If you’re using an oxygen tank for healthcare, whether it’s for you or for someone else, it’s important to know how to refill it. This is an important part of using one that you’re going to need to do correctly.
Although there are many types of oxygen tanks, the most common home therapy oxygen tanks can be refilled by someone without any professional knowledge by using a home-fill device.
In this article, we’re going to cover how you can refill your oxygen tank with a home fill system. We’re going to explain this to you in an easy series of steps so that you can rest assured you’re performing the process correctly.
We’ve also included a short FAQ that will help answer any additional questions you may have at the end.
What Is A Home Fill System?
Oxygen tanks are essential pieces of equipment for people who require supplemental oxygen.
With a home fill system, you’ll be able to refill your oxygen tank quickly and easily, without needing the help of a professional, or visiting a medical supply store.
Although home fill systems are simple to use, there are a few key things you’ll have to make sure of before you can be sure you’ve refilled everything correctly.
In the sections below, we’re going to give you a step-by-step guide to how you can do this.
How To Refill An Oxygen Tank Using A Home Fill System
1. Connect The Refill Machine
First off, you’re going to want to connect your refill machine to your home’s electrical outlet. This will give your machine the power needed to work its magic.
Make sure that the socket is securely inserted into the outlet before turning the power on. Ensure that your refill machine is on and functional before starting the next steps of this process.
2. Perform Some Checks On Your Oxygen Tank
Before filling the tank, make sure that you take a moment to look over it. Check for debris around the opening that could fall inside, also make sure that it is free from any type of leak or crack.
Make sure that you do this before committing to filling up your tank. If you do find anything amiss, swap it out for another oxygen tank, or go and get your tank repaired.
You will also want to ensure that your tank is off by aligning the ‘off’ option with the tiny triangle at the top of the tank. Make sure you check this before committing to a refill.
Another thing you’ll need to do is ensure that the contents of your tank are below 1000 PSI—if they’re not lower than this, then it will be unsafe to refill.
3. Adjust The Flow Meter
The flow meter on your refill machine is the dial that regulates the flow of oxygen into the tank.
This is an important thing to note because you’re going to want to make sure that it’s set at the correct flow rate before you begin to refill your tank.
Your flow rate is going to have been already provided to you by your doctor. If you don’t know this, make sure you find it out before you refill your tank.
Once you know this flow rate, use the knob attached to the flow meter to move it to the right number.
4. Connect The Cylinder
Now that you’ve got everything ready, it’s time to remove the protective cap from the top of the tank and connect it to the fill port on the refill machine.
Most machines will make a clicking noise that will notify you when it’s in place. We’d recommend double-checking that it is suitably connected before you move on to the next step.
You can do this by gently pulling on the oxygen tank to see if it is properly attached.
5. Turn Your Refill Machine On
Next up, you can turn the refill machine on. From here, it will start to refill your tank. There’s no set time for how long this process will take, and it will depend on the size of your oxygen tank.
Depending on the refill machine you have, there should be some kind of visual indication that will notify you when the tank is full.
6. Carefully Remove
Once your oxygen tank is full, you must turn the refill machine off before removing it. Push down on the connection port, and remove your newly filled tank of oxygen.
Important Note—For Those Who Don’t Have A Home Refill Kit
It’s very important that you make sure to go to a healthcare professional to fill up your oxygen tank if you don’t have a home refill tank, or don’t know how to properly use one.
Make sure to be careful with this process, especially if the oxygen is being used for someone’s healthcare.
Final Thoughts
To conclude our short guide, the most important thing to do when refilling an oxygen tank is to make sure you don’t skip any steps.
Ensure that you do the same thing every time so that you can stay safe and make sure that you don’t damage any of your equipment.
Using a home refill machine is a great way to make oxygen readily available, but it is a process you should take seriously.
We hope that this guide has helped you to understand the basics around refilling an oxygen tank with a home refill machine and that you’re now more confident about this process.
If you still have some questions in relation to this issue, check out our short FAQ section below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take To Fill An Oxygen Tank?
This can depend on the size of the oxygen tank in question, but it generally will take several minutes to fill up to maximum capacity.
What Should I Do With My Cylinder Once I’ve Removed It From My Home Refill Machine?
You should store it in a safe place, making sure to keep it away from heat sources, or flammable materials, until you are ready to use it.
