Ozone Generators

[jay3534]

Do ozone generators kill musty odors permanently and does anyone use one?

 

[mikester]

I'd recommend an HRV or ERV instead. Ozone isn't good for your lungs.

 

[EarPlug]

Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners | Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) | US EPA

 

[rademamj1]

I read the article throughly. Its fully opinion based and just like the EPA, despite having a $9.1 billion dollar budget, they could not even take the time or money to study Ozone O3 Generators in their own labs to determine their usefulness.

I did read an independent laboratory study which indicated, the Ozone O3 molecules will scrub a room of cigarette smoke, by attaching to the smoke particulates and cleaning the air of that specific type of indoor pollution.

 

[the old grind]

Ozone will oxidize things in its envelope. It also works with UV to cause tires to dry rot, etc. I had an electrostatic air purifier that worked great, and had an 'ION' button but when I turned that on some 'composite' mat'ls in the house would get chalky or break down in weeks as if decades old. ('rubber boots', rifle recoil pads , and others.) Elastics sacked sooner and lost their stretch.

I Googled "ion vs ozone" & found that ion generators make ozone too, and it didn't take long for me to turn the ion feature off for good. Read a few of these search hits for the latest info on ionization and ozone. oozone vs ion - Google Search

We're told that while electrostatic purifiers DO work to remove airborne particles as a source of odor they won't reduce the smell. I collected a lot of tobacco smoke and dust on the electrostatic over three years and I learned that walls, furniture, and bachelor dust hold the stink for a while after the source is removed. For me that was a year or so after I gave up tobacco. YMMV

 

[cqaigy2]

I wouldn't use O3 generator in an area where i would breath. I'm glad the EPA didn't waste my money on testing something that's been thoroughly studied.

 

[dmccarty]

My parents used a ozone generator for a short time to remove smell caused by a leaky fridge water supply. It worked. They only used it for a short time and got out of the house when it was in use. Aired out the house afterwards.

People with boats will use the ozone generator to remove smells, but one has to know that the ozone can mess up people and some materials.

The generators are not a long term solution by any means but a way to removed the odor AFTER the problem causing the odor has been fixed.

Later,
Dan

 

[Fuddy1952]

I have one I use quite a lot.
I set timer and run...no people or pets in area. After a few hours I open doors, windows.

 

[ponytug]

Short answer to your question: no, ozone generators don't kill musty odors permanently. One time use to remove contaminates, like smoke damage, sure. You don't want ozone in your house routinely. As others have noted, it is hard on your lungs, and terrible on rubber, not to mention colors. It is well studied, and you need to ignore the pro-ozone material out there that is mostly sponsored by the companies making ozone generators.

So, sorry that things smell musty. I hate that smell, which comes with lots of mold spores, but thanks a whole other ball of wax. If things smell musty, you have damp and mold. I think that the better solution is to dry things out, e.g. ventilate the basement/crawl space, seal the space up and dehumidify the air. There's a separate thread here on dehumidifiers, with a number of great suggestions.

Good luck!

All the best,

Peter

 

[ultrarunner]

Good thread...

Pipe smoker lived in my home prior to me buying...

When HVAC is on not really noticeable.

But with everything off for few days the odor is noticeable.

Even had someone ask me if I smoked... which I never have but the pipe smoke lingers for years?

Not much carpet but I have yet to repaint...

Thought about getting something to freshen things up... but have not yet