Is Your Oxygen Machine Beeping?
A beeping oxygen concentrator is no reason to panic. Most stationery and portable oxygen units have several built-in safety features to alert users that something requires attention. Most often, the concentrator either requires power or has detected poor airflow. Use this checklist to help further diagnose the issue.
Reasons Your Oxygen Machine is Beeping
Loss of Power
A lack of power is one of the most common issues that cause an oxygen concentrator to beep. If you are using a portable oxygen concentrator with a battery, such as the Philips Respironics SimplyGo Mini, this alarm may sound if your battery drops below a certain percentage. Plug your concentrator in immediately and the beeping will stop.
Additionally, it may begin to beep if your oxygen concentrator is plugged in and turned on, but no power is available. Simply turn the oxygen concentrator off, unplug it, and plug it into a known, working electrical outlet.Â
User Error
Simple actions that you may take for granted can cause your oxygen concentrator to beep. Things such as placing your device in a poorly ventilated area or not regularly cleaning or replacing the air filter – can cause your device’s alarm to sound. Sometimes it is not always clear what is causing the alarm, so be sure to check the user manual. For further troubleshooting, contact our customer care team.
System Failing to Produce Enough Oxygen
It is important to note that oxygen concentrators do not produce their own oxygen. Concentrators draw in and filter the room air surrounding them to provide users with a more concentrated form of oxygen. When your unit struggles to provide this concentrated form of oxygen, it will alert you audibly. This alarm typically requires maintenance.
Lack of Oxygen Flow
Though common, this alert can be one of the easiest to fix. It will begin beeping if your oxygen concentrator does not detect sufficient airflow. This may occur with a damaged or kinked tube. To silence this alarm, simply inspect your oxygen tubing for damage or kinks. Replace any damaged tubing and untangle any kinked tubing. If the alarm does not resolve itself, check the troubleshooting section of your manual or contact our customer care team.
The Unit is Overheated
Overheating can be caused by several things. These causes can include being placed in a poorly ventilated room, a clogged filter, or even a clogged motor/fan. If the overheating alarm begins to beep, turn the device off and wait for it to cool down. Turn the device on again. If the problem continues, the device may require maintenance.
What Does a Yellow Light Mean on an Oxygen Concentrator?
While manufacturers may differ in the operation of oxygen concentrators, the alerts tend to be the same. A yellow light is often an indication that the oxygen flow is low. You may even notice using your oxygen concentrator that the airflow seems reduced.
- Check the filters-they may be reducing oxygen flow if they are dirty or need replacing
- Check the tubing kinks or twists to reduce oxygen flow
- Look for damage to tubing-leaks can reduce oxygen flow
What Does a Red Light Mean on Oxygen Concentrators?
A red indicator light alerts you to power issues with your oxygen concentrator.
- Check power source- make sure the unit is plugged in and the power cord is not damaged
- Check battery- If running on battery, check to make sure the battery is properly installed and fully charged
Alarms on Your Oxygen Concentrator
Most oxygen units come with several safety features installed to avoid damage to your equipment. These usually come in the form of audible alarms with or without blinking lights. While every oxygen machine is different, let the below serve as a guide for what the problem may be. For specific issues, reference your device’s user manual.
The Alarm is Sounding with No Light
A beeping noise with no flashing light could indicate a power issue. Unplug and then plug the machine back in. Check your breakers. Check the outlet by plugging in something else to see if you get power. If not, plug the concentrator into a known, working electrical outlet. If the beeping persists, contact our customer care team.
The Alarm is Sounding with Red LightÂ
While not all oxygen concentrators have a red indicator, they are generally reserved for more high-priority alerts or malfunctions.Â
If you experience an alarm paired with a red light, shut your system down immediately. Check to make sure it isn’t overheating; if it is, give it time to cool down. Check all filters to make sure they are clean and make sure the device is in a well-ventilated area away from the wall. After approximately 15 minutes, turn your oxygen concentrator on again. If the alarm and red light occur, check that your oxygen concentrator has its system of built-in safety features, including alarms and LED indicators.
We recommend familiarizing yourself with your device’s user manual. If you have any additional questions about your oxygen concentrator’s alarms, contact our customer care team. We can be reached at 888-941-1688 or via email at contact@oxygenconcentratorsupplies.com.
Although it may initially sound alarming and concerning, a beeping oxygen concentrator is no reason to panic. Most stationary and portable oxygen concentrators have several built-in safety features to alert users that something requires attention. Not only will your machine audibly beep, but most also have visual alarms as well in case the user is vision- or hearing-impaired. Most often, the concentrator either requires power or has detected poor airflow. Here are some reasons, and how to address the issues, of why your oxygen concentrator could be beeping. Use this checklist to help you figure the alarm out on your own.
Reasons Your Oxygen Concentrator is Beeping
There are a few different reasons your oxygen concentrator could be beeping, but thankfully, they are all able to be corrected at home, without the need to call a technician or stop using your oxygen therapy device.
Lack of Power
A lack of power is one of the most common issues that cause an oxygen concentrator to beep. If you are using a portable oxygen concentrator with a battery, this alarm may sound if your battery drops below a certain percentage, warning you that your device will run out of life soon. To remediate this, simply plug your concentrator in immediately to start the recharging process, and the beeping will stop.
Additionally, it may begin to beep if your oxygen concentrator is plugged in and turned on, but no power is available. Simply turn the oxygen concentrator off, unplug it, and plug it into a known, working electrical outlet.
Additional Tip!: If your electricity is out altogether and you are using a home oxygen concentrator that needs to stay plugged into a wall outlet to operate, we recommend always having a backup portable oxygen concentrator on hand for these instances.
User Error
Simple actions that you may take for granted can cause your oxygen concentrator to beep. Things such as placing your device in a poorly ventilated area or not regularly cleaning or replacing the air filter can cause your device’s alarm to sound. Sometimes it is not always clear what is causing the alarm, so be sure to check the user manual. Store your user manual in a spot you can always find it to look back at in case of any instances like this. For further troubleshooting, contact our customer care team.
System Failing to Produce Enough Oxygen
It is important to note that oxygen concentrators do not produce their own oxygen. Instead of being their own source of oxygen, concentrators draw in and filter the room air surrounding them to provide users with a more concentrated form of oxygen. When your unit struggles to provide this concentrated form of oxygen, it will alert you audibly. This alarm typically requires maintenance.
Additional Tip!: To avoid this issue altogether, make sure you are operating your concentrator in a room that has an ample amount of oxygen, like a centrally located room in your house. Also, avoid putting your concentrator too close to radiators, heaters, or hot air vents, and make sure your concentrator is at least six inches from the wall, drapes, or furniture.
Lack of Oxygen Flow
Though common, this alert can be one of the easiest to fix. It will begin beeping if your oxygen concentrator does not detect sufficient airflow. This may occur with a damaged or kinked tube. To silence this alarm, simply inspect your oxygen tubing for damage or kinks. Replace any damaged tubing and untangle any kinked tubing as that will affect the airflow you are receiving. If the alarm does not resolve itself, check the troubleshooting section of your manual or contact our customer care team.
The Unit is Overheated
Overheating can be caused by several things. These causes can include being placed in a poorly ventilated room, a clogged filter, or even a clogged motor/fan. When an oxygen concentrator is placed in a room with poor ventilation, it will start to overheat. If the overheating alarm begins to beep, turn the device off and wait for it to cool down. Turn the device on again. Additionally, move your device away from obstructions and make sure you are cleaning out or replacing the filter, motor, and/or fan. If your device continues to overheat even after applying all these solutions, the device may require maintenance.
Other Alarms on Your Oxygen Concetrator
Most oxygen units come with several safety features installed to avoid damage to your equipment. These usually come in the form of audible alarms with or without blinking lights. While every oxygen machine is different, let the below serve as a guide for what the problem may be. For specific issues, reference your device’s user manual.
The Alarm is Sounding with No Light
A beeping noise with no flashing light could indicate a power issue. Unplug and then plug the machine back in, and also make sure the outlet you are using is providing power. If that power outlet also has something else plugged into it, try unplugging that as well. Check your breakers. Check the outlet by plugging in something else to see if you get power. If not, plug the concentrator into a known, working electrical outlet. If the beeping persists, contact our customer care team.
The Alarm is Sounding with Red Light
While not all oxygen concentrators have a red indicator, they are generally reserved for more high-priority alerts or malfunctions.
If you experience an alarm paired with a red light, shut your system down immediately. Check to make sure it isn’t overheating; if it is, give it time to cool down. Check all filters to make sure they are clean and make sure the device is in a well-ventilated area away from the wall. After approximately 15 minutes, turn your oxygen concentrator on again. If the alarm and red light occur, check that your oxygen concentrator has its system of built-in safety features, including alarms and LED indicators. Other ways to address the issue are:
- Check the power source and make sure the unit is plugged in and the power cord is not damaged
- Check the battery and if it is running on battery, ensure the battery is properly installed and fully charged
The Alarm is Beeping with Green or Yellow Light
A green light, typically built into portable oxygen concentrators, indicates that your power is running low. In this instance, make sure your plug in your device and wait for the battery to recharge. Thanks to advancements in concentrator build, you are able to still operate your unit while it is charging.
A yellow light, typically equipped built into home oxygen concentrators, is less alarming than a red light. The light is visibly alerting you that there is a problem, and it's recommended to read your user manual to know what each light means. Lights can vary in each unit, indicating low oxygen, overheating, or other issues. However, a yellow light is often an indication that the oxygen flow is low. You may even notice using your oxygen concentrator that the airflow seems reduced. To help this:
- Check the filters as they may be reducing oxygen flow if they are dirty or need replacing
- Check the tubing kinks or twists to reduce oxygen flow
- Look for damage to tubing-leaks can reduce oxygen flow
Conclusion
We recommend familiarizing yourself with your device’s user manual as much as possible to make sure you are aware of the potential issues and how to immediately fix them. If you have any additional questions about your oxygen concentrator’s alarms, contact our customer care team. We can be reached at 888-941-1688 or via email at contact@oxygenconcentratorsupplies.com.
This post was originally published on January 28, 2021, and updated on April 30, 2024.