A. “Low oxygen” can occur on portable oxygen concentrators when the oxygen concentration drops. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot when this happens. First, check the tubing (nasal cannula) to make sure that there isn't a blockage that would restrict airflow. Second, it is very important that the filters are cleaned per manufacturer guidelines. Check your machine manual to determine if the columns need to be replaced. If you've tried these and the error message continues, contact your local branch to speak with one of our respiratory therapists.

A. Yes! These filters are pulling in air and particles from the environment, which leads to a buildup of dust and debris, so cleaning them is critical. Home oxygen concentrators have two filters, a hepa filter and a cabinet filter. The cabinet filter (which is foam) is what will need to be cleaned once per week. Depending on your machine, you can find the cabinet filter on the back or side of the machine, behind a small door. Once the filter is removed, you can clean it by rinsing it under water and setting on a paper towel to dry. Before putting the clean filter back in the device, make sure that it's completely dry. Check your machine's manual for how often you need to replace the hepa filter; you can find machine manuals on Apria.com.