Ozone Treatment for Odors
At times, odor complaints can be difficult to resolve for the best IAQ professionals.
In most cases, the causes of the odor can be determined as mold, smoke/fire damage, open soil, or bacteria. Once you resolve the cleanup and the source of the problem, the odor will also leave.
However, in difficult cases no water damage is present, no mold growth can be seen, no smoke damage has occurred – there is just an unusual persisting odor. The first step is to perform indoor air quality test to know that there is not an elevated mold spore count or an elevated chemical gas (VOC) present. If results come back and there’s not an apparent health risk and there are no needed improvements to the property or heating and air system, we then employ methods to reduce and/ or eliminate the odor.
Ozone is a good option to treat for odors.
Ozone is 03 or three oxygen Atoms forced to combine. O3 is very volatile and wants to change back to O2 to quickly. The leftover oxygen atom attaches itself to the problematic odor. This changes the structure of the odor, oxygenating it and therefore changes the way the odor smells. This does an excellent job in places where cigarette smoke is being difficult to remove, smoke damage after a fire, residual odors after a mold remediation, or often the old building smell. Ozone can be dangerous for humans or pets during the treatment process, so the space should be unoccupied when the ozone generator is on and for several hours after the treatment process is finished to allow for dissipation.
Ozone treatments have been around for years and have been very successful in reducing or eliminating a property of odors. It is critical to know that there is not an ongoing source for the odor because if the source has not been eliminated, the odor will return and become even more frustrating the next go-round.
Some manufacturers sell ozone generators as a way to create good indoor air quality, however it is known that ozone can be damaging if used incorrectly. For more information go to and read over their studies for ozone generators.
The EPA does not recommend using an ozone generator on a daily basis. If you purchase your own ozone generator, do not occupy the areas where ozoning and allow for additional time for the ozone to dissipate. When used appropriately it is a safe method to treat for odors, however, it is best used by professionals.
We have helped many people remove odors from their homes, businesses, and vehicles using Ozone equipment.
Determining the source of an odor when it is not mold or fire damage can be extremely difficult. Most homeowners do not have the background to do so. Pick your indoor air quality professional based on their experience. Many indoor air quality professionals prefer only the easy projects where the problem is apparent and can be seen, but a good indoor air quality professional will work through all of the steps to remove or reduce your odor.
