Ozone for Odor Control

[sbu22]

Due to an ongoing engine room project, the interior of the boat smells like an old time mechanics garage with the grease pit. A little fuel, lube oil, an open (head removed) engine, etc. All the sources are are cleaned up or removed and the engine shrink wrapped, but the funk persists.

I once had a rental unit where the tenants turned the place into a smokehouse. After thorough surface cleaning, the smoke odor persisted. I rented an ozone generator, used it for a while, and was amazed at how effective it was.

I think I know that ozone is hell on rubber and certain plastic types. I want to use it on the boat. However - given the extent of rubber in engineering systems as well as general usage on the boat - Would I be running an unreasonable risk using O3 to de-odorize? Anyone with experience to share?

As always, appreciate the help.

 

[MYTraveler]

Ozone is amazingly effective at removing odor that seems to cling to surfaces, especially porous surfaces, once the original sources is removed.

I don't remember why, but the inside of my boat had picked up a smell. That smell lingered even after I had removed the source and cleaned its surrounding area. I don't remember how much ozone I generated or for how long (it was an ozone machine I purchased from Amazon for a few hundred. It was effective at removing the smell, however I notices that some of my rubber/plastic surfaces had become sticky. The worse affected were my Stidd chairs, but most surfaces were not impacted at all. After some research, I found that the affected surfaces could be restored with olive oil, as I recall. (Some internet research should confirm or point you in the right direction.) In any event, that was at least 5 years ago and the Stidds remain good as new with no hint of ozone damage.

 

[ScottC]

A few years ago, I had a really bad odor inside due to a slipping clutch on the last voyage of the season. I asked about an ozone generator to remove the odor, but my yard would absolutely NOT use an ozone device due to the risk to rubber components. They used some type of "ionization" machine, letting it run for a couple of months while in storage for the winter. It may not be as effective as an ozone generator, but it seemed to work well enough for my situation.

 

[Comodave]

Peggie Hall recommends some chemical cleaner but I don’t recall what it was. She said clean up the area first then spray the chemical and it would remove the odor. Sounds like you have done the cleanup so maybe contact Peggie and ask her. PM The Head Mistress and ask.

 

[rwidman]

Ozone will damage rubber and possibly corrode metal (including electrical wiring and connections). The OP of my boat had an ozone generator in the head near the electrical connections and they are all black.

I think I would try other methods first.

 

[Choices]

We run one for a hour after the boat has been closed up for weeks. Works great.

 

[Bmarler]

Maybe try this: https://www.amazon.com/Biocide-Syst...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Star brite makes something similar, but the name escapes me. It’s aimed at musty smells but might be worth a shot.

 

[Comodave]

I copied this from one of Peggie’s posts about smells.



Apparently odors are really tough to get rid of in boats.

Not really if you know what works and--most importantly--how to use it. And since you, along with several others are fairly new around here, I prob'ly need to say again that I'm not in any way associated with any product or equipment manufacturer, nor do I receive any compensation whatever for recommending any product or manufacturer. My opinions are my own and my recommendations are based on my own experience and that of boat owners over several decades. And I've included most of it in my books (see link in my signature).

Now that we have that out of the way.....

There's a product called PureAyre PureAyre that will get rid of every trace of the residual odor in your fridge(fwiw, the same thing happened a couple of times on my own boat) ...it even eliminates diesel and smoke odors...and it's rated for use around food, so it's safe to use in your fridge. Amazon has it...so do pet stores...Walmart may have it. If you only have to treat the filters and the fridge, you prob'ly only need the spray bottle size, although it can't hurt to have a gallon hand 'cuz you'll never know when you'll need it again. It's the best thing I've ever found to get rid of any residual odor. The "household" version is the least expensive and works just fine on boats.

Assuming that you've already thoroughly cleaned every surface, nook and cranny in it, take everything out of it and spray PureAyre onto every surface, nook and cranny in the freezer and door too...don't just aim it at the inside of the fridge, carefully coat every milimeter of it with a fine mist that coats everything..Then prop the door open so air can circulate and let it dry overnight. Wipe it all down with a clean damp rag and stick your nose in...if you can smell anything, you missed a spot.

I don't know whether your HVAC filters can be saved or not...but you have nothing to lose by spraying those with PureAyre too. Again, cover every square milimeter from both sides, then put 'em outside in the fresh air to dry. If that doesn't work, you'll have to replace the filters.

Peggie
"If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't completely understand it yourself." --Albert Einstein

 

[Comodave]

Here is one of Peggie’s posts on ozone.


Ozone in any concentration strong enough to do any good is not only a health hazard, it's also HIGHLY corrosive and destructive to rubber, neoprene and flexible PVC-in other words, every seal, valve and hose on a boat.

According to the EPA, "Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. The concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health standards to be effective in removing most indoor air contaminants. In the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce other chemicals that can be irritating and corrosive."

As for how well the portable ozone generators work when it comes to getting rid of odors… yes, people who've bought them rave do about how well they work. And, yes, the manufacturers do assure you that the ozone concentration is well below that which can present any health hazard (but they don't tell you that's because it's required to be) But if that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. If they did deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of odors, it should only be necessary to run one occasionally. But among all the people you know who've bought ozone generators, have you ever met anyone who has one who's ever been able to turn if off without having odors return?

That should be enough to tell you that ozone generators are only very expensive air fresheners, because they don't deliver enough ozone to be anything else. Save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your odors. Eliminating the source is the only thing that really works.
__________________
© 2023 Peggie Hall

 

[tagillette]

I know it sounds crazy but try leaving ground coffee sitting open have had good results just leaving can sit open can spread out on platter or something have also spread on subfloor before installing new carpet seems to draw out fuel smells

 

[HeadMistress]

Peggie Hall recommends some chemical cleaner but I don’t recall what it was. She said clean up the area first then spray the chemical and it would remove the odor. Sounds like you have done the cleanup so maybe contact Peggie and ask her. PM The Head Mistress and ask.

PureAyre PureAyre is the product Dave referenced...it's not an air freshener, nor is it a cleaning product..it will eliminate any odor when used according to directions:

[FONT=&quot]You can never eliminate any odor unless you first eliminate the source...'cuz as long as the source continues to exist, it'll continue to generate new odor. So first you have to find and fix any leak or replace the stinky hoses and then thoroughly clean the site, including every nook and cranny ...a good scrubbing with detergent and water. Mop up an excess water and let the air dry till it's at least only damp...no standing puddles. Now you're ready to eliminate the residual odor. Use PureAyre full strength...I'd use pump garden spray jug set to a fine mist. Spray every surface, nook and cranny...just a light spray. Do NOT rinse...just let it dry with hatches open so that plenty of fresh air can circulate. If the soft goods in the cabin have picked up the odor, just spraying it on the surface won't do much...you need to spray enough on carpets and rugs to penetrate to the backing...enough to penetrate cushions to the middle from both sides..not enough to make 'em drippy, just enough to get into the cushion....you'll prob'ly have to remove the covers and send 'em to be cleaned. Again, just let everything dry. If you still have any odor, you missed a spot.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Not only will it get of diesel and residual odor left behind by stinking sanitation hoses, but PureAyre is also rated for use around food...which means you can even use it to get rid of the odor left in your fridge by the steaks or fish that spoiled when a natural disaster took out shore power for 3 days also fish and bait boxes. Does a great job on musty PFDs and foulies too.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]A spray bottle won't go very far, plus it's cheaper in the long run to buy a gallon to use as needed...it has a long shelf life if stored in a cool place. Amazon has it...the household version works for most jobs.[/FONT]


--Peggie

 

[sbu22]

But among all the people you know who've bought ozone generators, have you ever met anyone who has one who's ever been able to turn if off without having odors return?

Dave - Understand your point, but the idea is to evacuate the space while O3 in progress, ventilate, then re-enter. As I said above, I have used these things and obtained good and sustained results - at least for the year I had the place following O3 treatment. If it passes my bride's hyper-sensitive sniff test, I'd say its a success.

Appreciate you finding Peggie's post - and you, Miss Peggie for responding - re: PureAyre. Found 1 gal. on Amazon.

Thanks to all for the help!

 

[PM]

An ozone generator can be purchased cheap on amazon. I bought a mid range one. I love the way it works.

Read the instructions. You do not want to be in the area where the generator is running, give it an hour or so to clear out. The first thing you need to do is eliminate the source of the odor.(duh)

Finally, ozone will turn certain rubber and plastic soft and gummy. It takes a lot of time but be sure to be on the look out for the effect. Rubber hoses, rubber coated binoculars and some headliners are susceptible.

I run mine on a timer for an hour or so a night while the boat is un occupied. I check my rubber and plastic parts often.

pete

 

[hollywood8118]

I have used ozone in the past with acceptable results. I typically blast the boat in the spring once or twice and air it out in between.
I have no doubt the capability of Pureayre to remove the boat funk that can occur on our boats.... but I personally find the smell of it to be less than pleasing too.. go figure.
I have ozone'd the boat after using pureayre
This is not a negative review on Peggie whatsoever, I feel she is a wealth of knowledge and is an amazing resource to our community

Hollywood

 

[kiefer]

Ozone generator

Don’t do it. Yes, it works but you will have a premature failure of rubber hoses at some point later on. I used it effectively then regretted my method when I started getting leaky rubber hoses. The hoses nearest the ozone generator failed while other hoses of the same quality and vintage that were further away did not. Took me a moment and a bit of research to realize what I had done and I think I am fortunate that I didn’t use the ozone generator more extensively and cause more unnecessary damage. More boat lessons learned…

 

[SoWhat]

EPA considers ozone a toxic gas. "Some of the potential by-products produced by ozone’s reactions with other chemicals are themselves very reactive and capable of producing irritating and corrosive by-products"

Clean the boat and air it out.

 

[Comodave]

Don’t do it. Yes, it works but you will have a premature failure of rubber hoses at some point later on. I used it effectively then regretted my method when I started getting leaky rubber hoses. The hoses nearest the ozone generator failed while other hoses of the same quality and vintage that were further away did not. Took me a moment and a bit of research to realize what I had done and I think I am fortunate that I didn’t use the ozone generator more extensively and cause more unnecessary damage. More boat lessons learned…

Agree. Why take the chance. Particularly on critical hoses like the main engine intake hoses.

 

[Steve DAntonio]

At least one dripless stuffing box manufacturer prohibits the use of ozone generators, as they can cause premature hose failures. I have some photos of an ozone generator with the insulation of its own wiring cracked and deteriorated. I avoid them.

 

[Don Souza]

Yes very bad for some kinds of rubber.
Don

 

[Lepke]

Ozone kills mold spores, too. Best way to kill the boat smell is vent your bilges. I have a wood boat with probably more smell generation than a fiberglass boat. I use bilge blowers with a rheostat (so the motor turns real slow), 24/7. I live aboard, my boat smells like a house.

IMO to kill engine and diesel smells is use a good detergent like dish soap, etc., spray down the engine and then rinse. Leave the the rinse water and soap in the bilge for a few days, add more soap and water if necessary. Let the movement of the boat scrub the bilge. Then pump out.

 

[Henry994]

I’ve had to deal with stubborn engine-room odors too. Ozone helped me, but only after I ran a dehumidifier for a few days and opened every locker so the air could actually move around. Has anyone tried running a small blower to push air through the bilge while using ozone? That made a big difference on my boat.

 

[MYTraveler]

I’ve had to deal with stubborn engine-room odors too. Ozone helped me, but only after I ran a dehumidifier for a few days and opened every locker so the air could actually move around. Has anyone tried running a small blower to push air through the bilge while using ozone? That made a big difference on my boat.

High humidity definitely deminishes the effectiveness of ozone, but that can be compensated for with a more prolonged exposure. If your bilge is more humid than outside air, a fan may help, but the fresh air you are blowing in will displace air with ozone, which also diminishes the ozone's effectiveness and requires a correspondingly longer explosure. I think it comes down to the rate at which the fan is bringing new air in. To consider an extreme example, if the entire volume of air in the bilge is replaced every second, the concentration of ozone in the bilge will be very low and that will take forever to work. At the other extreme, if the exchange rate is very low, the humidity will be diminished very little. There may be an optimal air flow rate, but finding that point won't be easy. Instead, I would just focus on exposure time. Note that ozone will attack rubber and plastic, etc., so don't expose longer (or more often) than necessary. The real key is to remove the source of the odor and then use ozone to neutralize its residual effects. FWIW, a tenant operated a seafood processing facility. Every night, they would hose down the concrete floor in the freezer room (used for storing and cutting fish). Over the years, water had seeped into cracks in the concrete, then froze and expanded, further cracking the concrete. While the tenant was in operation, there wasn't much of an odor because the room was kept below freezing. When they vacated, the smell became intolerable. It was necessary to cut, and remove the entire concrete slab, which revealed that the dirt below was stained and very smelly from years of saturation with washed down fish juice. Even after excavating about 6' deep of dirt and repouring the concrete slab, the premises stunk and the smell had saturated every porous surface, including the wooden roof structure and insulation. Ozone very effectively, and permanently solved that problem. (But removal of that source was a necessary first step.)

 

[ABfish]

Out of desperation, I used an ozone generator to great effect on my previous boat.

But the long-term solution involved drilling out a vent fitting on top of the black tank (it was crusted nearly closed), and sucking the bilges dry with a shop vac and cleaning them thoroughly with Simple Green followed by a little Clorox. Then determining that the shower sump was occasionally overflowing, putting freshwater in the bilge.

I was shocked at the smell that arose over time from the shower water sitting in the bilge. It smelled somewhat like diesel fuel to me.

The ozone generator is like spraying a bunch of cologne rather than taking a bath.

 

[Henry994]

I’ve had stubborn boat smells hang around long after the mess was cleaned up, and an ozone generator did help, but only after I moved soft goods out and ran it in short bursts with good airing afterward. While the space was airing out, I burned a few outdoor incense sticks I already had from https://nothingbutscents.com/collections/for-the-outdoors to knock down the funk a bit. They won’t fix the source, but they made the waiting less rough.

 

[MYTraveler]

The ozone generator is like spraying a bunch of cologne rather than taking a bath.

I don't disagree with your analogy, the point of which is to say that the source of the odor must be eliminated to solve the problem, but for those unfamiliar with ozone, let me point out that it does not mask bad smells the way cologne might. It does destroy the offending smells at the molecular level. Ozone is highly reactive, and if it makes contact with a smelly molecule, it will likely react with that molecule and substantially eliminate its odor. But, it works only on molecule with which in can make contact. It excels at eliminating smelly molecules that have attached to the surface of something. But, it cannot defeat a bilge full of smelly fluid, as it cannot reach beyond the surface layer (admittedly, in some applications, ozone is disbursed with an airstone from the depths of a volume of water, but that is a wholly different approach than is suggested here, and not likely to be effective unless the source of the smelly water entering the bilge is first eliminated.

 

[HeadMistress]

According to the EPA, "Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. The concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health standards to be effective in removing most indoor air contaminants. In the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce other chemicals that can be irritating and corrosive."

As for how well the portable ozone generators work when it comes to getting rid of odors… yes, people who've bought them rave do about how well they work. And, yes, the manufacturers do assure you that the ozone concentration is well below that which can present any health hazard. But if that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. If they did deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of odors, it should only be necessary to run one occasionally. But among all the people you know who've bought ozone generators, have you ever met anyone who has one who's ever been able to turn if off without having odors return? That should be enough to tell you that ozone generators are only very expensive air fresheners, because they don't deliver enough ozone to be anything else. Save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your odors. Eliminating the source is the only thing that really works.

 

[Moonfish]

I just replied similarly to the "cabin stateroom hull lining" thread, but again, Kanberra Gel would be our first choice for this application. Completely natural and will not harm people, pets, or rubber! We've used it for almost 20 years, and when landlubbers and even fellow boaters would visit, we'd often hear "it doesn't smell like a boat", even when I'd been working in the engine room. Here's the Google AI overview to odor removal:

Yes, Kanberra Gel effectively removes, rather than just masks, odors using natural tea tree oil vapors. It neutralizes odors from mold, mildew, pets, smoke, and musty, enclosed spaces (homes, boats, RVs). The formula works passively, lasting 30–90 days, and is safe for use around children and pets.
Key Details About Kanberra Gel:

• How it Works: The gel releases tea tree oil vapors into the air, which neutralize odor-causing bacteria at the molecular level.
• Targeted Odors: It is highly effective against mold, mildew, musty smells, pet odors, and smoke.
• Usage: Simply open the jar to allow the gel to evaporate; it requires no electricity, sprays, or fans.
• Application: Suitable for small spaces, cars, boats, bathrooms, and around gym bags or sports equipment.
• Longevity: One jar typically lasts 30–90 days depending on airflow and odor intensity.

It is widely regarded as a natural alternative to chemical air fresheners, particularly in marine environments, as it penetrates porous surfaces.

Back to me, we use it in the house, too. Gel, spray, hand soap, even the laundry additive (we have a teenager who isn't fond of showering, so her clothes need a little extra help for odor...). And like I said in the other thread, my wife and unequivocally stand behind the product. Ask me anything!

Kanberra Gel

www.pacificnwboatertested.com

 

[MYTraveler]

According to the EPA, "Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. The concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health standards to be effective in removing most indoor air contaminants. In the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce other chemicals that can be irritating and corrosive."

As for how well the portable ozone generators work when it comes to getting rid of odors… yes, people who've bought them rave do about how well they work. And, yes, the manufacturers do assure you that the ozone concentration is well below that which can present any health hazard. But if that's true, they can't deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of any odors. If they did deliver enough ozone to destroy the sources of odors, it should only be necessary to run one occasionally. But among all the people you know who've bought ozone generators, have you ever met anyone who has one who's ever been able to turn if off without having odors return? That should be enough to tell you that ozone generators are only very expensive air fresheners, because they don't deliver enough ozone to be anything else. Save your money and get rid of the SOURCES of your odors. Eliminating the source is the only thing that really works.

My ozone generator has a warning label making it clear that it is unsafe for humans or pets to breath the concentrations of ozone that it is capable of producing. It has a timer to shut itself off, and then humans must stay away until the ozone has dissipated. It is exceedingly effective, in my personal experience as described above. The fish processing facility I mentioned remained odor free after treatment, but we had done extensive work to remove the source of that odor (a slab and 6' of soil saturated with fish juice), replaced with fresh soil and a vapor barrier, under fresh concrete. That wasn't enough to remove the smell from pourous surfaces inside the structure, but the ozone did effectively, and permanently, eliminate that.

 

[READY]

I have used PureAyre in the past and was pleased with the result. Certainly worth a try before more extreme measures.

 

[Don L]

I had an ozone generator on the boat. It was a hotel room treatment sized room and it was highly effective! I have read these threads for years and they always go down the same rabbit holes.
- they destroy electronics, well the generator is electronic so why doesn't it fall apart
- it isn't safe to breathe, well yeah that's why it has a timer and you have to leave and then air out the boat
- it eats rubber, well who has real rubber on their boat and in 10 years of use all my hoses were fine
- there are small units you run all the time. They are air treatment units and don't treat any source. But it is better than smelling and breathing the odor source. I got some for my daughter house for the room worth cat box and it worked very well.

I have tried Pure Arye. It only works on something you can directly spray it on. It is basically pet urine treatment. I have tried the green tea stuff, yes it made the air smell better but did nothing to mold.

As I stated in another thread I have very sensitive to mold. Only the room sized ozone generator really worked. If you have a problem it is worth trying. You can rent the larger units if you need a deep treatment or the room size unit as fairly inexpensive and I think I paid about $35 for mine.

If you don't think they work and/or just don't have an issue with how your boat smells that's great. But some do have an issue that no amount of cleaning with fix.