Oxygen concentrators are essential for people having partially or wholly compromised lung functions. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to troubleshoot a concentrator promptly, lest it stops working.
Oxygen concentrators can stop working due to charging errors, contamination within the system, overheating, voltage issues, leaks, and rainout. Fixing the root cause and then resetting the device resolves the problem.
This article explains what oxygen concentrators are and how they work. We then discuss all the potential reasons why a concentrator might be acting up, their diagnosis, and quick fix.
What Is An Oxygen Concentrator?
Oxygen concentrators are medical devices that provide a steady supply of pure oxygen. They are prescribed to patients with pulmonary (respiratory) disorders.
Our body needs oxygen to generate energy, which is utilized in the vital metabolic processes. When you breathe, air and blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide. While the carbon dioxide-dense (deoxygenated) air is exhaled, oxygen is transported throughout the body in the form of oxyhemoglobin.
Trauma, fluid buildup, scarring, spasms, and other complications impair the lung’s ability to inflate properly, which disrupts breathing. In severe cases, this leads to oxygen depletion. This low level (< 95% /60 mmHg) of the gas is called hypoxia, and it manifests as tiredness, shortness of breath, wheezing, abnormal heart rhythm, restlessness, and bluish skin.
If the oxygen supply is not restored immediately, this may develop into irreversible brain injury (anorexic).
In these cases, oxygen concentrators are used for supplemental oxygen therapy.
People having pneumonia, asthma, bronchopulmonary dyspnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, covid-19, and several other conditions depend on concentrators for survival.
How Do Oxygen Concentrators Work?
Here’s how oxygen concentrators work:
- Once you turn on the device, the compressor starts drawing air inside the unit and adjusts its pressure according to the preset controls.
- Air then encounters two sieve filters. These filters are made of zeolite, essentially known as a nitrogen scrubber.
Air is a mixture of gases like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, argon, etc. The chemical properties of zeolite enable it to adsorb all the other gases, which allows only oxygen to pass through. It also acts as a desiccant, so oxygen transmitted to the system is dehumidified.
- In concentrators having accessory humidifiers, oxygen is passed to the bottle, where it absorbs mist. On the other hand, oxygen is directly sent to the cylinder for storage in stand-alone units.
- A tube and mask /nasal cannula supply oxygen to the patient.
In continuous flow concentrators, the same dose is released every minute. On the other hand, in the pulse dose machines, a sensor detects the patient’s breathing pattern and adjusts the dose accordingly.
Why Is My Oxygen Concentrator Not Working?
Here’s why your oxygen concentrator might not be working:
1. Clogged
Oxygen concentrators take up the normal, surrounding air. Due to the lack of an adequate filtration system, airborne contaminants can enter and accumulate inside the concentrator.
It can collect on the following:
- Inlet, obstructing inflow of air
- Sieve filter, ruining its quality and disrupting filtration of gases and water molecules.
- Tubing, hampering the airflow
- Mask /cannula, interfering with breathing
The pollutants may also enter the patient’s breathing system. Since their defense mechanisms are already compromised, patients may develop life-threatening allergies and other diseases.
Apart from airborne contamination, the particulate matter in the humidifier bottle can also impair the concentrator’s working. Hard and unfiltered tap water contains minerals, salts, and other impurities. While the water is used up for humidification, these particles are left behind as residues.
Over time, they build up and form hardened clogs (scales) that only prevent oxygen from entering the bottle for humidification. These mineral-rich scales also provide ample nutrition for bacteria, mold, and other microbes. Thus, microbial colonies multiply in no time.
This leaves the patient at risk of severe infections.
You should suspect clogs if the patient complains of shortness of breath and the concentrator LED is green.
Note that other external factors might also be causing the problem. For example, pulmonary disorders are progressive, and your patient might just need a higher LPM (liter per minute) dose. A Loose or incorrectly sealed cannula can also cause labored breathing.
Fix
Cleaning the concentrator thoroughly and regularly is crucial. Here’s how to do it:
- First, disconnect the concentrator from the power supply, and turn it off.
- Take a soft cloth to clean the exterior part. You may also use a wet cloth to wipe the surface, but it must be followed with a swipe of a lint-free cloth to dry.
- With the help of the user manual, locate and remove the sieve filter. Gently use a dry cloth to remove dust and debris from it. Rinse it with warm water if it has hardened debris.
If the filter pores are swollen, you may need to replace them.
- Rinse the mask and cannula with warm water, and then wash it with mild dishwashing soap.
- Ensure everything is dry before starting the machine.
If the concentrator still displays a “no breath” error, reset it.
If the wheezing and restlessness do not resolve after cleaning the machine, consult your physician.
2. Battery Issues
Oxygen concentrators are electrical devices. If your machine does not start, keeps turning off, or gives lesser runtime than that specified in the product description, it is likely a charging error.
Fix
Check if the power cord is connected properly. Don’t forget to ensure the switchboard is working by connecting it to other electronics.
Reset the device before using it again.
If the problem persists, or the device keeps displaying a “charging error,” contact customer support to change the battery.
3. Oxygen Error
If your concentrator screen displays “oxygen error,” it implies an issue in one of the following five steps:
- Air intake
- Compression
- Oxygen filtration
- Pressure adjustment
- Supplying gas to the patient
The issue usually arises due to electrical and technical disruptions and impact.
Fix
The concentrator has complicated wiring, and you may need to contact customer support for help. However, it is better to reset the equipment once and check if it solves the problem.
4. Overheating
Overheating is another major cause of malfunction in electrical devices. Due to clogging, increased oxygen pressure, incompatible mask size, type, or voltage issues, the concentrator can go into overdrive and heat up.
If left as is, this can damage the wiring as well as the mechanical components of the machine.
Overheating can be one of the reasons why your device is unable to hold a charge and turns off frequently.
Fix
Turn your concentrator off, and let it cool down. Reset it before using it again.
5. Leaks
Oxygen is enclosed in the concentrators. Masks and nasal cannula are sealed and completely cover the face. They only have tiny openings on the side through which carbon dioxide is expelled into the room.
Cracks in the tubing, mask, cylinder and humidifier bottle enable oxygen to escape outside. The reduced pressure and flow intensity make it difficult for the patient to breathe.
Fix
While cracks in the mask and tubing are easy to detect, you might need to call a professional if you suspect leakage through the cylinder.
If a crack is found in maks, tubing, and humidifier bottles, they should be changed. However, technicians might be able to seal small leaks in the cylinder.
To avoid the problem, protect your concentrator from impact, and avoid bending masks and tubes.
6. Rainout
Rainout is a critical factor in humidifier oxygen concentrators. It refers to water collection inside the tube that connects the humidifier to the mask.
The temperature gradient between the room and the machine causes water to condensate. This disrupts the oxygen flow.
Fix
Here’s how to drain the rainout:
- Turn the concentrator off.
- Disconnect the oxygen tube from the humidifier bottle.
- Hold the tube over a sink or tank, and turn the machine on.
- Check your user manual for instructions, and switch the LPM flow to the highest setting. The pressure will force water out of the tube.
- After draining the tube, reconnect it to the humidifier. Don’t forget to adjust the pressure and flow settings per the doctor’s prescription.
- Once oxygen bubbles start forming in the humidifier bottle, it indicates that your device is working.
How To Know If My Oxygen Concentrator Is Working Properly?
Here are some of the indicators that your concentrator is working properly:
- The patient is not facing difficulty breathing. Ideally, in oxygen therapy, patients should be breathing comfortably, and signs like wheezing, coughing, and flushing (redness in the face) should not be present.
- The finger pulse detector should display a healthy oxygen concentration, i.e., 95% or higher.
- In the case of a humidifier-concentrator combo, oxygen should be bubbling inside the humidifier bottle. When reacting with water, oxygen molecules aggregate and start floating up.
- Most concentrators have a green LED that illuminates, signaling that the machine is working.
It is essential to mention that the concentration of oxygen occurs in a loop (is continuous), and to ensure a steady oxygen supply from the get-go, you should turn your machine on at least 15-20 minutes before use.
How To Reset Oxygen Concentrator?
You almost always need to reset your oxygen concentrator after troubleshooting. Here’s how to do it:
- Turn the concentrator off and disconnect it from the power supply.
- Remove the battery pack.
- Wait for 30 minutes, and then put the battery back.
- Reconnect the concentrator to the power supply, and turn it on.
- Let the battery charge fully before using the device.
How Do You Keep An Oxygen Concentrator From Malfunctioning?
Here are a few helpful tips to keep your concentrator working for a long time:
- Don’t smoke near the concentrator. This reduces the patient’s risk of exposure to toxins.
- If you live in a poor AQI area, it is better to run an air purifier with an oxygen concentrator.
- Clean your device regularly. If your user manual allows, you may also disinfect the humidifier bottle and sieve filters with a vinegar solution (1:1 vinegar and water).
- Replace your filter, at least bi-annually. Although sieve filters tend to last a year, pollution can render them ineffective sooner.
- Change your mask and cannula after every month.
- Always try contacting the original brand’s customer support for regular maintenance and service.
