palerider wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 1:58 pm
One easy way to check for leaks is to just plug up the end of the hose, if it's not leaking, you'll see the flow meter drop to zero, or near zero. Another way (and this gets a bit messy) is to fill a 2 liter bottle with water, stick the hose in, then invert it into a sink (or bucket) that's already got water in it, Turn on the concentrator and see how long it takes for it to push the water out with oxygen, then a little math will tell you the flow rate.
Great information. Thank you.
Her machine is the Perfecto2 TM V.
I have only plugged the end of the hose briefly while I have the hose in a bucket. I never thought to look at the flow meter, besides, until you told me what it should do I wouldn't have known if it was working correctly or not. I am always very cautious not to do anything that might hurt the machine. We are a long way from help if this all goes bad.
Next time she feels like something is not right I will try plugging the end of the hose first and watch the flow meter.
I just know the smoke test. If you don't know what the cause of the problem is, try something and keep going until you figure it out.
palerider wrote: ↑Mon Sep 19, 2022 1:58 pm
It's entirely possible that there's really not anything wrong with the machine, maybe she's breathing too gently for it, (are there sensitivity settings?)
This breathing issue only happens on the Perfecto concentrator at home-I believe there is no sensitivity setting on the constant flow. I may not have been clear in my post earlier. This only happens on the Perfecto not the portable.
I am almost positive there is nothing wrong with the machine, but I am just looking for a way to easily test it and make sure when there are questions about air flow. The hose replacement is an easy fix, if something goes wrong with the machine it would be a completely different story. Oddly enough, this almost always happens in the evening as we are listening to music or watching TV winding down for the day. I am worried if I replace the hose and she temporarily feels better and we go to bed, the overnight effects could be devastating if there is something wonky with the machine. I am probably too cautious about this but this is just how I am.
She does monitor her O2 frequently and her oxygen level on a few occasions has been low without her realizing. I replace the hose and within a minute the levels are right back up in the upper 90's
I thought as we got older things would be less complicated. Boy was I wrong!
Thanks again and I will post a reply and results here when it happens again. I am curious to see what happens.