Oxygen equipment at home — concentrators, tanks, and portable units

This article provides general information about home oxygen equipment. Your parent's specific oxygen needs, prescription, and equipment choices should be made in consultation with their doctor and oxygen supplier.

The first time I heard my father's oxygen concentrator humming in his bedroom, I thought about all those things we take for granted. Something as basic as breathing. He'd always been healthy, active. Then the diagnosis came: emphysema. Suddenly, this machine wasn't an option. It was the difference between functioning and struggling just to sit upright.

If your parent has been prescribed home oxygen, you're probably sitting with a mixture of feelings. Relief that there's a tool that helps them breathe easier. Worry about how they'll manage it. Questions about what the different equipment actually does.

Let me walk you through the oxygen picture.

Understanding the Types of Oxygen Equipment

There are three main categories of home oxygen equipment, and your parent will likely use one or more of them depending on their oxygen needs and lifestyle.

Oxygen concentrators are the workhorses of home oxygen. These machines take in regular room air, separate out the oxygen, and deliver it at higher concentrations to your parent through tubing and a mask or nasal cannula. Concentrators are stationary machines that plug into electrical outlets. They're reliable, low-maintenance, and Medicare covers them well. The main limitation is that they tether your parent to the location where the machine is set up. A concentrator in the bedroom doesn't help when your parent wants to sit in the living room or visit the kitchen.

Liquid oxygen systems offer portability. These tanks store oxygen in a liquid state, which means they take up less space than compressed gas tanks while holding the same amount of oxygen. They come with a stationary reservoir tank that lives at home and small portable units your parent can fill from the larger tank and carry with them. The benefit is freedom. Your parent can walk through the house, spend time in the garden, visit friends. The downside is cost (often not fully covered by insurance) and the fact that liquid oxygen slowly evaporates even when not being used, so tanks need regular refills.

Compressed oxygen tanks are the traditional delivery method. These are the metal cylinders with the regulator attached. They're heavy, they take up space, and they're finite. Once the oxygen inside is used, the tank is empty. But they work reliably and don't require electricity, which matters if there's a power outage. Many people use compressed tanks as backup systems or for occasional outings when a smaller portable unit is needed.

Your parent's doctor will prescribe a specific oxygen flow rate (measured in liters per minute) and specify when your parent needs oxygen. Some people need it continuously, all day and night. Others only need it during exercise or when their oxygen levels drop below a certain threshold. The prescription dictates what equipment makes sense.

The Daily Reality of Home Oxygen

Once you have the equipment home, life changes in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. The tubing needs to be in the right place. You'll learn quickly that people trip over oxygen tubing. Securing it along baseboards or using cord covers helps. In my father's case, we marked the tubing with bright tape so visiting family members would notice it.

Your parent will need to understand their specific equipment. Can they adjust the flow rate themselves, or is that your job? When the equipment alarms, what does each sound mean? Some devices alarm when oxygen levels get too low. Others have low-battery alerts or notifications about high temperature. Your parent shouldn't feel afraid of the equipment. They should feel capable of using it.

Cleanliness matters. Concentrators have filters that need regular replacement. Tubing needs to be kept clean to prevent bacterial growth. Masks and nasal cannulas should be replaced regularly. Your parent's oxygen supplier should walk them through maintenance, but don't hesitate to ask for written instructions or videos. Seeing how it's done is often more helpful than reading about it.

The physical sensation of wearing a mask or having a nasal cannula takes adjustment. Some people find it claustrophobic. Others develop sore spots where the mask contacts their face. These are problems with solutions. Different mask styles exist. Padding can help. Positioning the tubing differently sometimes makes all the difference. It's worth being persistent about finding an approach that your parent can live with comfortably.

Oxygen delivery affects social and emotional life. Your parent might feel self-conscious using oxygen in public. They might worry about being judged or seen as sicker than they are. Having an honest conversation about this helps. So does normalizing it. The portable units are smaller than many people expect. Lots of people use them without drawing particular attention. Still, your parent's feelings about this are real and valid.

Travel With Home Oxygen

If your parent wants to get out of the house, whether for a doctor's appointment or a weekend trip, oxygen comes along.

For short trips, a portable system usually works fine. Your parent needs to know how long their portable unit will last at their prescribed oxygen flow rate before it needs refilling. Do the math beforehand. A two-hour outing might require no refill, but a four-hour trip would. Your oxygen supplier can help with the calculations.

For air travel, home oxygen becomes more complicated. Airlines have strict rules about portable oxygen. Some allow FAA-approved portable oxygen concentrators. Others don't. Liquid oxygen is generally prohibited on planes. Compressed tanks are sometimes allowed, but regulations vary wildly. Never assume you can bring your parent's equipment onboard. Contact the airline in advance, get the information in writing, and plan accordingly.

Some oxygen suppliers offer rental programs for travel destinations. If your parent is visiting family out of state or going on vacation, you can often arrange for a concentrator or tank system to be waiting at their destination. This makes travel more seamless.

Driving with portable oxygen is fine, though you'll want to ensure the unit is secured so it doesn't slide around if you brake suddenly. Some people use a small cooler or carrying case.

When Equipment Problems Arise

Concentrators sometimes make noise. This is normal. If the noise level changes dramatically, something might be wrong. If your parent complains that they're not feeling any oxygen flow, check that the tubing is connected properly and that alarms are properly set. Low oxygen concentrations can make your parent feel worse, not better, so problems need attention.

Power outages present a real concern if your parent uses a concentrator. Having a backup portable system or compressed tanks on hand is smart planning. Some families invest in a battery backup system for their concentrator, which provides several hours of power if electricity goes down.

Your parent's oxygen company should offer 24-hour emergency support. Make sure you have that number posted clearly. Problems with oxygen equipment aren't something to figure out on a Monday morning. They need same-day solutions.

The Emotional Piece

Using home oxygen means accepting that your parent's body needs outside support to do something that used to happen automatically. That's a real loss, and it's worth naming. At the same time, this equipment is a tool that allows your parent to keep living, keep moving, keep being themselves. It's not a defeat. It's problem-solving.

My father used his concentrator for three years. There were days he hated it. Days he didn't want to acknowledge he needed it. But there were also days when he realized he could walk to the mailbox and back without stopping to catch his breath. Days when he could sit with my kids without exhaustion overwhelming him. The equipment was the reason those days existed.

That balance between acceptance and frustration is normal. Your role is to help your parent find that balance, to troubleshoot the practical problems, and to remember that oxygen equipment is support for independence, not a symbol of decline.

Oxygen therapy is prescribed by your parent's doctor based on their specific medical needs. Follow your doctor's recommendations about when and how long your parent should use oxygen. Oxygen equipment requires careful handling. Familiarize yourself and your parent with the manufacturer's safety guidelines. When in doubt, contact your parent's oxygen supplier or medical provider.