At Home Oxygen Concentrators 101

Just like everyone, those that suffer from a lung disease or another medical condition need oxygen in order to survive. Thanks to at home oxygen concentrators, those requiring oxygen therapy are given a convenient way to treat their condition.

How They Work

Home oxygen concentrators work much the same way as portable concentrators, with only a couple of differences. They do not use bulky tanks that need to be refilled. Instead, an at home oxygen concentrator is a device that takes air from the room, purifies the air (filtering toxins, compressing the air, and removing nitrogen), and delivers purified oxygen via nasal cannula. Home concentrators are plugged into an outlet in your home and run off of your home’s electricity. Like many electrical things, home concentrators are becoming more and more efficient and require less and less electricity as time continues and newer models become available.

Flow Rate

You and your doctor will decide the best oxygen flow rate for your condition which can easily be adjusted on the concentrator’s interface. Every concentrator available for purchase at O2 Assist comes with an operation/user manual as well as a team you can always reach out to for additional assistance should you have any questions.

Nasal Cannula

Becoming comfortable with your nasal cannula is very important when using oxygen therapy. To help you feel comfortable in your home, nasal cannulas come in a variety of lengths, allowing you to move around your home freely. The long cannula length allows for convenience and flexibility, however, it is important to become accustomed to the additional tubing so you don’t trip.

To help yourself feel more comfortable with a longer cannula, try practicing walking around your home to get used to the tug of the cannula as it drags behind you. Try stepping over the tubing to become familiar with how it moves as you move. Try it out in all of the rooms you plan to be in, as furniture plays a role in how the cannula tubing moves (or gets caught). If moving around is not necessary for you, you may feel more comfortable with a shorter length of the nasal cannula.

An at-home concentrator will only limit your ability to move about your home for a short while. Don’t worry; you’ll get used to it. It just takes a little time and practice to get used to the feeling and tug of the cannula, as well as maneuvering over the extra tubing.

Make it Your Own

Once you’ve been using your at-home concentrator for a bit, you’ll want to make sure you follow any and all maintenance guidelines in your user manual. Such as cleaning, testing oxygen purity, verifying connections are in place, and replacing any accessories (such as nasal cannulas). To learn more oxygen concentrator user tips, click here.

O2 Assist offers several great at home oxygen concentrator options that are effective, quiet, lightweight, and efficient. To learn more about the home concentrators we have, contact us today!