I bought a used oxygen concentrator, and when I got home I discovered it smells a lot of cigarette smoke on the filters, case, and inside.

If anyone works for a DME supplier, and is familiar with cleaning machines between patients, can you please make a suggestion on how to remove the cigarette smell?

I had not expected people to be using oxygen while smoking, so sadly I did not think to check for this before I paid for the machine.

I am planning on replacing the three filters (inlet, cabinet, bacteria), and probably the internal flexible tubing at the top.

The machine is an Invacare Perfecto2 IRC5PO2. It makes it through the self-test for O2 output.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: deepocean,

I have worked on concentrators for 18+ years. There really is no way to get them free of that smell. It is a good start to change the filters and some internal tubing. The product tank and sieve beds could be changed but can get expensive.

What I have done in the past, is spray a little citrus deodorizer on the exterior cabinet filter and inside the tall hepa plastic filter inside. We label our concentrators "smokers". So, when we go into someones home that reaks of the smell, that's what we use!

quote:

Originally posted by deepocean:
I had not expected people to be using oxygen while smoking, so sadly I did not think to check for this before I paid for the machine.

If I had a dollar for every time I've seen a patient outside a hospital entrance or a schmuck at a bus stop puffing away right under a nasal cannula with an O2 tank at their side, I'd have... well, probably several hundred dollars.

It's amazing. Kind of like checking fuel levels in a tank using a lighter (which I've also seen).

-Rob

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:

quote:

Originally posted by deepocean:
I had not expected people to be using oxygen while smoking, so sadly I did not think to check for this before I paid for the machine.

If I had a dollar for every time I've seen a patient outside a hospital entrance or a schmuck at a bus stop puffing away right under a nasal cannula with an O2 tank at their side, I'd have... well, probably several hundred dollars.

It's amazing. Kind of like checking fuel levels in a tank using a lighter (which I've also seen).

-Rob

If you're at a hospital with a cardiac care unit, go to the closest entrance.
There you'll see why many of the patients are there and why their family members will likely be there too someday. They can hardly wait to get outside to light up, get rolled in on a wheelchair with an oxygen canister attached while puffing away, etc.

quote:

I had not expected people to be using oxygen while smoking ...

Man, that's hard core. How do they keep from immolating themselves?

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

I had not expected people to be using oxygen while smoking ...

Man, that's hard core. How do they keep from immolating themselves?

Preserving their good health doesn't seem to be high on their list of priorities.

go to a cigar store. They sell a spray that gets rid of tobacco odor. It's like febreeze but for cars. You also could try febreeze first also.

Wonder why it was for sale? Patient improve, lol?

Not sure about the application but Zorbex will take it out of a car, but several applications are required.

MNSIG and I have seen plenty of patients smoking thru their trach holes!
There is one product that I have that atually works, although I can't guarantee the results on your concentrator. It has impress us while most others have been bullshit. It eliminates not masks. PM Me.
DTV

BTW have you tested the units concentration output?????
You may be counting on a bad unit and will cause de-sat on the user...

I have a commercial ozone generator I bought for another purpose but haven't used yet.

I wonder if any of the concentrator's internal valves, tubing, etc. would be cleaned out if I ran it in a closed off room while the ozone generator created a high level of ozone. Supposedly, the ozone generator I bought has helped clean all kinds of really hard to eliminate odors.

quote:

Originally posted by deepocean:
I have a commercial ozone generator I bought for another purpose but haven't used yet.

I wonder if any of the concentrator's internal valves, tubing, etc. would be cleaned out if I ran it in a closed off room while the ozone generator created a high level of ozone. Supposedly, the ozone generator I bought has helped clean all kinds of really hard to eliminate odors.

I would try that but the O2 levels are indicting it's not generating any o2....