What questions to ask when buying a hyperbaric oxygen chamber for home use
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This is the basic and most important element of the treatment. If the chamber creates pressure, it works, period. Pressure is the thing that pushes extra oxygen deep into the tissues and actually latest research shows that at least half of the healing with the therapy comes not from the oxygen but from the repeated pressure changes.
Often the added oxygen is not necessary and diving with room air is more than enough, because it has the most important element which is pressure. It´s mostly true for chronic brain and neurological issues because those do not need and sometimes even don´t tolerate higher dose of added oxygen. There are some conditions that can be sensitive to dosage:
- if the condition has to do with brain or nervous system – brain usually wants lower pressures, up to 1,5ata
- if the condition is chronic, not acute
With physical issues not related to brain or neurological issues higher pressure is sometimes more effective.
Home chambers usually have pressure up to 1,3 ata. 1,5ata chamber is much more powerful than 1,3ata.
Also, a thing to consider is that it is an investment for years. Your whole family can benefit from the chamber. Therefore it makes sense to have a more powerful HBOT.
As you know from the previous point, it is often not necessary. For brain and neurological issues using only room air works well usually. There is always an option to add oxygen generator later, if the person tolerates treatment well and wants to make it more powerful.
With physical or acute issues added oxygen can make a bigger difference, and can make the treatment more powerful.
If you have to decide weather to buy 1,5 ata pressure HBOT or 1,3 ata HBOT with oxygen generator, the higher pressure is more efficient.
If you want to add oxygen concentrator to the chamber, we suggest
Drive DeVilbiss 1025KS 10 litre.
Size and shape of the chamber »
This is the basic and most important element of the treatment. If the chamber creates pressure, it works, period. Pressure is the thing that pushes extra oxygen deep into the tissues and actually latest research shows that at least half of the healing with the therapy comes not from the oxygen but from the repeated pressure changes.
Often the added oxygen is not necessary and diving with room air is more than enough, because it has the most important element which is pressure. It´s mostly true for chronic brain and neurological issues because those do not need and sometimes even don´t tolerate higher dose of added oxygen. There are some conditions that can be sensitive to dosage:
- if the condition has to do with brain or nervous system – brain usually wants lower pressures, up to 1,5ata
- if the condition is chronic, not acute
With physical issues not related to brain or neurological issues higher pressure is sometimes more effective.
Home chambers usually have pressure up to 1,3 ata. 1,5ata chamber is much more powerful than 1,3ata.
Also, a thing to consider is that it is an investment for years. Your whole family can benefit from the chamber. Therefore it makes sense to have a more powerful HBOT.
Zippers relate to convenience, safety and durability. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers overall are very durable, but if something breaks, it’s the zippers. They receive a lot of handling and also zippers need to handle the pressure. The accidents of leaking pressure usually have to do with zipper breaking down.
There are certain hyperbaric oxygen chamber brands that have very inconvenient zippers (some with 3 layers), they are very hard to open and close, you need to use force and often there is a small leak because you couldn´t close the zippers fully. In this case it´s very inconvenient to use the chamber and some weaker people or persons who have mobility issues can have a lot of trouble. If you use the chamber to have customers, they will struggle to open and close zippers on their own. It also makes people more fearful about using the chamber alone and without assistance.
Brain Spa hyperbaric chamber has two layers and a gasket inbetween. Its completely effortless to open and close them and it´s rare to notice you have left a leak there while closing. They can be handled with ease, which also lowers the risk of breaking down the zipper accidentally. The chamber is more durable and lasts longer since the delicate parts are not breaking down.
In general, the more powerful the compressor, the better. Why – because you have better air flow inside the chamber. When a human being sits inside the chamber and breathes, then even with continuous air flow in, there will be some CO2 buildup. In order to clear that out, the better the air flow the less buildup.
More air flow also means less humidity inside from breathing.
More air flow also means that if there is enough room you can have two people inside. You have to have a good airflow to have enough air to breathe for two people.
When comparing the air flow of different air compressors, you also have to know that the output of air flow decreases under pressure and it is different for different compressors. If somebody tells you the compressor has X airflow, you have to ask how much airflow is lost under 1,3 or 1,5 ata for example.
It is unfortunately not uncommon that hyperbaric chambers are sold with really minimal air compressor strength to profit more from the sale.
Buying a cooler is usually an extra option. What one needs to know that pressurising the air will warm the air a couple of degrees. The more pressure, the more it warms. So under 1,5 ATA it may be felt more than at 1,1 ATA for example. 1,5 ATA chamber will warm the air about 4 degrees Celsius. If you are in a warm country or you are just heat sensitive then the hyperbaric chamber experience can get too warm for you. Also, the cooler takes down humidity a bit, which can also get high if you are breathing in the hyperbaric chamber.
So for example if there is a summer and your room already has 28 degrees - when you will go to hyperbaric oxygen chamber you will have 32 degrees there, it is hot and uncomfortable. If your room has 23 degrees and it will rise to 27 degrees, it's warm. Since you are relaxing and not moving around or exercising, most people find it ok. But it depends a lot on a person. Some people are very heat sensitive, and for them the hyperbaric oxygen chamber experience can get uncomfortable.
The inside temperature of the hyperbaric chamber depends on the room temperature. If you have air conditioner and can just switch it on for the hyperbaric chamber session so the outside air is cooler, then it is going to be fine. Also, a simple solution is also to open a window (if its not hot summer!).
Having a good warranty is a major component of buying an expensive treatment device that should last for years. Make sure you know what timeperiod is covered with the warranty and what does it include.
What parts of the hyperbaric chamber are covered with the warranty and what not? What events or damages do not go under warranty and are considered to be your own responsibility? What are the proper care instructions for keeping your hyperbaric chamber working correctly?
What if something breaks? How is the process of making a claim? What if there needs to be a shipping for the chamber - who covers the costs of shipping? Who covers customs and duties?
Warranty should answer all those questions so you have peace of mind knowing exactly what is covered and how.
Overall the hyperbaric chamber body is very durable. The parts that can be more prone to breaking are zippers and windows. In two years of usage those problems should already come out. So having the warranty for 2 years is really good for your peace of mind about this big investment.
Check the example of Brain Spa Hyperbaric warranty card here:
Warranty Card »
Noise level of the chamber can be different. Most often the values are around 50-60 Db. If you are sensitive to noise, make sure that the chamber has silencers on compressor and also inside the chamber.
Possibility to change automatic relief valves »
This is not offered by many sellers, but for people who are hypersensitive and need to start with lower pressure, the possibility to change automatic relief valves may be an important convenience matter.
When you blow air into HBOT at one point you need to start letting air out, because otherwise you would blow it up. This is where automatic relief valves come into play. When hyperbaric chamber reaches it’s top pressure, the relief valves open automatically, start letting the air out and keep the pressure constant at the selected pressure. So when you have 1,5 ATA chamber then the automatic relief valves open when the chamber reaches 1,5 ATA pressure. And then keeps it at this pressure.
When you want to use the hyperbaric chamber with lower pressure though, let’s say at 1,3 ATA, then what you need to do is not close the manual release valve (that you use for pressurizing and depressurizing) fully. You need to leave it half open and try to find a stabilization point where it will stay at 1,3 ATA. It is quite inconvenient process though because you close the valve a bit and then the pressure keeps rising… and rising…. And then it will get over the point what you intended. Then you open the valve back a bit, pressure lowers… and lowers… and then gets lower the intended point. It will get some time and tweaking and experience to stabilize where you need.
But with the possibility to change the automatic relief valves it becomes much easier - it’s really easy to change them. If you have 1,5 ATA chamber, you can actually change the valves to 1,1 or 1,3 ATA. So if you put 1,3 ATA valves on, then you don’t even have to think when you reach 1,3 ATA – you just close the manual valve and that’s it. Really simple. Really easy.
Pressure gauges inside and out »
It is good idea to get a gauge both inside and out. It’s often only outside. But if you are using the hyperbaric chamber on your own, you need to check pressure from inside.
Make sure you know if the compressor has filters and how often they need changing and what do they cost.
It´s important to know what time does it take to get the chamber. Ask about the production time and also shipping.
Shipping cost can vary a lot. Usually the shipping is by air, but it is expensive. Shipping by sea or land is more cost-effective. But be careful about proper safety of the shipping - there have been occasions where hyperbaric chambers from China are on their way for 4 months and get lost and are finally found (if lucky) in some other European country. Make sure the shipping is trustworthy and also includes insurance, in case the chamber gets damaged.
In USA you actually have to have a prescription from doctor to buy a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. This applies for chambers that are FDA approved there.
In Europe there is no such restriction and you can buy hyperbaric chamber if you wish, without doctor´s approval.
