Oxygen Concentrator vs Cylinder at Home: Which One, and What It Costs
For oxygen at home lasting more than a few days, rent a concentrator and keep a cylinder as backup. A concentrator makes oxygen from room air on mains power and never runs out; a cylinder holds a fixed amount, needs refilling, and is the thing you reach for when the power fails. Families who do it the other way round spend more, refill constantly, and run out at 3 a.m.
How each one works
A concentrator draws in room air, strips out the nitrogen and delivers 90–95% oxygen through a cannula, at a flow you set. It needs electricity and nothing else. A cylinder is compressed oxygen in a steel tank with a regulator; when it is empty it is empty, and it has to be swapped or refilled by a supplier.
Which one, by situation
- Continuous or nightly oxygen for weeks: concentrator, with one cylinder as power-cut backup.
- A few hours on a few days: a cylinder may be simpler — but check the refill logistics in your area first.
- Travelling or going for appointments: a small cylinder, or a portable concentrator if the prescription allows.
- Frequent power cuts: concentrator plus an inverter sized for it, plus a cylinder. Ask the supplier what wattage the inverter must handle.
Flow rate: 5 litres or 10
The prescription decides, not the shop. Most home use is under 5 litres a minute and a 5 L concentrator covers it. A 10 L machine is for a higher prescribed flow. Turning the flow up because the patient "seems breathless" is dangerous for someone with COPD — call the doctor instead.
What it costs
A concentrator on monthly rent, delivered and installed, is the price on Eldrly’s equipment page; running it costs roughly what a desktop computer does in electricity. A cylinder is cheap to hold and expensive to keep refilling; over a month of continuous use the refills alone usually cost more than the concentrator rental. Buying a concentrator makes sense only for oxygen that will be needed for a year or more.
Safety, both kinds
- No flame, cigarette, incense or gas stove in the room while oxygen flows.
- No oil-based creams or petroleum jelly on the face; use water-based.
- Concentrator a metre from walls and curtains, never in a cupboard.
- Cylinder upright, secured so it cannot fall, valve closed when not in use.
- Cannula and humidifier bottle cleaned daily; filters as the supplier advises.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a prescription for home oxygen?
Yes. Oxygen is a prescribed treatment with a flow rate and hours. A doctor sets it; the supplier installs to it.
How long does an oxygen cylinder last?
A standard large cylinder at 2 litres a minute lasts roughly 6–8 hours; at 5 litres a minute, around 3. That is why it is the backup, not the main supply.
What happens to a concentrator in a power cut?
It stops. Have a cylinder connected and ready, or an inverter that can run the machine for the length of your usual cuts.
Can I rent a concentrator for one month?
Yes. Rental is monthly, delivered and installed, and renewed month by month for as long as it is needed.