How to check Oxygen Cylinder Expiry date

Rhonda Murray
3 min readDec 13, 2022

--

We all know how important oxygen is for our survival. What some people may not know is that oxygen cylinders have an expiration date just like food and other perishables.

Knowing when your oxygen cylinder is due to expire is crucial for many reasons which we’ll explore in this blog post.

Why Checking Your Oxygen Cylinder’s Expiration Date Is So Important

Why You Should Check the Expiration Date

If you or a loved one rely on an oxygen cylinder to help with breathing, it’s important to check the expiration date regularly. Here’s why:

1. The quality of the oxygen inside can deteriorate over time.

2. Expired oxygen cylinders may not work as well as they should.

3. You could be putting your health at risk by using an expired cylinder.

4. Using an expired cylinder could void your warranty.

5. You could be fined if caught using an expired cylinder.

Consequences of Using an Expired Cylinder

As mentioned earlier, using an expired cylinder could have serious consequences for your health. If the quality of the oxygen inside has deteriorated, it could lead to respiratory problems or even death in extreme cases.

Additionally, if the cylinder doesn’t work as well as it should, you might not get the amount of oxygen you need, which could also lead to health complications.

Finally, if you’re caught using an expired cylinder, you could be fined by the government.

Consequences of Using an Expired Cylinder
Consequences of Using an Expired Cylinder

How to Check the Expiry Date

Checking the expiration date on your oxygen cylinder is simple and only takes a few seconds. The first thing you’ll need to do is locate the white sticker on the side of the cylinder. On that sticker, you’ll find a phone number and a five-digit code known as the lot number. The lot number is followed by four numbers that indicate the year and month of expiration (for example, 08/20 would mean August 2020).

Once you have that information, give the company a call and they’ll be able to tell you when your specific cylinder expires. It’s important to note that each brand has its own way of indicating when a product expires so make sure to check before assuming anything.

how to check oxygen cylinder expiry date

When in Doubt, Throw It Out

If you’re ever unsure whether or not your oxygen tank is expired, err on the side of caution and get a new one. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to something as essential as breathing!

When in Doubt, Throw It Out

Plus, most insurance companies will cover the cost of replacing an expired oxygen tank, so you don’t have anything to lose by getting a new one.

Conclusion:

Checking your oxygencylinder’s expiration date is incredibly important for many reasons including safety, quality assurance and liability purposes among others. It only takes a couple of minutes to do but could save your life in case of an emergency so make sure to check regularly! Stay safe out there!

--

--