ozone generators

[Alan23153]

Looking for an ozone generator for my hunter 31. Anyone have experiences with this item? Any suggestions as to brands, make, size, etc?

 

[knowitall]

Did you check the "archives" here???? Loads of information

(nm)

 

[sailingdog]

Not a big fan of ozone generators on boats. Ozone often attacks the rubber and plastics used in hoses and can cause them to fail prematurely.

 

[Maine Sail]

I agree..

Not a big fan of ozone generators on boats. Ozone often attacks the rubber and plastics used in hoses and can cause them to fail prematurely.

Not to mention the foam in your cushions... It can get expensive... Other alternatives include a dehumidifier and stopping or greatly minimizing the leaks.

I know you are looking for an ozone generator but perhaps we could help you save some money? What is the reason you want one? I'm going to guess boat odor?

I have quoted the queen of all things odor below:

Ozone in any concentration strong enough to do any good is not only a health hazard, it's also HIGHLY corrosive and destructive rubber, neoprene and flexible PVC—in other words, every seal, valve and hose on a boat.According to the EPA http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html“Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. The concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health standards to be effective in removing most indoor air contaminants. In the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce other chemicals that can be irritating and corrosive.”As for how well the portable ozone generators work when it comes to getting rid of odors...yes, people who’ve bought them do rave about how well they work. And, yes, the manufacturers do assure you that the ozone concentration is well below that which can present any health hazard. But if that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. If they did deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of odors, it should only be necessary to run it occasionally. But among all the people you know who’ve bought ozone generators, have you ever met anyone who has one who's ever been able to turn if off without having odors return? That should be enough to tell you that ozone generators are only very expensive air fresheners, because they don't deliver enough ozone to do any more. You can accomplish as much with a can of Oust, which costs a lot less. So save your money and do the work necessary to keep your bilges and sumps clean...Eliminating the source is the only thing that really works.

 

[ITMaster]

And I agree also, Ozone is highly reactive

to organics. Not as bad as pyridine or free bromine or flourine or chlorine, but it is some bad stuff. Doesn't support life mechanisims. In other words, pure ozone can have a lethal effect. For it to be of benefit in killing odors, it needs to be in a high concentration which is lethal.
I have been in manufacturing environments where we have had to shut down manufacturing operations and evacuate the facility while we shut down the source of it and introduced clean fresh air into the plant. Certain processes can generate ozone as a by-product which is what would happen in our facility from time to time.
What Maine Sail and sailingdog have said is next to gospel. The organics in your boat will react with the ozone and be ruined.
You should keep things dry in the boat, and try to keep cabinets opened up with good circulation, not allow mold and mildew to form and keep everything clean if you don't want offensive odors. This time of year with temperature fluctuations it is easy to get a condensate formation in the boat, especially if you try to keep the boat in the water and use a heater, and that gets everything wet and damp and then in the day time, when the boat is closed up and the sun heats it up, you create a great environment for the growth of the sources of the odors. If you get a mold or mildew problem, and the by-product odors, try some Sporocidin. It is spendy at 25 bucks a gallon, but effective. It is used in hospitals and is an effective agent for microbial and bacterial control.

 

[sailingdog]

Hmm... looks like a consensus on ozone generators is building.

 

[Lyle]

There are some benefits

I have used an ozone generator sparingly for years and it does help to keep the odor down on the boat. I agree it will definately NOT eliminate the source of the odor but it will help to remove it after the source is eliminated (which a deodorizer will not do). I also would only use it in moderation and while no one is on the boat. I have mine on a programed timer and operate it no more than an hour or so a day when required. I have not experienced any of the premature breakdown of hoses and seals that other posters have warned about but I do agree that ozone is known to affect certain types of rubber over time if used in high doses and for long periods of time.

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Dubious benefits

A can of Oust and some Febreze (properly used) will accomplish just as much for a fraction of the price.

 

[novelman17130]

I have used a small ozone generator on my 22' Venture for some time and it does a great job of eliminating odors. But the best use has been to kill mold on my closed boat as well as preventing it in the first place. I also sold a larger one to a friend with a 28' sailboat that he owns and he uses it with a timer. He tells me that all of his odors and mold have been eliminated and not come back in the 2 years he has used it If interested e-mail me at novelman@roadrunner.com

 

[sailingdog]

If you don't want mold on your boat, keep the boat well ventilated and dry. If you can't keep the boat dry, keep looking for the leaks...cause they're probably causing a lot more damage than just getting the interior of the boat wet.

 

[Ross]

If you don't want mold on your boat, keep the boat well ventilated and dry. If you can't keep the boat dry, keep looking for the leaks...cause they're probably causing a lot more damage than just getting the interior of the boat wet.

I have been preaching ventilation ever since I joined this forum, IT WORKS! The house I am working on has been neglected for 30 years, there are major roof leaks and most of the glass is out of the windows. There is no mold or mildew odor in the house. The wind blows through the open doors and windows and dries the rain water before mildew can start. There are piles of plaster sand on the floors in places under the roof leaks and they stay damp and have cause the floors to rot in those places. Ventilation is the best and least expensive and least complicated cure you can get for a smelly place whether if be a boat, a house or a barn.

 

[Ray T]

re: boat odors

As some have suggested the key to a fresh smelling boat is ventilation. When you leave the boat, open all the cabinets and if you have one open the access to the bilge. A bilge with stagnant water can really stink. I would strongly recommend a solar ventilator. I have used solar vents on three of my boats with great results and they reduce or eliminate mold.. Ray T

 

[48dodge]

The job I just left used ozone generators all the time (fire and water damage repair company). But these were "real" ozone generators which were only run for a few hours in a house. They did an amazing job on smoke odors. That's all we used it for, though. If there was mold or mildew odor, we would always remove the source of the smell. If you have a "disaster" company where you are, you may want to see if you can rent their generator from them for a couple hours.

 

[svenusa]

Ive also seen these at car dealers.. If you have bad odor from your A/C system, they will sometimes put the ozone generator in the car for a few hours to freshen it up..