Ozone air cleaner thing

When used correctly, ozone is extremely effective at eliminating odors and other substances, such as mold, bacteria, and viruses from the interiors of cars. At certain concentrations for prolonged periods, ozone is harmful to people and materials such as rubber. I usually only run my ozone generator for 15-20 minutes, with a maximum of 30 minutes. When it is done, I open the doors and the ozone is gone within a few minutes. I have used it to rid cars of smoke odors and rotten food odors. It is used of course in conjunction with other methods, such as carpet extraction and cleaning of vinyl and plastic surfaces.
 
brwill2005 said:
When used correctly, ozone is extremely effective at eliminating odors and other substances, such as mold, bacteria, and viruses from the interiors of cars. At certain concentrations for prolonged periods, ozone is harmful to people and materials such as rubber. I usually only run my ozone generator for 15-20 minutes, with a maximum of 30 minutes. When it is done, I open the doors and the ozone is gone within a few minutes. I have used it to rid cars of smoke odors and rotten food odors. It is used of course in conjunction with other methods, such as carpet extraction and cleaning of vinyl and plastic surfaces.
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I think that there are two devices, an ozone generator and a negative ion generator? Personally, I have a negative ion generator that plugs into the 12 VDC plug. It was over $50, so I don't think it is a toy. link: OZONE and NEGATIVE IONS: Frequently asked questions
 
My machine generates ozone gas using UV light. It generates it a sufficient concentrations to destroy odor causing molecules etc.
 
I have run my ozone generator in several vehicles without any problems overnight. It isn't something I use often, maybe a few times a year, but it isn't as though I sit in there with it while it runs. I put it in the vehicle, run it overnight, open the windows in the morning and let it air out for several hours afterward, and it works great. Is it dangerous? Sure, if you are dumb enough to sit in their with it while it runs. I've never had it affect the leather, vinyl, etc in an vehicle yet. In fact, I've usually already cleaned and conditioned/dressed such items before I run it. To me, the ozone generator is useful after doing a full interior detail, when something warrants it, such as a smoke smell that lingers, or a musty smell.



By the way, many of the hotels you have ever stayed in use ozone generators in their rooms to change smoking to non-smoking rooms, to cut down offensive odors, etc. They are used regularly in other industries other than just automotive.
 
brwill2005 said:
My machine generates ozone gas using UV light. It generates it a sufficient concentrations to destroy odor causing molecules etc.
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Not likely. UV will sterilize under the right conditions but it does not create ozone.
 
KnuckleBuckett said:
Not likely. UV will sterilize under the right conditions but it does not create ozone.
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It is highly likely. My machine is an ozone generator, and it does produce ozone using some type of UV light. If you do not believe me, check out the manufacturer's website; RGF Environmental. The product is the Mobile Pro Plus. Ozone gas is produced using either coronal discharge or UV light.
 
mcc said:
I have run my ozone generator in several vehicles without any problems overnight. It isn't something I use often, maybe a few times a year, but it isn't as though I sit in there with it while it runs. I put it in the vehicle, run it overnight, open the windows in the morning and let it air out for several hours afterward, and it works great. Is it dangerous? Sure, if you are dumb enough to sit in their with it while it runs. I've never had it affect the leather, vinyl, etc in an vehicle yet. In fact, I've usually already cleaned and conditioned/dressed such items before I run it. To me, the ozone generator is useful after doing a full interior detail, when something warrants it, such as a smoke smell that lingers, or a musty smell.
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I agree 100%, I use mine exactly the same way. I have never had it damage leather etc & I certainly don't breathe it. Used correctly, an ozone generator is a very useful tool. Good ones are not cheap, I paid over $600 for mine.



~John
 
Coronal discharge makes ozone just fine. Again it harms nearly everything it comes into contact with. Leather too. Every time you dose plastic, leather, etc with any ozone at all you are damaging the material. Small amounts of ozone can literally melt a graphite gasket in just a couple of weeks. FYI graphite is generally durable stuff even at high temperatures. I have seen it wreak havok on plastics in mere weeks of reasonably low exposure. All of our ozone generating equipment comes with devices known as de-ozonators or in some cases ozone annihilators. These protect the Teflon whetted pumps and exhaust lines. If an ozone anihilator fails the ozone will permeate the 1/4" thick exhaust hose and fill the area (25' x 75') in just a few minutes.



We use ozone for its reaction properties with nitric oxides. In a carefully controlled environment with excellent exhaust, safties, and air exchange rates.



This stuff is bad news. Avoid it.



Check out the Wiki noted above.



Then again you might not care. Same attitude smokers have.



Up to you! G'luck.
 
KnuckleBuckett said:
Coronal discharge makes ozone just fine. Again it harms nearly everything it comes into contact with. Leather too. Every time you dose plastic, leather, etc with any ozone at all you are damaging the material. Small amounts of ozone can literally melt a graphite gasket in just a couple of weeks. FYI graphite is generally durable stuff even at high temperatures. I have seen it wreak havok on plastics in mere weeks of reasonably low exposure. All of our ozone generating equipment comes with devices known as de-ozonators or in some cases ozone annihilators. These protect the Teflon whetted pumps and exhaust lines. If an ozone anihilator fails the ozone will permeate the 1/4" thick exhaust hose and fill the area (25' x 75') in just a few minutes.



We use ozone for its reaction properties with nitric oxides. In a carefully controlled environment with excellent exhaust, safties, and air exchange rates.



This stuff is bad news. Avoid it.



Check out the Wiki noted above.



Then again you might not care. Same attitude smokers have.



Up to you! G'luck.
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Sounds as if you have quite a bit of knowledge regarding ozone. What concentrations do you deal with? I am willing to bet they are super high concentrations, which explains the destruction you describe. My machine produces ozone in a concentration that seems to be both effective and non-harmful to the materials on the interior of a car. I have never seen it damage or melt anything. As a professional I fully understand the risks associated with ozone. I also know that it is extremely effective at removing offensive odors in my customer's cars. BTW, I do not smoke.
 
KnuckleBuckett said:
Try kitty litter in a basement or under a sink, etc. Works wonders, it is relatively cheap, and easy to use.
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I tried that.. my cats keep using it as their bathroom.... :grinno: :grinno:
 
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed an Air Quality index to help explain air pollution levels to the general public. 8-hour average ozone concentrations of 85 to 104 ppbv are described as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups", 105 ppbv to 124 ppbv as "unhealthy" and 125 ppb to 404 ppb as "very unhealthy".



Quote from Wiki.



Look humans can't even smell ppb (parts per billion) we start picking it up in mid to high ppm (parts per million). It is dangerous far below what you generator is producing.



A perfect daily real world exapmple of ozone damage over tiem might be foam. Check out the foam surrounds in a speaker. Now that is from typical atmospheric ozone in ppb over years and years. Light switches, unplugging the vacuum, lightning storms, etc. What you are generating is far (three orders of magnitude plus) over that. You may easily be creating ozone in the pph (parts per hundred).



Our instrumentation O3 generators make it in ppm and it is attacking the surface area of a nickel.



The damage you are creating in a car would cause premature leather cracking and or discoloration over time, foam and rubber seals that link the ventillation system would degrade, foam in the seats will degrade, the foam and or adhesives in the headliner would really take a beating, door seals, and so on.



It is not going to immediately cause issues in you or the auto, but exposure over time even in ppb is not cool.



You have to make happy customers, so you gotta do what ya gotta do, but anyone using this **** to clean their home air or regularly using it ANYWHERE are making a verifiable mistake.
 
KnuckleBuckett said:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed an Air Quality index to help explain air pollution levels to the general public. 8-hour average ozone concentrations of 85 to 104 ppbv are described as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups", 105 ppbv to 124 ppbv as "unhealthy" and 125 ppb to 404 ppb as "very unhealthy".



Quote from Wiki.



Look humans can't even smell ppb (parts per billion) we start picking it up in mid to high ppm (parts per million). It is dangerous far below what you generator is producing.



A perfect daily real world exapmple of ozone damage over tiem might be foam. Check out the foam surrounds in a speaker. Now that is from typical atmospheric ozone in ppb over years and years. Light switches, unplugging the vacuum, lightning storms, etc. What you are generating is far (three orders of magnitude plus) over that. You may easily be creating ozone in the pph (parts per hundred).



Our instrumentation O3 generators make it in ppm and it is attacking the surface area of a nickel.



The damage you are creating in a car would cause premature leather cracking and or discoloration over time, foam and rubber seals that link the ventillation system would degrade, foam in the seats will degrade, the foam and or adhesives in the headliner would really take a beating, door seals, and so on.



It is not going to immediately cause issues in you or the auto, but exposure over time even in ppb is not cool.



You have to make happy customers, so you gotta do what ya gotta do, but anyone using this **** to clean their home air or regularly using it ANYWHERE are making a verifiable mistake.
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Agree....ozone is known to be dangerous so why mess with it.
 
I can understand that repeated, long term exposure can cause damage to the interior materals on a vehicle (leather, rubber, etc.). Also, being in the car while the machine is running is just plain foolish.



But, using ozone once per year to eliminate odor from smoking, etc.... will this cause any noticable damage???



I ask because I'm led to believe that it's the most effective means to remove smoke odor.
 
Once a year?



No. I honestly do not think so. As long as you air the area out thoroughly afterwords.



Once a year is not a big issue as long as the time is kept under control.
 
KnuckleBuckett said:
Once a year?



No. I honestly do not think so. As long as you air the area out thoroughly afterwords.



Once a year is not a big issue as long as the time is kept under control.
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Thanks...that's what I would have thought also.
 
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