula away and put on a new one and how would I keep it from doing the same thing?

    • The discoloration of the cannula may be due to the chemical reaction of cream/lotion with oxygen. It is recommended to replace the nasal cannula every two weeks.
      Wipe the cannula daily with a clean damp cloth – use plain water with mild dish detergent. Do not use any strong detergent or alcohol-based product for cleaning. Let the cannula air-dry before using.

    • Hello Nola,
      It won’t affect the tubing if you take care of the following two things:
      1. Tubing should not be kinked otherwise airflow will be obstructed.
      2. You are using tubing of appropriate length. Concentrator user manuals mention the max length of tubing the unit can support.

    • It is difficult to find a hole cut in the cannula. When in doubt, we suggest replacing the cannula for proper oxygen supply.

  11. My nose piece is oily in the inside where the oxygen comes out on both sides of little hoses what causes this problem happens like after a week of use.

    • Please try a different type or brand of the cannula to check whether it’s an issue with the current type of cannula.

  12. I have an oxygen concentrator and have no idea how to change out the nasal cannula. Do you change the whole tubing and nose piece or does the nose part come off? No one told me how to use mine.

    • Changing the nasal cannula on an oxygen concentrator is pretty straightforward. Discard and replace your cannula every two weeks when using daily and wash it every week.
      The tubing connected to the nasal piece needs to be changed. But you can continue using any supplementary tubing connected increase the length.

      To clean nasal cannulas, most places recommend washing them once a week or as needed in 10 parts water and one part vinegar. Again, use a small amount of a mild detergent, like Dawn. Rinse the nasal cannulas thoroughly and hang them to dry. Allow them to dry completely before use. If you have been sick, it’s best to replace the nasal cannulas and tubing with new ones. In addition, if you’re ever unsure about what to do on how to keep your oxygen equipment clean, call the manufacturer or your doctor for assistance.

  13. I use an oxygen concentrator 24/7. My nose gets so dry but I was told once by my visiting nurse that I cannot use any type of Vaseline, I mentioned this to my Dr and he never heard that. Can I use ointment or not.

    • You can use water-based nasal moisturizing gels or saline nasal sprays to alleviate dryness in your nose. These products are safer to use with oxygen therapy.

  14. is it safe to use a “So Clean” machine for ALL my oxygen tubing, canulas, etc.? I’ve heard “stories” about this machine that I’ve been using for several years?

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