How Long do Concentrators Last?

Oxygen Concentrators are designed with longevity in mind. Patients’ lives depend on these machines. While many patients may only need their machines during the day when exerting themselves, others may need it for a restful night’s sleep with their CPAP machine. Most patients use their machines about 8 to 10 hours a day. Some patients need their oxygen around the clock, and we will talk about Oxygen Concentrators being used in this fashion, and which machines may be better suited for this operation.

We will focus on the Oxygen Concentrators that we specialize in repairing. The machines we repair, we have deemed to be durable enough to stand the test of time and reliability/durability. If you own a machine that we do not talk about or list on our site, then it is a machine we do not wish to work on.

THE OLDER 5LPM MACHINES

There is a stigma against older oxygen concentrators. Yes, they are larger and heavier. Yes, they may be noisier. But this translates directly to durability and longevity!

How Long will the Respironics Millennium 5LPM Last?

The Respironics Millennium 5LPM is a tried and true machine. It was designed with a single piston compressor instead of the more traditional dual piston compressor in most machines. This means less moving parts, less parts to service, and a lighter machine. It is typically good for 7,000 to 8,500 hours of use before needing to be reconditioned.

How Long will the Airsep Newlife Elite 5LPM Last?

The Airsep Newlife Elite 5LPM is an older machine, but extremely reliable. It has a time tested Thomas compressor, large Sieve Beds, and Electronic controlled plunger valves that almost never need servicing. This is an amazing workhorse of a machine. If you can get around their appearance, and their clunky sound, you will have a dead reliable machine for 10,000 to 12,000 hours of use.

How Long will the Invacare Platinum 5LPM Last?

The Invacare Platinum 5LPM is, in our opinion, about the best machine ever made. For the time, it was aesthetically pleasing. It’s in the middle of the road quiet. But it lasts the longest of any machine we have seen! We have several customers that have used their machine reliably for 10 years and it is still running! The truth, we have seen at least a dozen of these machines over the years, where the hour meter is stuck at 99,999.99 hours, and needs to be replaced! Now, I'm not saying the machine ran that long with no issues. It has undoubtedly been repaired several times to achieve that many hours, but that is a testament to how well these machines are made, and how long they last with regular maintenance! They are an outstanding machine. We typically see about 15,000 hours spent on these before needing to be repaired or rebuilt again.

THE NEWER 5LPM MACHINES

How Long will the Invacare Perfecto Last?

The Invacare Perfecto is a great machine. With most of its components derived from its predecessor the Invacare Platinum, this model has been running reliably for many years. You may ask "How is it different from the Invacare Platinum?"  The main differences are that all the parts were scrunched into a smaller and more compact case initially. This led to a higher operating temperature, which leads to the machines wearing out a little quicker. We typically see a usable life cycle of this machine being about 10,000 hours before needing to be rebuilt. After a rebuild, it should last another 10k hours or so. They are a great little machine!

How Long will Devilbiss Oxygen Concentrators Last?

Devilbiss has been making Oxygen Concentrators for a very long time...since the 1970s! They have a very good handle on how to make a quality machine. This compact lightweight 5LPM machine features a small GSE style compressor, a rotary valve that helps quiet the shifting noise all concentrators make every 10-12 seconds, and lightweight sieve beds that are easy to service. We typically see a usable life span of about 11,000 to 14,000 hours before this model needs to be rebuilt. Add in the fact that it puts out a little higher pressure at 9.5PSI, and you have a mini powerhouse of a machine able to push your oxygen through extra tubing if needed. We really like these machines, and make sure to read below about the 10LPM version Devilbiss offers.

How Long will Respironics Oxygen Concentrators Last?

Respironics knows Oxygen Concentrators. We feel they have hit a home run with the EverFlo concentrator. It is the smallest, quietest and most compact machine on the market! Weighing only 31 pounds, it is very easy to move. Featuring a tried-and-true Thomas brand internal compressor, larger than necessary sieve beds, and a reliable SMC brand 4-way valve, we typically see operating cycles of about 12,000 hours of use on these machines before they need to be rebuilt. This is super impressive, given its compact size! This is by far our most popular 5LPM machine we repair.

10LPM MACHINES

How Long will the Invacare Platinum 10LPM Last?

Again, the Invacare Platinum 10LPM is still an amazing machine. With the Compressor and 4-way valve being very similar to the 5LPM, they will stand the test of time. The Sieve Beds have a more concentrated material inside them to be able to produce the elevated 10LPM at a higher 10PSI. You can typically see about 8,000 to 10,000 hours of use before the machine needs to be rebuilt.

How Long will the Respironics Millennium M10 Last?

The Respironics Millennium M10 is just as reliable as the 5LPM counterpart. They generally operate for about 10,000 to 12,000 hours before needing to be rebuilt. Given how long these machines have been available, we see many come through our doors with 50k or 60k+ hours on them. Once they are rebuilt properly, they run as good as new!

How Long will the Airsep Intensity 10 Last?

The Airsep Intensity 10 is a true workhorse. They come in 8LPM and 10LPM variants. The 8LPM are scarce, as they made more 10LPM. Either the 8LPM or 10LPM versions are available sometimes with 2 flow meters so you can run 2 patients off the same machine at the same time. Very handy if you have a need for it!

These units are designed to run hard. At either 8LPM or 10LPM they are designed to push out a whopping 20PSI of outlet pressure. This is 3-4 times what most other concentrators are designed to do. This makes this machine a perfect fit for patients that need to use several hundred feet of oxygen tubing if they have a long Ranch style house. They are also a perfect match for people using Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers and is also a favorite for athletes using oxygen for their sports training, or for any individual using EWOT (exercise with oxygen training).

While being a good and reliable machine, they wear out quicker than other models just because of their higher output pressures. We typically see between 6,000 and 8,000 hours of reliable use of these machines before they need to be rebuilt again.

How Long will the Devilbiss 1025DS Last?

The Devilbiss 1025DS is another powerful machine. Designed to run at 10LPM and 20PSI. This machine is the most compact and light weight 10LPM ever made. They have the same footprint as the smaller 5LPM version and weigh only 48 pounds! These machines have a very durable compressor inside with extra thick gaskets which help the compressors run longer between intervals. We typically see about 9,000 to 11,000 hours’ worth of service life between rebuilt intervals.

This article delves into the fascinating world of Oxygen Concentrators, focusing on their durability and longevity. Oxygen Concentrators are essential for many patients, particularly those with respiratory conditions. While some use these machines only during the day or for specific activities, others rely on them 24/7, including during their sleep with CPAP machines.

The article categorizes these machines into older 5LPM models and newer 5LPM models, as well as robust 10LPM machines. Here's a brief summary of the key points:

Older 5LPM Machines:

• Older models may be larger, heavier, and noisier but are often more durable.
• The Respironics Millennium 5LPM is known for its reliability, boasting 7,000 to 8,500 hours of use before reconditioning.
• The Airsep Newlife Elite 5LPM, while older, is incredibly dependable, with a lifespan of 10,000 to 12,000 hours.
• The Invacare Platinum 5LPM is considered one of the best, with some machines running for a remarkable 10 years or more, accumulating around 15,000 hours of use before requiring repair.

Newer 5LPM Machines:

• The Invacare Perfecto is a compact and reliable machine, typically lasting around 10,000 hours before needing a rebuild.
• Devilbiss Oxygen Concentrators are known for their quality, and the 5LPM model lasts about 11,000 to 14,000 hours.
• Respironics EverFlo is highly popular due to its compact size and impressive durability, offering 12,000 hours of use before requiring a rebuild.

10LPM Machines:

• The Invacare Platinum 10LPM shares many characteristics with its 5LPM counterpart and generally lasts about 8,000 to 10,000 hours.
• The Respironics Millennium M10 matches its 5LPM sibling's reliability, providing approximately 10,000 to 12,000 hours of use.
• The Airsep Intensity 10, available in both 8LPM and 10LPM variants, is designed to run hard, with a lifespan of 6,000 to 8,000 hours.
• The Devilbiss 1025DS is compact and lightweight, running at 10LPM and 20PSI, and offers around 9,000 to 11,000 hours of service life between rebuilds.

This comprehensive guide outlines the durability and longevity of various Oxygen Concentrator models. It provides valuable insights for patients and healthcare professionals seeking dependable options to meet their oxygen therapy needs.