How Ozone & Ions Purify Air
Indoor air pollution is a major problem for everyone but especially for people with severe allergies or chemical sensitivities. As we have made our dwellings tighter and tighter to seal out drafts to conserve energy, we have the unwanted consequence of sealing in airborne contaminants. This is where air purification and filtration come into play. First, let me differentiate between air purification and air filtration as they are not the same. When air is filtered, such as with a HEPA device, the air must actually pass through the filter media to be “cleaned”. HEPA filter manufacturers will incorrectly state that a filter will change the air in a room “X” number of times per hour. The problem with this statement is that you will always have some “stale air” that never passes through the filter media. Thus, most of the air will be filtered but there will always be pockets of uncirculated air. While HEPA filters do a decent job, they are not the most efficient means of cleaning the air in your home. An air purifier or ozone machine on the other hand, actively purifies the air outside of the actual device, thus air does not actually have to pass through the unit to be treated. This completely eliminates the problem of stale air pockets escaping treatment.
How an Ozone Machine Produces Ozone
The air purifier I am currently recommending to my clients purifies the air in two ways. First, it disperses ozone, sometimes referred to as “active oxygen”, into the indoor environment. Ozone is an oxidizer and breaks down airborne contaminants into inert substances via the process of oxidation, rendering them harmless. The air need not pass though the machine to be purified. Bacteria, viruses and mold spores are immediately killed upon contact with ozone. Have you ever wondered why the air smells so fresh after a thunderstorm? Well, you can thank ozone! The second way this unit purifies the air is by negative ion generation. This is a phenomenon that also occurs during a thunderstorm. When negative ions are generated, they attach themselves to airborne contaminants making them heavier, causing them to fall to the ground and out of the circulating air to be vacuumed up later. Negative ions do not only help clean the air but also have a number of positive health benefits. Negative ions have been shown to increase serotonin levels, improve oxygen flow to the brain and increase mental alertness and acuity.
There are two ways to make ozone as depicted in the above illustration. One way is through UV light. Many air purifier units use this method of ozone production, but I am not a fan. The reason is that the UV bulbs used to produce ozone wear out over time and are quite expensive to replace. The second method is via corona discharge. Ozone is produced by this method when oxygen passes between a high voltage electrostatic field. This breaks apart oxygen molecules allowing ozone to be formed.
Ozone air purification was made popular about 20 years ago by a well-known MLM company. I was intrigued by the technology and bought several units. Although they worked well at first, these early units were plagued by failures. Not something you would expect from a device costing over $600.00! Fortunately, technology and quality have progressed, you can get these units for about a quarter of the original price.
I personally have two of the units (below) in my home and they have been running non-stop for over four years now without failure! When using an ozone air purifier, you’ll want to place it high up on a cabinet or angle the unit in an upward direction. This is because ozone is heavier than air and tends to settle to the ground. Use the lowest ozone setting to produce the desired results. At very high concentrations ozone can be irritating to the mucus membranes, some being more sensitive to it than others. You want to be able to detect that “fresh smell” but you don’t want it to be overpowering. It’s better to run multiple units at a lower level than to try and blast your whole home with just one purifier. Another great way to utilize these purifiers is to locate one in close proximity to the intake for your cental air conditioning or forced air heat. Not only will ozone and ions be distributed throughout your entire house, but it will also keep your ductwork free from bacteria, viruses and mold spores. Also, ozone works more efficiently when there is sufficient humidity in the home, somewhere between 40%-50%, so don’t let your home get too dry.
Click the button below to buy on Amazon.
Ozone Air Purification System w/Negative Ion Generation
Receive my personal support with each verifiable purchase made through this site.
Get answers to your questions either by
email or telephone.
Take advantage of my 35 plus years of experience as a researcher and healer.
Just use the CONTACT form to initiate the process.