Has anyone tried an ozone generator for odor removal? I've been hearing really good things about them recently.
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Save your money...
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.
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.
Tried one
I tried one and they sort of work - as long as the ozone generator is running. Once you turn it off the odor begins to return. As Peggy said, you would have to get a very high ozone concentration to kill any mold/odors and that is corrosive to things and not good for your health.
I tried one and they sort of work - as long as the ozone generator is running. Once you turn it off the odor begins to return. As Peggy said, you would have to get a very high ozone concentration to kill any mold/odors and that is corrosive to things and not good for your health.
It's more than that, John...
If an ozone generator could produce enough ozone to kill the sources of odors, it could be left running for a couple of days when no one is aboard...then turned off until time, sea water etc combine to create new odors again. But the amount of ozone that retail ozone generators can produce is limited...it's not enough to kill off anything. Even if they could produce enough ozone to be more than an air freshner, that much ozone would also be corrosive and destructive to hoses and rubber parts on the boat...so you'd win one battle and lose other more important ones.
If an ozone generator could produce enough ozone to kill the sources of odors, it could be left running for a couple of days when no one is aboard...then turned off until time, sea water etc combine to create new odors again. But the amount of ozone that retail ozone generators can produce is limited...it's not enough to kill off anything. Even if they could produce enough ozone to be more than an air freshner, that much ozone would also be corrosive and destructive to hoses and rubber parts on the boat...so you'd win one battle and lose other more important ones.
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