Oxygen concentrators are designed to provide a steady supply of concentrated oxygen to users, and like a car, they are built with a way to track their usage. This built-in counter, often called an hour meter or usage display, records the total cumulative time the machine has been running. This measurement acts as the device’s odometer, recording its entire operational life in hours. Knowing this total run time is important for scheduling necessary service and understanding the device’s overall condition.
Locating and Reading the Usage Display
The hour meter’s physical location varies across different oxygen concentrator models, but it is typically found on the control panel. For stationary models, this display might be a small digital screen or an older analog counter placed near the power switch or flow meter. Portable concentrators often integrate the usage display into a menu, requiring the user to press a specific button or navigate a digital interface to view the total hours.
In most cases, the concentrator must be plugged in and powered on briefly to illuminate the display and show the current reading. The display will usually show a series of numbers, sometimes labeled with “h” or “hr” to indicate hours. For digital meters, the number represents the total hours of operation, but some models use a decimal point to include minutes.
For example, a reading of “1250.5” typically means 1,250 full hours and five-tenths (or 30 minutes) of another hour. If the display is a simple block of four or five digits without a decimal, it is showing only the total full hours. Always consult the user manual to interpret your specific machine correctly, as manufacturers have different conventions for displaying the total operational time.
Tracking Hours for Maintenance and Warranty
The total hours recorded on the display are the primary factor dictating the device’s required service schedule. Manufacturers specify maintenance intervals, such as when to replace internal filters or sieve beds, based purely on total run time, not on calendar time. For instance, a sieve bed, which separates nitrogen from oxygen, might need replacement after 10,000 to 15,000 hours of use to maintain oxygen purity.
Regularly checking and recording the hour meter prevents premature device failure and ensures the concentrator continues to deliver the correct concentration of oxygen. Skipping this hour-based maintenance can lead to a drop in oxygen purity, which can affect the effectiveness of therapy. For equipment that is rented or supplied by a provider, the hour meter serves as a definitive record for billing and for determining when the machine is due for replacement or professional servicing.
The hour meter also acts as the official record for any warranty claims. Most manufacturer warranties cover the device for a set period or a maximum number of hours, whichever limit is reached first. If the machine fails, the number displayed on the hour meter is the conclusive evidence used by the manufacturer to validate or deny a claim.