An oxygen concentrator is a must-have tool to keep them alive for patients facing difficulties breathing or having any severe respiratory disease that does not allow them to breathe in the open and natural air. These oxygen concentrators are used in hospitals while the patient is admitted, in homes if the patient is not recovered but does not require hospital care.
Even some patients with prolonged respiratory diseases even carry the oxygen concentrators with them everywhere.
But it is very awkward that these oxygen concentrators give life to people and produce some creaky, hissing, and rattling high-pitched noises, which can sound annoying to people using them or people living around them.
So, if you or someone around you is using an oxygen concentrator and is troubled because of its loud, irritating, and annoying noise, you don’t know how to reduce noise from oxygen concentrator.
Don’t worry, and save yourself and the patient from the irritating noise coming from the oxygen concentrator. We have brought some excellent tactics to dampen that noise from oxygen concentrators.
Though one might block out this noise with earplugs’ help, it is still on the mend to soundproof the oxygen concentrator as not everyone would like to use earplugs.
Even though the oxygen concentrators provide vital health benefits and support, the ceaseless noise can spoil your quality time and take away patients’ peace. Frustrating noise coming out of oxygen concentrators is one of the most common complaints, but it troubles people too much.
If you also have respiratory issues or a patient around you who requires an oxygen concentrator at home, it bothers them and provides a lifeline because of its noise. In that case, here are some easy tactics you can count on if you are looking answer to how to reduce noise from an oxygen concentrator. After using these methods, you will surely get a soundproof oxygen concentrator that will finally give you and the patient much-needed peace and rest.
Before discussing these sound dampening methods for oxygen concentrators, first look at the noise caused in oxygen concentrators.
What Causes Oxygen Concentrator To Make Such Noises?
Typically, Oxygen concentrators extract air from their surroundings and convert that air into pure oxygen that patients can easily breathe without any issue.
In older models of oxygen concentrators, their compressors were set down on something known as rubber vibration mounts. These rubber mounts absorb all the vibrations and high pitch sounds originating from the compressors. But, when these rubber mounts get broken, or the rubber loses its properties over time and continuous use, the compressors start making hissing, and cracking noises that might not be loud, but no person could bear it for a prolonged time.
On the other side, in new and improvised models of oxygen concentrators, their compressors are fixed on the springs. These springs make compressors quieter but not much efficiently that people can stand those noises for a long time. So again, motors are the main culprit in modern oxygen concentrators.
Concerning the amount of noise produced by oxygen concentrators, only the portable ones produce only a little noise that patients can stand.
However, when it comes to oxygen concentrators used in homes, they create enough noise to bother patients and surround people because of their bulkier internal parts. As their components are larger, they supply a high flow of oxygen, and the higher the rate of air or oxygen flow, the more noise they will produce.
So, if you already have an oxygen concentrator and want to know how to reduce noise from an oxygen concentrator, here are the answers to your questions.
How To Reduce Noise From Oxygen Concentrator Using 9 Different Ways
Many people keep searching for techniques to soundproof or dampen the noise from oxygen concentrators they use at home; for several reasons or causes. Moreover, oxygen concentrators usually can make different noises ranging from 30 dB to 70 dB, subject to many specific problems.
But, here we come with many ideas and tactics to deal with annoying noises from oxygen concentrators and tranquil them down at home only.
1. Constrict The Internal Components And The Case To Reduce Noise
With the course of time and regular use, the case protecting the internal components of your oxygen concentrator possibly gets assorted. The Oxygen Concentrator’s case generally remains attached to the motor utilizing a set of screws, and the motor is further set on several springs and to the case.
Thus, when these screws get loose or do not attach to the case with internal components, or even the case gets damaged, it produces weird noises that are not pleasant to the ears. Also, when the springs that hold the motor do not work properly or get broken, the motor keeps hitting the concentrator’s outer case, creating irritating noises.
So, if the case of your oxygen concentrator is broken, try to replace it with a new case that has pads to reduce noise from the compressor.
And if your oxygen concentrator is making noise due to the worst-case scenario of broken springs. In that case, only one thing can fix this problem: tilting the oxygen concentrator on the side where the springs are in good condition.
So, this is how to reduce noise from the oxygen concentrator when the case and the springs do not work properly.
2. Place The Oxygen Concentrator On A Slicker Surface To Dampen The Noise
As the engines of the oxygen concentrators keep shaking or vibrating while attached to springs. Therefore, if we put your oxygen concentrator on hardwood or tiled flooring, this will make the noises coming from it even worse.
Try to place your oxygen concentrator over a smoother and softer surface. If you don’t have such a surface in your home, you can easily make it with the help of cardboard, one or two rugs, a new thick carpet, a cloth piece, and some dish sponges.
3. Reduce Noise From Oxygen Concentrator By Turning The Surface Tranquil
Machines such as oxygen concentrators have their vents underside the whole unit, so make sure and check if enough space is there for the air to flow. The maximum noise that an oxygen concentrator generates comes from the bottom surface.
Therefore to dampen and redirect that noise, do not block the airflow underneath the unit.
But suppose you or the patient using the oxygen concentrator is genuinely tired of that annoying noise, and you want to know how to reduce noise from the oxygen concentrator. In that case, some cotton towels and wool blankets can help you with it.
Bring up your oxygen concentrator approx. One or ½ inch above blanket or towel layers by putting a small piece of the thick board under both (left & right) the sides of the oxygen concentrator.
Also, use some clean dish sponges under wheels and above the boards.
The layers of cotton towels or wool blankets can surely reduce the noise from your oxygen concentrator, and the dish sponges will absorb vibrations coming from the wheels.
4. Clean Oxygen Concentrator’s Filters To Dampen The Noise Coming From It
Your oxygen concentrator might be generating excessive noise because its filters are dirty. So, if your oxygen concentrator unit has some reusable filters, ensure that you replace and wash them regularly as per the instructions in the user manual.
And if the oxygen concentrator has replaceable air filters, you must keep a check on them and change them every six months or a year.
You can easily find Oxygen concentrator filter kits, but before buying, check that the concentrator you have does not require any specific filters.
5. Fix The Noise Of The Oxygen Concentrator With A Muffler
Many machines like oxygen concentrators come with mufflers fitted inside them. And they can start making noises if these mufflers do not work well or if anything goes wrong with them. And this problem can also be solved with the help of repairing.
If the repairing is not possible, you can temporarily dampen noise from your oxygen concentrator by moving it further away from your surroundings.
You can place it in a corridor, gallery, or some other room using some extra oxygen tubes.
And if you see the muffler fitting inside your oxygen concentrator is in good condition, turn the machine a little bit so that plastic tie wraps ends do not enter into anything.
A medium-density acoustic foam covers the entire internal wall of the concentrator’s case and the motor, but the bottom plate remains uncovered.
So there must be some space inside the bottom of the unit and on both sides of the compressor. Little fiberglass insulation might help you to reduce noise coming from that place.
But do not cover the space too much that it blocks the fan blades on the compressor ends.
And if you are unable to do it, try out exterior dampening methods. Also, make sure that all the three cooling fans of the oxygen concentrator are clean.
This is the answer to reducing noise from an oxygen concentrator with mufflers.
6. Dampen Noise From The Oxygen Concentrator With An Anti-Vibration Mat
Putting the oxygen concentrator barely on hardwood floors or any tiled or stoned floor can intensify the noise production process because machine vibrations also increase.
As mentioned above, you can reduce noise from the oxygen concentrator due to vibrations by placing it on top of a thick rug, a pile of towels, or anything that act as padding to minimize the vibration of the concentrator machine.
But remember that the bottom space of your oxygen concentrator where you will be placing the padding to reduce vibration emits dust and dirt.
That’s why do not do anything or any cloth piece you don’t want to ruin because of dirt and dust.
However, suppose the idea of using towels, rugs, or any other padding does not help dampen the noise coming from your oxygen concentrator.
In that case, the last option is to purchase an anti-vibration mat and place it under the oxygen concentrator unit. An anti-vibration mat is normally used under the appliances that make too much noise, such as washing machines and clothes dryers.
So, you can also use one such mat, and it will significantly reduce disturbing noises from the oxygen concentrator.
7. Focus On Placing The Oxygen Concentrator In The Right Place
The most important thing to keep in mind while using an oxygen concentrator is placing them in the right place. Typically, oxygen concentrators produce high-pitched and low-frequency sounds, such as the bass from the large speakers, commonly known as acoustics, that are more troubling than other sounds.
So, if you place the oxygen concentrator aside to the walls or a hard corner, the acoustics will worsen, and the noise may become unbearable.
That is why place your concentrator unit away from walls in an open area; if not possible, place it at least one foot away from walls. Also, place some wool, foam, chair seat pad, etc., on the machine’s verticle surface to dampen the noise due to sonic reflections.
8. More Oxygen Tubing Can Reduce Noise From an Oxygen Concentrator
Suppose, you want to know how to reduce noise from oxygen concentrator? Quickly without even taking any major repair options or using anything to dampen the noise.
In that case, you can only do one thing: place the entire oxygen concentrator unit outside of the patient’s room. You can do this with the help of additional oxygen tubing to the concentrator.
Generally, oxygen tubing in oxygen concentrators is 25 feet or 50 feet long.
Suppose your oxygen concentrator already has less than 50 feet of tubing and 50 feet of oxygen tube is sufficient for placing your concentrator outside the room. In that case, you have to attach a 50-foot oxygen tube.
But, if you need more than 50 feet oxygen tube to place your oxygen concentrator away from the room. You will have to purchase oxygen tubing connectors and more oxygen tubes of your required length.
When you have a longer oxygen tubing attached to your oxygen concentrator machine. You can place it far away from you or move it to another room and rest peacefully without any disturbance.
9. Bring A White Noise Machine To Minimize The Oxygen Concentrator’s Noise
If you have tried all the tactics to reduce noise from your oxygen concentrator but failed to quiet it, you cannot even move it to another room. Instead, you can buy yourself a white noise machine that can obscure or mask the noises coming from the oxygen concentrator.
A white noise machine can be very helpful to you or the patient use the oxygen concentrator at night when you want to rest, be disturbance-free, and sound asleep.
If your oxygen concentrator does not produce much noise but doesn’t like to hear that noise.
You can use your ceiling or a table fan to fade the concentrator’s sound rather than purchasing a white noise machine.
How To Reduce Noise From Oxygen Concentrator If No Tactics Work?
Take help from professionals to repair it. Tired of everything but still looking for how to reduce noise from an oxygen concentrator, it might need some professional repairing to work perfectly without noise.
You might tighten the loose screws on your oxygen concentrator unit or replace them because it is reasonably easy to do at home. But what if the noise is happing due to the damage to internal parts of the concentrator. Your oxygen concentrator most likely needs some professional assistance or repair as damaged components inside it might not be as simple to repair by yourself.
Moreover, if you don’t know hands-on machines like oxygen concentrators. It is better to get them regularly checked and repaired by a professional technician.
Another reason your oxygen concentrator produces irritating noise because the springs holding the motor are broken or damaged. The damaged springs bounce the engine around the unit and produce a loud sound. You can either get these springs repaired by a professional or permanently replace this problem with a new oxygen concentrator.
The mufflers inside the oxygen concentrator also get damaged over time and need professional repair and replacement. Also, many valves inside the concentrator unit may damage and break, resulting in excessive noise; this problem can be solved only with professional help.
Your oxygen concentrator may produce a whistling noise if its lubrication is not up to the mark. These oxygen concentrators need a lubricant that is inflammable, which can only be resolved with a professional repair.
Never Cover The Oxygen Concentrator Unit.
Suppose, you are sick of using noise-reducing techniques on your concentrator. But, do not get any positive results and do not get any professional help also. But please don’t panic and cover your oxygen concentrator. Covering it can cause serious health or fire hazards as concentrators require lots of space to expel air.
FAQs:–
Why My Oxygen Concentrator Produces Noise?
There can be several reasons behind noise from your oxygen concentrator. For example, it might produce noise because of loose screws, damaged internal components, etc.
Can An Oxygen Concentrator Used At Home Be Noisy?
Yes, every oxygen concentrators produce some noises, and it is normal, but if you hear loud and regular noise, get it checked.
Do Portable Oxygen Concentrators Also Produce Noise?
Yes, portable oxygen can also generate noise, but they are not as loud as other oxygen concentrators.
In Conclusion, we understand that it’s vital for you to know how to reduce noise from oxygen concentrator? Because, the noise that the oxygen concentrator generates is extremely annoying for both the patient and the people around them. That’s why we have discussed these solutions to dampen the noise from the oxygen concentrator. But get one thing clear: you cannot repair everything damaged in them, so getting professional help is quite necessary.
