Nov 19, 2018 • 5:20 AM
Have your 02 provider come out and check the machine for the cause of the oder, or bring a new one. I would have them bring new one. There should not be any oders from your concentrator.
Best wishes, I hope you get a good resolution to this problem.
windyjo (Inactive)
Nov 19, 2018 • 5:36 PM
I agree. Have them replace the concentrator. And you dont need to wash inside of tubing but should replace freqently. Ask for new tubing also. It msy be the inside filter that gets changed once a year. Our concentrator has one and the company does that one we do the others. Blessings on those who travel this road strewn with canula tubing.
1 ReactionsNov 19, 2018 • 7:09 PM
I'd ask (demand) a replacement. There shouldn't be an aroma from the machine. New tubing often has a little aroma - but brief.
If the closet is big enough to allow good air flow, that is a good idea. you can get around the tripping problem - use stick-on hooks to take the tubing up over the door frames so you can string it out of your walkway. We've had folks with numerous ingenious ways of hanging tubing, but for this night time issue I'd think just a couple of removable hooks could do the trick. 3M makes several sizes of damage-free removable hooks like https://www.amazon.com/Command-Damage-Free-Small-without-Packaging/dp/B0751TRS6Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1542654476&sr=8-3&keywords=removable+wall+hooks
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Nov 19, 2018 • 7:37 PM
I thank all of you for your responses. This forum is full of good people like you.
0 ReactionsNov 19, 2018 • 8:16 PM
I had a concentrator delivered that I could swear smelled of cigarette smoke. I asked for a different concentrator to be delivered. The problem was solved. Your wife might just be more sensitive to perfumes and odors than you may be. I would listen to her because she could be a good indicator of various chemicals or contaminants which could actually prove detrimental to your IPF health!!
1 ReactionsNov 20, 2018 • 8:11 PM
Your Concentrater should be placed in a open hallway not in your bedroom. That concentrater generates a lot of heat. You do not want all that venting pouring out in your bedroom. Just keep your cannula tubing running along the side of the hallway and becareful of your surroundings. You may need longer tubing. You will be fine. Blessings❤️
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Nov 22, 2018 • 1:42 AM
Are you renting the machine from an O2 supply Co, Tony? Or did you purchase it? We have Apria and if I had a problem like that, they would exchange it, I am almost certain! Why are you washing your tubing and cannula? I order clean supplies from Apria...they send supplies by UPS or Fedex...Medicare covers the cost...we pay a copay of $19.99 a month for the O2 Home Concentrator and all of the tubing that I change once a month for the green tubing and every two weeks for the nasal cannulas. Do you buy your own tubbing? Linda~
2 ReactionsNov 22, 2018 • 2:27 PM
In reply to Sadie-S's comment
Sadie, thank you for your input. I was diagnosed with IPF last June and I am struggling to get ny hands around it. No one ever told me how to wash my cannula or hose. I have been washing both the green lead in hose and the clear tubing containing the cannula. I do this first by running warm water through all of it and then hand washing the cannula followed by hanging it for the day over my shower door.
Before usuing at night after a washing, I let the concentrator run for awhile to expel any remaking water. I guess I need to change my methods here.
As for as the concentrator, It is provided at no cost to me through Medicare and my supplemental insurance. The company that supplies it is difficulty to reach and has a poor history of returning calls as well. Note that I frequently wash the external filter. I have placed a phone call to the supplier two days ago asking for a different unit or for someone to clean the internal filter. No response as of yet.
I have learned so much through this forum and am so thankful it exists. A very special thanks to you as well and have a great Thanksgivings.
Nov 24, 2018 • 12:44 AM
Also concentrator separates nitrogen from air to provide pure oxygen....nitrogen does have odor...best way to leave concentrator outsie in hallway with enough space for circulation...
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Nov 24, 2018 • 1:45 AM
In reply to TonyHagan's comment
When your Pulmonologist tells you to get Oxygen Concentrator from a medical supplier, the Dr has to write a prescription for you and what you will require as far as a Concentrator goes! The company is supposed to supply you with enough green tubing 25 or 50ft usually and new cannulas for three months at a time...I order three 50 ft green tubing and 6 clear nasal cannulas for three months...you are supposed to put a clean cannula on every two weeks because of bacteria and the larger green tubing gets changed every month! You need to order connectors to have clean connectors to hook up your clear cannula and green tubing together! The O2 supplier who gave you the rental Home Concentrator is supposed to order from their supplier you cannulas and Greentubing! You pay for it along with your Concentrator in a monthly fee! If you are not getting tubing sent to you, they are cheating you! Medicare covers the cost! Please call your O2 supplier and get that straightened out! I use Apria as a supplier! Who is your company? Apria or Lincare or someone else? Call them an clarify what all you are entitled to, Tony! Sheesh! If you get no satisfaction and have no one sending clean tubing to you to last three months, contact your Dr and report that they are not sending you tubing! Or Cannulas! The dr needs to contact the Company to help you! Keep us posted! They should take a Concentrator back if there is an odor! No and or if about it! ADVOCATE FOR YOURSELF AND DON’T LET THEM PUSH YOU AROUND! Linda~😖😘 Linda~
0 ReactionsNov 24, 2018 • 5:59 AM
In reply to Breath-in's comment
I don't think nitrogen has any smell. The air we breathe is 78% nitrogen, so we'd smell it in regular air. Nitrogen in the air is a simple molecule -- just two nitrogen atoms connect with a very strong triple covalent bond. That strong bond means the atoms don't split easily to make compounds with other gases.
It is important to have decent air flow around a concentrator because in a space that is too enclosed, the air will have less and less oxygen as the machine runs it through the sieve and pumps away oxygen. This can be a problem in closets - the guidelines call for a well ventilated area and at least 3 inches clearance from walls, drapes, furniture, etc. I actually have mine next to my nightstand - convenient for on and off and the connector is a short - like 7' - tube.
But there is nothing in this process that should produce any odor - except when you open a new package of tubing or cannula. There is some outgassing from those but I never notice it more than an hour or so after opening the packages.
Nov 24, 2018 • 6:51 PM
In reply to idiothe's comment
Idiothe,
Another great response by you and right on. I have mine also near my night stand. Thanks again.
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Nov 24, 2018 • 6:59 PM
In reply to Sadie-S's comment
Sadie,
I have not had any tubing (green or cannula) since the first delivery in June. I have not requested any because I did not have the input/direction you just supplied. I know what to do now. My supplier is Sun Belt. I called them about a week ago and asked for a different concentrator or at a minimum someone tro clean the internl filters. I have had no respone. I will call them again on Monday.
In the mean time, the smell has gone away.
I appreciate all the time you take to help people on this forum, me included.
Nov 24, 2018 • 7:28 PM
In reply to idiothe's comment
Thanks for nitrogen correction....Ijust was guessing nitrogen gas...yes it is odorless...how you can stand noise by putting concentrator along night stand...
0 ReactionsNov 24, 2018 • 8:27 PM
In reply to TonyHagan's comment
Your pulmonologist did order O2 Tony thru Sunbelt, right? Tell your Pulmonologist about the lousy service you are receiving and maybe they will order O2 thru another Supplier! Tell your Dr you never have received Cannulas or tubing from Sunbelt! Maybe they aren’t a certified O2 supplier!?! Good Lord in Heaven! Medicare pays for those supplies! If you are Medicare eligible! Gheesh! Go for it, Tony! You need the help from your Dr! Linda~ Stay on it! Don’t let folks abuse you, Tony! ♥️
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