The head isn't the only source of
You haven't given me much to go on...does the whole boat stink, or only in the head? Inside the boat...or only out the tank vent when the toilet is flushed...or both? However... You'd be amazed at the number of calls I get from people who've replaced their whole sanitation system trying to get rid of what they thought was "head odor," when all they really needed to do was clean their bilge--I don't mean just dumpin some bilge cleaner and/or bleach, but really CLEAN it...including flushing ALL the dirty water out. 'Cuz a wet bilge in desperate need of a real cleaning is full of bacteria and other critters that can make a boat smell like a swamp or sewer. If your ice box drains into the bilge, that would accelerate the conditions that create odor. A sump in need of a serious cleaning can also smell like a sewer. So can the chain locker if it hasn't been cleaned in a while. If the odor is contained in the head, when was the last time you replaced the joker valve in the toilet? 'Cuz joker valves wear out in about a year, and when the slit becomes stretched enough to become a hole, odor from inside the head discharge hose can escape through the toilet. However, the first thing you should do is test the sanitation hoses for odor permeation. If none of those are the culprits, look for trapped water somewher under the cabin sole...start where the odor is strongest. Forget any electronic devices...they're only very expensive air fresheners. 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, “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 rave do 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, they can only remove the odors from the air, which you can do for a fractin of the price with a can of Oust. If they did deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of odors, it should only be necessary to run one 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 be anything else. Save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your odors. Eliminating the source is the only thing that really works. For more information about why ozoen generators have no place on boats, go here: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html and here: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/1999/99_62e.htm
