Do ozone generators really kill mold spores? (2023 Update)

[bird_222]

Do they need to be particular size/intensity to work? Also is there some kind of test kit that you can buy to test for mold?

Thanks!

[HeyBub]

Probably. Won't hurt to try. As you probably know, Ozone generators are used to rid a space of smells from dead things and very dead things. A true electrostatic generator inside an A/C return produces Ozone.

Ozone degrades into Oxygen fairly quickly (in minutes).

[ransley]

Google up Negative Health effects of Ozone and you will find alot of studies that show you dont want to be around added ozone. Several gov bodys have Ozone exposure limits that are specific in amount and time of exposure. Most simply it oxidises your lungs and the effects can easily be noticed by people with lung issues. For a vacant place its ok but not for where you will live and breath it. Laundry bleach kills mold, but you have to stop the leaks and conditions that are allowing it to grow in the first place. It seems like you have mold, but you are taking no action to correct the defects that are making mold a problem. Even with a ozone generator, it may kill it now, but it will come right back until you fix the problems

[Jon Danniken]

This is pretty much my understanding of it as well. Mold abatement isn't accomplished by plugging in an appliance.

There is also the degradation of certain items from the oxidative ozone molecule, which can release a plethora of toxic compounds into your living space, and cause odors.

Jon

[Litus Arare]

The unit is plugged in and the house is left unoccupied for a couple of days. Upon return the unit is turned off and the house is aired out for a couple of hours. Maximum exposure time to the ozone is maybe two minutes. It's completely harmless if used properly.

It does kill all of the mold, but the underlying cause still needs to be addressed.

[ransley]

sn't accomplished

molecule, which

No its not harmless 03 is an oxidant, many things oxidise, tire rot for example is oxidation. You are thinking ozone generator sales pitch, not what ozone does.

[Jon Danniken]

Yep. He's also completely ignoring that an Ozone generator requires a pure source of oxygen, while what is commonly sold as an ozone generator produces mainly NOx gasses that degrade a wide variety of synthetic materials.

Jon

[Nonny]

I have one I purchased from a Canadian manufacturer. It produces

5 GRAMS per hour and is a commercial-type unit. Unlike some folk, I really like it, but use it sparingly. For instance, in a past home, I had it controlled with a timer to come on 3 days or so before we planned to return from a trip. I had it run for 24 hours and then let the ozone degrade for the 2 days before we walked in the door. If there was any odor at that point, opening windows for a few minutes took care of it, and the house would then have a fresh scent. I never noticed any degraded items in the house and certainly never breathed the ozonated air inside the house when the unit had been run.

The units are used frequently here in Las Vegas at casinos and restaurants to clean up the air from smokers. I've also seen them used for brief periods in hotel rooms or aboard ships where someone has sneaked a cigarette in the room or cabin, or following carpet cleaning, with its musty smell.

Nonny

[HeyBub]

Can you share where you got it and what model?

[RicodJour]

That's the way to do it, if you're going to do it.

Ozone does kill mold spores, but it does not penetrate deeply. Mold growing in carpeting won't be killed. If someone can come up with a way to kill mold simply and safely without resorting to bleach, scrubbing and a lot of labor, there won't be a bank big enough to hold all of the money.

R

[Nonny]

Glad to.

and it's the Pro 5000. It uses 5 mica plates and seems to be well built. I once needed to replace a mica plate and emailed the company. They only sold them in sets, but the person at the company said he'd send me just one- and it would be free. I told him I appreciated it, but that I didn't want him to get into any trouble over it. He replied that since he OWNED the company, it would be OK, and thanked me for my concern.

Nonny

[Nonny]

I agree. I like the Ozone generator to freshen up the house's smell. We're in the process of locating a 1-story home to replace our present 2-story one here. When we close on a new one, it's going to get several days of Ozone before we even start moving stuff in, and perhaps another day of it after the move, but before we occupy the place. I also have used mine in the bathroom- first running the hot shower for a few minutes, then giving it an hour or two of ozone to kill smells and mold. It also works well in the auto overnight.

Nonny

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Treat the cause, not the symptom.

[Andy S.]

I have not found ozone generators kill mold spores. Ones that are part of a heating system create too much ozone and so a filter must be bought to reduce the ozone. They are good air filters but don't get rid of mold.

[Caesar Romano]

On Fri, 9 Jul 2010 22:40:07 -0700 (PDT), "Andy S." wrote Re Re: Do ozone generators really kill mold spores?:

+1 on that.

[bird_222]

Thanks for the responses so far. This is the situation. Our ductwork and central unit got flooded. We are going to replace everything. However, we were told by one duct cleaning company that he saw mold. So we of course got a little freaked out. Like I said we have since decided to replace everything, but I am wondering how we can tell if there is mold in the air and if so how can you get rid of it?

[Caesar Romano]

On Sat, 10 Jul 2010 08:37:56 -0700 (PDT), bird [e-mail] wrote Re Re: Do ozone generators really kill mold spores?:

As well you should.

[Nonny]

, but I am wondering how we can tell if

A testing laboratory is the best solution for this. They will set up a tripod in a suspect area and place a small unit with an air pump and filter on it. The air pump sucks in a precisely measured amount of air over a period of time, pulling it through the new, sterile filter. The filter is then removed and sent to the laboratory to be tested for the amount and type of spores found. You'll get back a letter giving you a clean bill of health or a letter telling you the problem and its intensity.

Nonny

[Litus Arare]

That it is. That's why it kills mold. I never stated that zero prep was involved, only that the device is effective.

What is your solution? Rip everything out and douse with chemicals?

[Litus Arare]

Erroneous presupposition.