For many people, supplemental oxygen is a way of life. And for a lot of them portable oxygen concentrators make their lives a great deal easier. Whether it's from health problems or pollution, these machines are becoming more popular. At times it seems incredibly hard to get a wisp of fresh air or to breathe cleanly, particularly if you happen to be in the city. This has also led to numerous lung problems. Without excellent oxygen equipment many people would battle to breathe every day. And sometimes, even healthy people can use a portable oxygen concentrator.

For instance if you're exceptionally active and do large amounts of running, there are occasions when a portable oxygen concentrator is a good idea. And if it's a non-insurance need like this you may even look at purchasing a second hand machine. If you are planning to buy one, there are a few things you might want to know prior to making your purchase.

These machines aren't cheap, and will probably cost you between 3 and 6-thousand dollars. There are probably close to ten excellent machines to select from, and that is a fairly high figure bearing in mind it wasn't that long ago that not many people even knew what one was.

Before You Buy Take Into Account How Often It Has Been Used

It is crucial that you know how many hours have been put in by a second hand machine before you purchase it. The machine runs with a compressor, and that compressor will wear down quickly on a portable unit. Compressors on portable units may only keep going for between 6000 and 10,000 hours. Much lower than the compressor on a home machine that will go on for about 30,000 hours.

Where Should Your Get Your Unit?

You can begin by checking Craigslist and Google for units that haven't been used a good deal. There are also a lot of respiratory organizations that are involved in the business of used portable oxygen concentrators.

What Accessories Are Needed?

It is important to check if each of the accessories are present when you are making the purchase. The used portable oxygen concentrators for travel have AC/DC power supplies, a travel cart plus a battery. Carry cases are also included with a few models.

Obviously you'll want to make certain it is functioning correctly before you buy so you should turn the unit on. It is easy to tell when a portable oxygen concentrator is not running correctly. Most of these have screens that present an error message if the machine is not functioning properly.

What About A Warranty?

Check this carefully since it's extremely important. Generally it's not a good idea to buy a second hand portable oxygen concentrator if the warranty has expired. Again this is simple to tell. If the seller doesn't know you'll be able to ask an authorized dealer and he should be able to tell you. If the guarantee is out, check if you can get an extended warranty.

It is much better to opt for a second hand portable oxygen concentrator that has a guarantee. For if you're putting thousands of bucks into purchasing a second hand machine, certainly it is good to get a warranty available if you need it.

There is not anything wrong with considering used portable oxygen concentrators, particularly if your insurance will not pay for a brand new one. Just make sure you perform some research before you make your purchase.