Regular care and maintenance of your portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is essential. Not only will it extend the life of your equipment and protect your investment, but it will also ensure you continue to receive optimal oxygen delivery. Fortunately, this is easily done at home.
This guide has been updated for 2026 to take into account our latest POCs, such as the Inogen Rove 4 and Inogen Rove 6. However, this advice applies to most of our units to keep your oxygen equipment in tip-top condition.
We discuss how often you should maintain specific parts of your POCs, as well as provide step-by-step guides for cleaning and replacing certain parts like filters, cannulas, and columns.
Before we go into more detail, you should aim to clean or replace parts of your portable oxygen concentrator according to the schedule below.
| When to Clean | When to Replace | Replacement Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannula | Weekly (minimum)Daily (ideally) | 2-3 weeks | $19 (5 Pack) |
| Particle Filters | Weekly | 6 months | $25 (pair) |
| Columns | n/a | 12 months | $120 |
| Exterior Case | Weekly | n/a | n/a |
Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrator units come with a single lithium-ion battery. To sustain the life of your battery and ensure optimal performance of your Inogen POC, make sure you follow the guidelines below:
Refer to your operator’s manual for detailed battery care instructions.[2]
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We recommend that you change your nasal cannula on a regular basis, and most experts recommend changing your nasal cannula every two weeks.[3] However, it’s essential to follow your health care provider’s recommendation.
As part of your oxygen concentrator maintenance routine, you also need to clean the nasal cannula at least once per week [3], but ideally daily. This involves:
Your Inogen POC comes equipped with two particle filters, which prevent foreign objects from getting into the internals of the machine. These need to be cleaned regularly and replaced periodically.
You should clean the filters on your POC at least weekly, and more frequently if you live in a dusty environment. Particulate filters need replacing every 6 months or so, depending on your usage and where you live.
We recommend having a spare set of filters so you can keep using your POC while you’re cleaning them.
These will need to be replaced every 12 months, and your POC will sound an alarm and give you a low purity error when it’s due within 30 days. Alternatively, Rove 4 and Rove 6 users can check in the Inogen Connect app.
While they can’t be cleaned yourself, it’s simple to replace them with a new unit, such as the G5/Rove 6 Replacement Column or the G4/Rove 4 Replacement Column.
For the Rove 4, take the hex wrench that came with the replacement column and turn it counter-clockwise until the column stops rising. Pull the column out.
For the Rove 4, take the hex wrench and gently turn it clockwise until you feel resistance. Do not overtighten, as you could strip the threads. Finger-tight is fine.
Keeping your portable oxygen concentrator clean and dust-free is an essential part of regular maintenance and will help keep your unit in top working order.
This is how to clean your POC’s external case:
If you’re experiencing errors with your Inogen device, our troubleshooting guide below will help. If not, don’t hesitate to contact us at 855-MY-INOGEN (855-694-6643) or via our Contact Form.
If you see a flashing yellow or red light, it indicates there is a high-priority issue to address.
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Device won’t turn on | Ensure the battery is properly charged and connected, and the power supply is plugged in and switched on. |
| Battery not charging | Check that the power supply is secure and the battery is not too hot. |
| No/Low oxygen | Check that the cannula is not kinked, damaged, or blocked. Replace if necessary. This may also indicate that the sieve beds need to be replaced. |
| No breath detected | Ensure the tip of the nasal cannula is fully inside the nostril. |
| System hot | Ensure the intake and exhaust vents are clear, and check the filters are clean. If necessary, move the POC to a cooler area with better ventilation. |
| System cold | Move the unit to a warmer location. |
| Software problems | Turn the machine off, leave it for 30 seconds, and turn it on again. If the problem persists, consider updating the firmware or contacting customer support. |
No. Only use a cloth dampened with water and a mild detergent to clean your Inogen unit or nasal cannula. If you must fully decontaminate your unit, the CDC recommends using an antiviral disinfectant wipe on the exterior casing. Inogen has determined that using wipes will not hurt the function of the unit.[4]
Unfortunately, all batteries slowly lose their ability to hold a charge over time. However, with proper use and care of your Inogen batteries, you can extend the life of your battery as much as possible. Follow our Battery Life Tips to help your batteries work more effectively.
However, if you notice they simply do not charge properly or hold the charge you need anymore, you should replace them.
Your Inogen POC unit will give you a low-priority alarm to indicate that column maintenance is required within 30 days. You can then order new columns, if you do not already have them, and follow our instructions (found inside each unit’s manual) to replace the column assembly on your own. If you need additional assistance, contact Customer Care at 1-877-466-4364.
If you receive an alarm or error code you do not recognize, you need help with the installation of a part, or if you feel your Inogen needs maintenance, please call our Customer Care line at 1-877-466-4364.
We are always happy to help you with any oxygen concentrator maintenance and to troubleshoot any issues, and we can walk you through the processes step by step. We’re here to ensure your Inogen product works exactly as it should.
Please contact your local recycling center to discuss how to recycle or dispose of these parts and accessories. You can also contact your local e-waste facility for directions on safe disposal. Please do not discard these items in your regular trash, but store them in plastic zip top bags until they can be properly recycled or disposed of safely.
This article was authored by Inogen, Inc. and includes discussion of products manufactured by Inogen. The information provided is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. PM260065
The Inogen portable oxygen concentrators are available by Rx only. For safe and proper use of Inogen devices, please refer to https://www.inogen.com/support/inogen-manuals/ .
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When a patient first learns that they will require supplemental oxygen to improve their breathing, they are likely to have many questions. Patients often wonder about how to get their oxygen and what steps they will need to complete in order to get the oxygen delivery device they need. If your doctor has recommended supplemental oxygen therapy to you, read on to learn more about where to go from here.
For most oxygen therapy patients, learning how to use a nasal cannula as comfortably as possible is an important step in easily incorporating oxygen therapy into their lives. But for many people, figuring out how to wear the oxygen nose piece properly and learning what to do with all the tubing can be confusing. If you are unsure where to put the excess tubing and whether your nasal cannula prongs go up or down, let us walk you through how to wear your nasal cannula comfortably and find the right fit. Read on to learn how to choose the appropriate type of nasal cannula, how to put on a nasal cannula and how to ensure the oxygen nose piece fits properly. After that, you can read some of our tips to help ensure you have the most comfortable nasal cannula possible.
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