Oxygen Concentrator Question?

[PaulaR]

I have a quick question? I just went through hurricane Rita! My roof had some damage to it where all my glass stuff is located. I brought all my glass in but left the concentrator outside.

Now my question is an area around my concentrator is full of water. I have not turned it on. I am hoping that the water will dry up first before I do turn on the concentrator. I have concerete backer board on the floor and it made like a half moon just around the machine.
The wind blew the water in since it was coming across side ways,since we were not home during the hurricane, I guess that is what happened.

I am waiting on the insurance adjuster but that could take some time.

Would you trust using it? How long would you wait to see it it works?

I don't know if they will even pay anything on it. Who knows with insurance adjusters now. We had some roof damage to our home and lost a freezer and ice box full of food and just got power in on Tuesday. Thanks Paula :)

[Mr. Smiley]

I would put a fan on it and get it good and dry. Maybe even take the cover off and let the winbd blow through it for a while... then it should be OK. :D Glad you are alright and the losses were minimal! Good luck!

[CorriDawn]

Moving this to the area where it will hopefully get more answers. Mike, Dale, and Bill are awsome at answering this type of question!

[Dale M.]

MY take on the situation would be if concentrator has not been run (in wet location) so it could have drawn excessive humidly into it you should be good...

I would bring it into a dry warm location and let it stand for a couple of days so any condensation can dry out and then turn it on...

One of two things will result. Either it will work fine or it will fail...

I'm betting it will be ok!

Dale

[Justin L]

If its the Invacare you are talking about, I bet it will be ok :)

[MikeAurelius]

Sorry guys, but my take is different. If the unit has been exposed to high humidity, chances are the sieve beds are going to be affected.

I'd take the covers off and examine it for any rusting that may have occured from corrosion or salt water effects.

These are devices that are designed to be used indoors and not exposed to weather. The electrical connections alone are always at risk for corrosion when indoor appliances are exposed to wet conditions.

[Rebekah]

You may also want to take the cover off and close it in a room with a dehumidifier for a day or two. Those things are such blessings when you actually need them. Helped us big time when a fish tank broke once.

Rebekah

[Lisi]

You may also want to take the cover off and close it in a room with a dehumidifier for a day or two. Those things are such blessings when you actually need them. Helped us big time when a fish tank broke once.

Rebekah

I would invest in a dehumidifier too. I feel awful for you, I hate hurricanes! I was sooooo worried about rain getting in my studio during these last two and damaging my generator! :(

[PaulaR]

Hi thanks for all the helpfull advice. I do have a dehumidifier and I just started it going. I got really brave and turned the switch on the oxy conentrator and it works. I then turned it off and will let the dehumidifer run all day.
The building is sealed really good but with 70 mph wind nothing is safe. I think that it will be ok. Or I will not be able to do glass. I am keeping my fingers crossed. The filters had nothing on them. I couldn't get the cover off the seal was too tight for me.

We do live with high humidity that is part of living in Louisiana. But we are not near the salt water, we are too far inland by 150 miles or so.

[Justin L]

of course the machine worked. Once the power is off to the machine, the valves are closed. This prevents any outside air from going into the sieve beds. Im glad its still working for you :)

[Dale M.]

<snip>Once the power is off to the machine, the valves are closed. This prevents any outside air from going into the sieve beds.

That was also my thinking on oxycon while it was off....

Dale

[Justin L]

yup, its true. Once the machine is off, the valves are "normally closed" and prevent outside air from going into the sieve beds. Only makes sense, right?

[PaulaR]

UPDATE on Millennium Respironics Oxygen Concentrator 5 LPM. We took the machine into a local medical supplier and they ran some type of test and said that the seive beds and valves were closed. They replaced the filters and said that the machine was in good shape, no water damage inside, just a little dust. They delivered it today and now I am out of propane, just can't win for losing seems like.
The insurance company needed this to be checked out to determine whether it was something that was damaged in the hurricane because they would pay out on a claim.

Thanks for all the help on this matter. I really appreciate it. :)

[Justin L]

Heres a tip....always keep the shifting sound ("breathing sound") of the machine in the back of your mind. if it ever skips a beat, bring it in to get checked and you can save yourself from further ailments to it. Milleniums are real touchy and if anything gets out of sync, it can mean problems quick,