Author Topic: Ozone Generators  (Read 3003 times)

bpleshek

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Ozone Generators
« on: September 16, 2016, 02:42:35 PM »
Greetings,

OK, I got into my new property and it's full of cigarette smoke/smell.  It's not outdoor dining smoking area bad, it's 1970s pool hall bad.  Does anyone have any experience with ozone generators?  I've read the good and the bad from many sites, but was looking for personal experience.  How good are they at cleaning out the air of bad stuff?

I've used the small time items like the Ionic Breeze at home and they *seem* to work on a small scale.  But the warnings from Sharper Image about using it with an active smoker in the room meant very frequently washing.  I was looking for something to "shock" the area.

Thanks,

Brian

PS I tried to do a forum search first, but it kept erroring out with database errors. 

Dancin'Dog

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2016, 02:48:14 PM »
I've heard that they work great, but you don't want to hang out in the room while it's bleaching the air because it is bad for your lungs.


bpleshek

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2016, 02:56:04 PM »
GreenEggs,

That's what I had heard/read about as well.  I was looking more for how well they work.  The property is vacant and I work, so I can run over night and during the next day to do it's job without danger of anyone being around.

Brian

Ensign1999

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #3 on: September 19, 2016, 08:38:01 AM »
I think you might be in for a more in depth fix if it is 1970s pool hall bad.  Walls/ceilings washed and painted.  Any fabrics such as curtains and carpets replaced.  All surfaces washed down.  If you have a drop ceiling (basement?) then all those panels would need to be swapped out.  Once a smoker has been in a place the smell is permeated into everything and it can be difficult to remove.  IMO an air cleaner/filter is not enough.

ender

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2016, 08:51:00 AM »
We looked into this as our house has had smoke smell (not as bad).

First, make sure you clean carpets/walls/shades/blinds and everything fabric. My guess is nothing has been cleaned in a long time.

In our case, interior smell went away with just that. We had considered buying an ozone machine online. They basically work by emitting a reactive gas (ozone) that breaks down organic particles, such as smoke. It has a relatively short half-life so it breaks down fairly quickly after permeating an area, but it is not something you want to breathe.

Many ozone machines have timers, so you can run them for X hours and then leave and come back, though you probably still want to air the place out.


bpleshek

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2016, 01:52:41 PM »
I spent hours over the weekend with TSP on the walls.  This was the suggestion from the paint guy.  Wash with TSP, then rise with TSP.  Repeat.  Then oil based primer, then whatever paint I want.  Said it should do the trick for getting the paint process to work.   It is a finished cieling in the basement and of course, upstairs, the cielings are all finished.  I'd really hate to have to replace all the ceilings.  The carpets are being removed and replaced with Pergo.  Might recarpet the bedrooms, but I'm thinking that if I just Pergo everything, then it'll be less likely the case to replace after a tenant switch which is usually been the case for me with carpet.

Gonna have to get into the ducts with a good cleaning.  We'll have to see about the ozone generator.  I ordered one and it comes in on Friday.  My thought for renting it out will be Oct 1.  So that gives me 6 weeks to get all the work done.  I'm hoping to finish the first cleaning of all the walls tonight.  Then repeat again tomorrow night depending on fatigue.

TheOldestYoungMan

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2016, 03:08:52 PM »
I had one experience with an ozone generator.  I have no info on the brand or model number.

It was about the size of a tennis shoe box, maybe twice as big, on that scale though, heftable in the one hand.  It plugged into the wall.

The landlord brought it over for a flat I was in in London.  He plugged it in, told me to stay gone for 24 hours.

The place went from smelling like a smoker was in my face blowing to couldn't even tell a smoker had ever been there.

My mind was blown, but the machine was gone, so I can't tell you specifically anything about it.  I had thought there was no way it could possibly work so I spent that 24 hours looking for a new place.

Totally worked though.

ender

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2016, 03:38:44 PM »
People use them to clean cigarette smoke out of cars, too.

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2016, 09:01:53 PM »
Would those impact upon the ozone layer?

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accolay

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2016, 12:37:32 AM »
I've washed the walls and ceilings in two smokey houses now. It's time consuming, but is free besides the elbow grease required.  I used a mixture of water, ammonia, washing soda in a spray bottle. Spray the walls and watch the disgusting brown nicotine reconstitute and drip down the walls. Wipe with paper towels. Then rinse with fresh water and large sponge. Change water often. Scrape off popcorn ceilings- there is no way to get rid of the smell from that.

Bobberth

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2016, 04:16:48 PM »
I bought a nasty smelling house in a great for cheap because of the smell. Smelled of pets, smoke and mold. I was shocked I wasn't outbid by a home-owner as it really was a steal. Tore out the nasty carpet, painted, tore out a half-assed attempt at finishing the basement that was the source of the mold and used an ozone generator. Tenant moved in saying he was worried about the old house basement because he has really bad allergies. He's been there 2.5 years and no problems. You can't even tell there was a problem it worked so great. Again, you don't want to be there too long as your lungs will get scratchy.

That $100-$150 ozone generator off of ebay made me $60k by allowing me to clean up that smell.

ender

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #11 on: September 20, 2016, 07:58:12 PM »
I bought a nasty smelling house in a great for cheap because of the smell. Smelled of pets, smoke and mold. I was shocked I wasn't outbid by a home-owner as it really was a steal. Tore out the nasty carpet, painted, tore out a half-assed attempt at finishing the basement that was the source of the mold and used an ozone generator. Tenant moved in saying he was worried about the old house basement because he has really bad allergies. He's been there 2.5 years and no problems. You can't even tell there was a problem it worked so great. Again, you don't want to be there too long as your lungs will get scratchy.

That $100-$150 ozone generator off of ebay made me $60k by allowing me to clean up that smell.

Yeah, killing mold is another benefit of ozone. It won't stop mold from growing if you have conditions prone to mold, but it does a good job obliterating micro-organisms.

bpleshek

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Re: Ozone Generators
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2016, 06:48:37 AM »
It arrives Friday. 

Brian

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!