How do ozone generators work?

Ozone (O3) is a gas that contains three atoms of oxygen, instead of the dioxygen (O2)  we breathe in the air. The third oxygen molecule in ozone makes it extremely reactive, binding to other molecules in the air such as gaseous pollutants and VOCs. 

Ozone exists in the upper layers of the atmosphere to protect us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. Closer to the ground, ozone is the crisp, clean scent that occurs after a thunderstorm.

Ozone is a powerful sterilizer and deodorizer. When odors, bacteria, viruses, or other pollutants meet ozone an oxidation reaction occurs. The third oxygen molecule of ozone binds to the pollutant, destroying it as it falls harmlessly to the ground. Ozone then reverts back to oxygen, which can then be safely breathed in. 

Airthereal ozone generators help remove gaseous pollutants and volatile organic compounds from your home or business. Exposure to high concentrations of ozone can be harmful to humans and pets, but ozone does not last long in the air in your home-- about 30 minutes at most. Do not occupy the area during ozone treatment and allow the space to ventilate for at least 30 minutes after treatment before re-entering.

How long does the ozone last?

There will be a distinct ozone smell in the room after using the ozone generator, like the clean and fresh smell of just after a thunderstorm. Ozone may remain in the air for 30 minutes to 4 hours and then reduce back to oxygen. Therefore, people need to carefully choose the ozone machine suitable for their room size. Higher concentrations of ozone in a room may take longer to restore back to oxygen.

Always use an ozone machine with an off-timer to reduce the risk of inhaling ozone. The machine will automatically turn off when its timer is complete. All Airthereal ozone generators come with a timer so that you don't worry about it.

You can start with the lowest ozone levels and increase the treatment time with odor removal.

How do I use an ozone generator in my car or truck?

If you’re using a wired unit, use an extension cord connected to a properly grounded wall outlet. Fully charged portable ozone units, such as the PA1K-GO, can simply be placed inside the vehicle and turned on.

Your vehicle’s air conditioning system can accumulate bacteria and dust, so when you ozonate your car, the smell can remain in the system for a while. To combat this we recommend shorter 10-15 minute ozone treatments per session. Turn on the recirculation mode on your vehicle’s AC during treatment and turn on the fresh air mode afterward, to help with ventilation. Frequent, short-duration ozone treatments are better for removing odors compared to infrequent, long-duration treatments.

The rubber, plastic, and upholstery in your vehicle may be oxidized during the treatment. This may cause some parts of your interior to fade or crack. As long as you are performing short-duration treatments, it should cause minimal long-term issues or damage.

Does ozone affect plastic?

Because of ozone's strong oxidability, plastics exposed to ozone can easily break down and fade. Pollution in the air, extreme heat, chemicals and salts are other known reasons for the breakdown of plastics.

Here are some tips to reduce the risk of damage to plastics:

1. Shorten the treatment time to 10-15 minutes and increase the frequency of treatment. Several shorter treatments will be more effective and less harmful than one long treatment cycle.

2. Remove or cover plastic items during ozone treatment if they can’t be removed from the room.

Will the unit help with mold reduction?

if the mold in question is out in the open, (visible on surfaces)  the ozone generator will kill the visible mold on surfaces as well as spores in the air. After repeated uses of the ozone unit, mold will change color, (gray to white) and you can then clean it off with bleach.

If mold is behind your walls or underneath surfaces, it won’t be exposed to enough ozone to eliminate it. So you would have to remove the non-visible mold in order to eliminate it permanently from your space.

If you can’t easily remove non-visible mold, you will need to use ozone periodically to kill the spores in the air as they form. That should prevent mold from growing elsewhere. If your house is very humid or damp, mold will likely form regularly. In that case, use ozone regularly to kill the spores in the air.

Can ozone generator kill bed bugs?

The ozone can't kill bugs directly. But the ozone generator works mainly to prevent the hatching of eggs of the bugs and to reduce the success of their reproduction, thereby effectively inhibiting bugs.

I've never seen dead pests from an ozone treatment, even when we run it very high and long. My guess is that the bugs can tell it’s bad and escape to another part of the house until it’s safe to come back, and then just return later.