Yes, ozone generators can be very effective, but only if:
1) The concentration is six to ten times greater than the upper “safe” level of 1 ppm that the EPA guidelines recommends.
2) The “shock” duration is short. (long durations of 12 to 24 hours can break down foam in furniture and under the carpet) Forever Ozone instructs its customers on the Forever Ozone Shock Treatment Protocol which is short (30 minutes) and frequent (three times a day) which does not reach the ‘flash point’ to break down foam and which will not create harmful byproducts but will treat the odor sources in an unoccupied space.
3) You have enough ozone power, and the right machines to do the job right. Most machines run too hot and guess what? Heat destroys ozone. Most ozone generators are also designed without enough air moving capability to churn the air and create the ozone concentration needed to perform a short, high strength ozone shock treatment. Lastly, most machines are not designed to keep the ozone plate dry by having the fan bear down on the play with a strong wind. (Our Cool-Tec design) In other words, ozone works. Most machines won’t get the job done however.
So, to answer the question, “Do ozone generators work,” the answer is a resounding YES! Ozone Generators, if used correctly, can do things that many other cleaners can’t! Ozone generators can vastly improve your indoor air quality and YES, ozone can be used in green pest control to rid your home of pests without pesticides! If you search for “ozone generators” you will find pages and pages of search results trying to convince you that ozone is harmful and ozone generators don’t work. The reasons why, as outlined above, are obvious.
If you have a skunk spray inside your home, good luck getting rid of the smell with an air purifier.
If you burn something or have smoke damage …
If you have a critter or something die in your home and the funk covers every surface of your walls and belongings …
If you have a mite infestation that is driving you crazy and you don’t want to spray everything with pesticides … (which won’t work – they float in the air on dead skin)
If you want to treat musty mold smells on surfaces everywhere in an unoccupied space in 30 minutes ….
Good luck getting a positive result with an air purifier! I’ve blogged before on why air purifiers don’t work. It’s simple. We kick up dust every time we move around. Air purifiers lack the air moving capability to lower dust levels let alone remove what’s settled on surfaces! Your HVAC system – furnace filter IF you run your system in the “always on” position can filter all of the air in your home 2 times an hour, and if you utilize a MERV 11 air filter and an Induct UVC system, you can address most airborne issues, but you still won’t be able to reach surface odors UNLESS you perform an ozone shock treatment using our proven protocol! Folks who use our machines and follow our protocol tell us their odor, mold and mite problems are gone.
So, in the final analysis, ozone generators do work, when you use enough ozone, keep the shock treatment short, and run it only in an unoccupied space.
Related Forever Ozone Guides
- Ozone Sizing Guide: how many machines for your square footage
- Quartz Tube vs Ceramic Plate Ozone Generators
- Ozone Shock Treatment Advice: safe, step-by-step
For specific jobs, see our guides on ozone treatment for car odors and ozone generators for mold smell.