2 March 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Home oxygen concentrators (HOC) provide you with invaluable access to the oxygen you need to remain healthy. As such an important tool for your overall health, it is imperative that you are choosing a unit that is best designed to meet your needs when it comes to your oxygen requirements, portability concerns and power consumption considerations.

Oxygen Needs

Any search should start with a focus on your oxygen needs. Oxygen therapy rates are measured in liters per minute (LPM). Your medical provider will inform you what LPM range is necessary. There is no need to choose a unit with a greater output rate than necessary.

For instance, if you need between 3 and 5 LPM, there's no need to purchase a unit with an output rate of 10 LPM, as you will only be paying more money for extra power you don't need. A unit with a maximum output rate of 5 would likely be better suited and more economical.

Portability

Although home oxygen concentrators aren't designed to be transported around like portable units, this doesn't mean portability isn't important. Select a unit that will fit within your lifestyle and can easily be moved around your home as necessary.

Having a unit with wheels will make the task of transporting the unit around your home easier. A unit without wheels would require you to carry the unit from place to place, which could be challenging if you have strength issues or other physical .  Units also come in varying sizes, if you have limited space in your home, make sure you're not choosing a unit too large.

Power Consumption

HOCs use your home's electricity to power your unit. Consequently, the use of the machine will have some effect on your monthly energy consumption and bill cost. If you want to keep this impact as minimal as possible, pay attention to the unit's power consumption rating.

As a general rule of thumb, the greater the unit's LPM, the higher the wattage. However, wattage ranges can still vary widely within each LPM range, so make sure you are looking for a unit that can meet your oxygen output needs without causing you to use more power than necessary.

Given the importance of your home oxygen concentrator, this isn't a purchase you should make in haste. As a long-term solution for your health needs, make sure you are taking your time to choose wisely. For more guidance about your machine options, talk with a company like Sunrise Medical Equipment & Oxygen Inc.