Ozone is a common component of outdoor air pollution. When Ozone moves indoors, its distinctive smell can be very distracting.
Luckily, you can employ several ways to get rid of the smell and breathe clean air again.
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What is Ozone?
Ozone is a colorless three-atom oxygen gas with a distinctive smell that is similar to that of chlorine or bleach.
It is created when high-energy ultraviolet light strikes atmospheric oxygen. Ozone is harmless in the stratosphere, which is the highest layer of the earth’s atmosphere.
There, Ozone filters out harmful ultraviolet light from the sun and protects life on earth. Ozone is the lowest in the troposphere, and it is harmful to humans at ground level because it forms smog, which causes health problems.
The Ozone is the earth’s upper atmosphere but at very low levels. Ozone concentrations are typically 1 part per million (ppm) or less in the earth’s upper atmosphere.
Ozone concentration in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) depends on many variables, including weather patterns, altitude, latitude, and other atmospheric gases.
It will be found at higher concentrations in areas with higher concentrations of chemicals that can react with it.
What Causes Ozone Smell in a home?
There are a variety of home appliances that can produce an ozone smell, including an air purifier.
When an ozone-generating device works correctly, the Ozone smells clean. However, if it fails to be well designed or maintained, you can expect an unpleasant odor from it.
For example, a poor design of an air purifier could lead to it generating excess Ozone, which is harmful to people and bad for the air quality in your house.
Does Ozone have any adverse effects?
Ozone can have adverse effects on humans. When Ozone is inhaled, it has a very sharp smell and can cause coughing and respiratory problems such as asthma, sinus infections, and bronchitis.
In addition, in high concentrations, it can irritate the eyes and the skin.
Also, Ozone can be dangerous for people with lung diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema.
People with these conditions can experience more breathing difficulties when they are around higher levels of Ozone.
This is because extremely high concentrations of Ozone can damage the lungs. In addition, Ozone reacts with other gases in the air to form corrosive compounds or irritants.
How to Get Rid of Ozone Smell
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Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning filter OR HVAC
Noticing a strange odor in your house? This may be due to Ozone. An HVAC filter can get rid of the ozone smell in your home. Ozone is typically noticeable in the air when it’s hot outside or when air conditioners are used during hot weather.
Using an HVAC filter is good for getting rid of Ozone because it will clean out the air in your home to ensure that your home is safe to live in.
If you have not replaced your HVAC filter in a while, it may be time to do so. It can also provide allergy relief because it filters out allergens and air pollutants.
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High-efficiency Particulate Air filter or HEPA
HEPA filters can be used as a proactive measure to eliminate the smell of Ozone from the indoor environment and decrease the level of pollutants that can affect one’s health.
HEPA Air filter can get rid of the ozone smell in your house. However, it is important to know the proper ways of maintaining these filters to work properly.
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Activated carbon filter
These filters are used in homes, offices, and factories for their excellent filtering properties.
Activated carbon filters are usually effective in removing the ozone smell from the air.
However, it also filters the air of dust particles and other pollutants. If you want to remove this smell altogether, you can install several filters depending on the size of your house.
The best-activated carbon filters are made from coconut shells and charcoal.
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Green plants
Another way is to place indoor plants inside. As a low-cost and simple way to solve the problem, many homeowners have successfully put these plants around their homes.
The plants are known to naturally clean the air, thus reducing the ozone concentration inside.
However, before deciding on any plant, you must learn which plants best clean the air. By purchasing the most effective plants for this purpose, you can prevent or reduce the amount of ozone present in your home.
How do you prevent Ozone inside your home?
- Ozone caused by natural process
It is best to close off your home from the outside. For example, if you leave your windows open, the Ozone will just come in naturally.
Therefore, it is very important to control the airflow inside your home by using air conditioners, fans, and other devices.
During the day, when the ozone levels are highest, you should also close off the windows to keep the Ozone from entering your home.
If you have an air conditioner, turn it on during the day to help suck out the Ozone.
Ozone caused by man-made or process or appliances
- Use your appliances sparingly. The best way to prevent Ozone is not to use the appliances that produce it. However, if this is not possible, use your appliances sparingly. That’s when they make most of their Ozone.
- Ventilate the room where you are using the appliances. Allow some time before re-entering the room where the device was in use.
The best way to prevent Ozone in your home is to use a high-quality air purifier or HEPA filter.
If you can’t afford an air purifier, then try placing a plant. Also, activated charcoal filters can help.
Finally, if you are sensitive to Ozone or notice it in your home, try to find out what’s causing it.
If it’s not your air purifier, then it might be the air conditioner. Make sure that you take these steps to prevent ozone buildup in your home.
