An oxygen concentrator pulls oxygen from the air around you, helping you get the oxygen you need. Your doctor may prescribe supplemental oxygen if you have a breathing condition, such as COPD, asthma, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, lung disease, or sleep apnea. Before you can use your oxygen concentrator, you’ll need to properly set it up. You can then turn on the machine and adjust your oxygen flow rate. Finally, put on your mask or nasal cannula and breathe!
Position the machine 1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m) from the wall and furniture. The machine needs to pull in oxygen and release exhaust, so it needs plenty of space. Make sure the area around it is unobstructed.
- In addition to needing space for air circulation, the oxygen concentrator will become very hot, potentially causing a fire risk if it’s near items like furniture or curtains.
Connect your humidification bottle if one is prescribed. Fit the threaded cap on your humidification bottle into the outlet on your oxygen concentrator. Slowly twist your bottle until it’s securely attached to the machine.
- The location of your outlet will vary depending on your model, so you’ll need to check the manual that came with your machine. In many cases, the outlet is on the side of the machine near the dials.
- Always use distilled or filtered water in your humidification bottle. Unscrew the cap on the top of the bottle, then fill it with water. Screw the cap back on before attaching the bottle to your oxygen concentrator. Change your water every time you use the machine.
- You will likely be prescribed a humidification bottle if your doctor prescribes you an oxygen flow rate greater than 2-3 liters per minute (LPM).
Attach your oxygen tubing to either the humidification bottle or an adapter. If you’re using a humidification bottle, you will see a port on the bottle. This is where you insert your oxygen tubing. If you don’t use a humidification bottle, you will use an oxygen adaptor, also called a Christmas tree adaptor, to attach your tubes. It looks similar to a tiny funnel, with one large end and one pointy end.
- The oxygen adaptor fits into the outlet on your machine that you would typically use for a humidification bottle. You just need to fit the larger side of the adaptor into the outlet. In most cases, you will simply push the adaptor into the outlet. If you’re having trouble, check the manual that came with your machine.
Make sure your air filter is in place. Your oxygen concentrator has an air inlet filter that removes particles and allergens from the air. It should be located on the side of your machine. On occasion, you might remove or change the filter, so always double check to make sure it’s there before you turn on your machine.
- You should remove the filter from the back or side of your oxygen concentrator once a week. Wash it in warm water, then squeeze out the excess water. Pat it down with a clean towel before returning it to your machine.
