Struggling with a mold issue at home? Perhaps you’ve heard about using ozone – a potent contender often touted as a mold assassin. But does it deliver on its promise? Is it safe for you and your furry companions? We’re here to demystify the world of ozone, exploring its effectiveness against mold and its safety when used at home. We’ll also delve into alternative approaches for dealing with mold issues.
In essence, ozone targets mold spores in the air, thwarting their reproductive abilities. It excels in prevention rather than post-outbreak remediation. Ozone is occasionally employed after extensive damage to eliminate lingering mold odors.
What Exactly Is Ozone?
Ozone, recognized as O3, consists of three oxygen atoms. It’s both a natural atmospheric component and a product of human activities. In its natural state, ozone acts as a protective shield high in the atmosphere, guarding against harmful UV rays from the sun. That invigorating scent following a thunderstorm? It’s due to a surge in atmospheric ozone.
The Properties of Ozone
Ozone, or O3, is a potent oxidizer, surpassing regular oxygen (O2) due to its extra oxygen atom. This additional oxygen atom eagerly attaches itself to other substances, making ozone remarkably reactive.
Ozone’s true power emerges when it encounters organic matter like mold spores. This is where ozone’s effectiveness shines. Here’s how ozone eradicates mold:
How Ozone Eliminates Mold
Ozone’s process starts with the oxygen atom within the ozone molecule breaking free and attacking mold spores, a phenomenon known as oxidation. This oxidation causes a chemical reaction that alters the spore’s structure and function, rendering it harmless. The spore transforms into inert organic matter that can’t grow or spread.
This process doesn’t just target one mold spore; the released oxygen atom can continue reacting with other mold spores or organic materials, creating a chain reaction of destruction against unwanted microorganisms.
Leaving No Residue
Ozone’s beauty lies in its residue-free nature. After fulfilling its mission, ozone reverts to regular oxygen, leaving behind no harmful by-products. This makes it a safe choice for mold prevention, as it doesn’t contribute to further contamination or pose additional health risks. In summary, ozone’s reactivity and oxidation properties make it a potent weapon against mold spores and organic matter. It attacks and neutralizes these intruders, leaving no harmful residue and providing an effective solution for mold issues before they escalate.
Using Ozone Generators
Ozone for mold treatment is often generated using machines called “ozone generators.” These devices produce ozone in a manner akin to spark plugs. While professionals handling substantial water damage or pest control situations typically use them, you can also purchase them online if you’re comfortable using one for a smaller-scale issue.
Other users of ozone generators include landlords, who use them to deodorize properties between occupants, particularly effective against smoke odors. Auto detailers may employ them to eliminate lingering smoke odors in used vehicles.
Is Ozone Safe for Humans and Pets?
In significant amounts, ozone is not safe for humans and pets. While you can use an ozone generator to treat your home, it’s essential not to occupy the same room during treatment. Exposure to ozone gas can lead to various respiratory issues, even with brief exposure, including coughing, chest tightness, and breathing difficulties. It can also irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
Extended exposure to ozone can result in conditions such as asthma, chronic lung diseases, and even death, particularly in individuals with preexisting respiratory conditions. To use ozone safely, follow these guidelines:
- Ensure that people, pets, and plants are not present in the treated area.
- Seal off escape routes for air but provide a small vent for oxygen, such as a slightly open window.
- Use fans or open windows after treatment to introduce fresh air.
- Avoid using ozone generators near heat sources.
- Unplug or shield electronic devices or remove them from the treated space.
- Only use an ozone generator equipped with a timer.
These precautions minimize health risks while maximizing the benefits of ozone in mold prevention.
How to Use Ozone to Eliminate Mold
- Prepare the Space: Clean the area thoroughly before treatment. Ozone can’t eliminate mold deep within materials like drywall or wood, so you may need to remove such porous materials.
- Dehumidify the Space: Ozone is most effective in a dry environment, so dehumidify the space.
- Vacate the Space: Remove people, pets, and plants from the area during treatment to avoid exposure to ozone gas, which can be harmful.
- Set the Timer: Place the ozone generator in the center of the space, slightly crack a window to allow fresh oxygen in, and set the timer for 1.5 hours. Multiple shorter treatments are more effective than a single lengthy one.
- Turn Off the Machine and Wait: After the treatment, the machine should turn off automatically if equipped with a timer. If not, use a smart plug to shut it off remotely. Wait for several hours for the ozone to dissipate before re-entering the treated space.
In conclusion, ozone can effectively eliminate mold spores in your home, but it must be used safely and appropriately, following proper cleaning and the removal of visible mold for the best results. Ozone’s potency as an oxidant necessitates careful usage around humans and pets.
For alternative methods of mold control, you can explore options like natural cleaners or hiring professional water damage restoration and mold remediation services. In summary, when it comes to the question of whether ozone kills mold, the answer is affirmative, but it comes with a responsibility to use it wisely and safely.
The Damage Control Article can be found here: https://www.damagecontrol-911.com/does-ozone-kill-mold/
Our Suggested Product for Mold Control is the Ambient Ozone Generator: https://www.oxidationtech.com/ambient-o3-rental.html
Ambient Ozone generator that produces 2.5 grams/hour. Ozone generator has an high-density ceramic and stainless steel electrode corona discharge system for making ozone, which makes for a very reliable ozone generator.
Compact, light weight and easy to use ozone generator that comes ready to use upon delivery.
Rental Terms:
-Pre-payment required for all rentals – payment can be made via credit card online
-Rental period is for term paid for, shipping time to and from customers location is not included in rental term and is not billed
-Shipping both to and from the customer is paid by the customer – Ground shipping is okay
-Equipment guaranteed to arrive in working order, any damage to equipment will be billed to customer
-Rental term can be extended at any time during the rental
-Discounts for longer term rentals apply, arrangements must be made up front
Key Features:
-2.5 grams/hr ozone production (2,500 mg/hr)
-30 hour programmable timer with ability to adjust the ozone output level
-Power supply overload protection
-8 foot cord (16/3 gauge)
-Effective for areas up to 40,000 cubic feet
-High-density ceramic and stainless steel electrodes corona system
Common Applications:
-Fire restoration
-Removal of mold, mildew, and other odors
-Deodorizes hotel/motel rooms, school rooms, offices
-Deodorizing cars, buses, boats
Operation:
1. Make certain all people, pets, and plants are out of area. Close all windows and doors.
2. Place the Ambient Ozone Generator on a shelf or tabletop as high as possible in the area to be treated.
3. Plug the power cord into a grounded, 3-prong outlet.
4. Set the timer to the desired length of time. Momentarily pressing the UP timer button for one second
will increase the time setting by one minute at a time. Hold the button for 1 -3 seconds to change
the time value by two minutes per second. Hold the button for longer than 3 seconds and the time
setting will change in 20 minutes increments. The maximum time setting is 29:59 hours. After
reaching the maximum time, the timer will wrap back to 00:00 and then continue increasing. When
the time is being decreased and reaches 00:00, it will wrap to 29:59 and continue decreasing.
5. Select the desired power level: 25%; 50%; 75% 100%. The Ambient Ozone Generator always defaults to 100%
when you plug it in. When the output level is set to 100%, the machine makes ozone continuously
until the timer runs out or the OFF button is pressed. At other power level settings, the machine will
produce ozone for the fraction of a minute the level is set at.
For example, if the output level is set to 75%, the machine will produce ozone for 75% (45 seconds) of each minute. At 50%, ozone is generated for 30 seconds of each minute, and at 25%, the ozone generation lasts for 15 seconds of
each minute. On any setting other than 100%, the ozone generator will be cycling the ozone ON and OFF.
6. Turn the unit on by pressing the ON button. Leave the area immediately.
7. When treatment is complete, ventilate the area completely until all smell of ozone is gone. Do NOT allow people, pets, or plants back into the area until all smell of ozone has dissipated.
NOTE: Ozone is a powerful oxidizer and must be used with care.