How Is Ozone Beneficial in Removing Odours?
Ozone is very effective because it will circulate throughout an area and eliminate odours at their source. It actually oxidizes pollutants as it encounters them, whether they are in the air or on surfaces. These include odours from tobacco smoke, food and beverages, body sweat, mold and mildew, animals and pets, garbage, remodeling and many more odour producing substances. It will also follow the same path that the odours took into soft fabrics and oxidize them on contact. Unlike deodourisers, it does not leave a smell or chemical residue in the facility, which some people find objectionable. The treated area becomes free of odours.
How Much Ozone Is Needed to Eliminate Odours in a Particular Area?
Each space that has developed an odour is somewhat unique, so square footage is not always the best way to determine how long the treatment should be. For example, if a hotel room was smoked in for one evening, a 20 or 30 minute treatment should eliminate the odours. However, if the room had been smoked in heavily for a week, it could take several hours of treatment. And to convert a smoking room into a non-smoking room could take as long as 24 hours to eliminate the odours. The ozone output of the EcoBox generators is rated in milligrams per hour. In general, the higher the output the less time it takes to eliminate odours.
How Easy is it to Use and Install?
Just plug in the unit, select an Ozone Output level on the dial and set the Timer. Close off and vacate the area to be treated, and let the EcoBox do its work. Upon return, make sure the unit has been off for 45 minutes or an hour before reoccupying the space. Unwanted odours will have been oxidized and the area will smell fresh and clean.
What Maintenance is Required?
The primary maintenance involves the ceramic plates, which need to be cleaned about every three months or so, depending on the environment and the amount of use. They are easily removable from the back of the EcoBox like a CD. So there is no need to disassemble the generator for cleaning, as with other manufacturers. Simply wash the plates with soap or a spray cleaner, then rinse and dry completely. Typically, the plates last 2 to 3 years depending on the environment and use. An optional filter is also included that helps keep the plates clean for a longer period of time. Replaceable plates and filters are available.
How Is Ozone Purification Different from Air Filtration?
Air filters trap particles that are floating in the air onto a membrane as they are drawn into the filter. They normally do not have an impact on odours, but in some cases, certain gases can be trapped as well. A pollutant must get passed through the membrane in order to be captured, so filters are unable to affect the source of the odours. Ozone generators on the other hand, send out O3 into the treatment area to oxidize and remove odours at their source.
How Is Ozone Purification Different from Deodourisers?
Most deodourizers use a chemical formulation to counteract odours combined with fragrances to help cover them up. The chemicals and fragrances used in deodourisation will normally leave some residue in the air and on surfaces. Some people find these fumes unpleasant, while those who are highly sensitive to chemicals may have a reaction. Ozone, on the other hand, is designed to oxidize odours at their source. It usually dissipates less than an hour, leaving the air smelling fresh and clean, with no residue. In fact, it will even eliminate the heavy smell that can linger from a deodouriser.
Is Ozone Safe?
Yes. Commercial ozone generators are designed for use in unoccupied spaces. Shortly after treatment the O3 will revert back to O2, leaving no chemical vapors in the air or residue on surfaces. At the same time, ozone is powerful sanitizer and excessive ozone concentrations may cause mucus membrane or respiratory irritation, and can affect people with asthma. Several years ago, a concern developed when consumer air purifiers began to incorporate ozone and were marketed as around the clock units for homes and offices. The possibility of long term exposure for consumers resulted in a notice of caution by government agencies. Therefore, it is always best to use ozone in unoccupied spaces as recommended.
How is Ozone Created in Polluted Cities?
Since life began, nature has created ozone on earth as a result of sunlight striking gases being emitted from decaying matter, keeping the planet fresh and clean. This is nature's response to pollution in the air. When automobiles and industry pollute the air in our cities, UV light from the sun strikes these emissions, creating ozone as one of the byproducts. Burning fossil fuel also creates very fine particulate as well as numerous chemical compounds, but ozone is easy to measure and used as an overall indicator of pollution. Cleaner burning fuels, more efficient engines and exhaust reduction devices have begun to slowly improve air quality in many US cities.