Ozone Generators: Good for Deodorization?

7/13/2016 (Permalink)

Should ozone generators be used to reduce odors in homes/businesses?

Ozone generators, properly used, can effectively combat odors. But used inappropriately, they can cause health damages. Ozone can cause immediate and possibly permanent damage to your respiratory system. It is dangerous to breathe.

I mention this because we were called to a condo recently where a fire had taken place. The association's restoration contractor, a competitor of ours, placed an ozone generator IN THE COMMON AREA HALLWAY, spewing out poisonous ozone gas for all to breathe. Obviously, they had placed the machine 1.) to reduce odor; and 2.) they could bill for it.  In practical matters, however, this means anyone who was in the hallway was breathing this poison, exposing themselves to serious and potentially permanent health risks. Additionally it was likely seeping under doorways, into AC returns, and so on, affecting the individual unit owners attached to the hallway.

Of course, we turned off the machine when we went in to inspect our customer's unit, and politely notified the property manager. The next day we went back to start the job in the unit we had inspected, and -- voila -- the ozone generator was turned back on, in the common area hallway. We were less polite upon the next notification to the property manager, as we had workers in the condo unit and have to protect their respiratory health. We continued to return, discovering the same machine pumping ozone into the breathing space.

Bottom line: Hire a restoration contractor who knows what its doing and doesn't maim its customers with poisonous gases

Whether its water damage, fire damage, mold damage or even biohazard remediation, small scale or a large loss, you can rely on SERVPRO of Plantation's qualified Mold,  Fire and water damage specialists to give you peace of mind knowing we'll arrive faster to your disaster and make it "Like it never even happened". Call us anytime at 954-733-1006