Ozonation of a car - what is it? What does it give?

What is car ozonation?

Car ozonation - this name comes from ozone - trioxygen (trioxygen) which is an allotropic form of oxygen. It is made up of molecules with three atoms (not two, like oxygen). Therefore, its formula is O3 (oxygen - O2). It can be in the form of a gas, liquid or solid. Each of us at least once had to deal with this, because ozone is formed (in nature) at the time of lightning discharges. The specific smell of air that spreads after a thunderstorm is the smell of ozone.

To explain what ozonation is, it is worth dwelling on the properties of this gas - they best explain the whole process:

• antiseptic: effectively destroys bacteria, fungi, viruses, unpleasant odors,
• spontaneously decomposes into oxygen in air already at room temperature.

Thanks to the combination of these properties, ozone has become an excellent disinfectant. Due to its decomposition to oxygen, cleaning the surface after application is absolutely not necessary. The pathogens it effectively removes include the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The ozonation of a car is carried out using a device called an ozone generator. Inside it, corona discharges occur, which, adding energy to oxygen molecules, split them into individual oxygen atoms. They combine with 2 oxygen molecules to form 3 - ozone. It is distributed (in the form of a gas) by a fan included in the device. The gas spreads throughout the room and removes hazardous particles.

Ozonation of a car - why?

Why use this method of surface disinfection in the case of a car? Why is car interior ozonation widely recommended? First of all, because of the simplicity of the whole procedure. For the purposes of this article, let's take, for example, the owner of a taxi, Mr. Zbigniew.

Mr. Zbigniew sometimes drives 12 hours a day, sometimes 4. The number of trips he makes depends, of course, on the number of orders. However, he works for a shipping company, so there are usually a lot of them. And that means several hundred customers per month. Each of these people brings their own bacteria, microbes and viruses into the car, which, naturally, Mr. Zbigniew breathes. If he wants to take perfect care of his health and the health of passengers, he must regularly ventilate the taxi, install plexiglass, wear a mask and disinfect the car, i.e.:

• pens,
• belts,
• window,
• upholstery,
• wipers,
• doors on both sides
• increased.

And this means constantly cleaning the car with alcohol-containing liquids. First, it takes time.

How does the need for disinfection apply to owners of private cars, which are often driven by just one person? No less problematic are unpleasant odors, be it cigarette smoke, transported animals, or simply air conditioning. It is worth realizing that countless bacteria accumulate in its depths, which gradually leads to the development of fungi that emit an unpleasant odor and have a negative impact on health (primarily on the respiratory system). Therefore, the "ordinary" driver should not forget to periodically disinfect the ventilation and air conditioning system.

Much easier to ozonate a car; and that's what it really is. In the next paragraph, you will learn how to ozonize your car.

How to ozonize a car?

In order to disinfect a car with ozone, you need to arm yourself with a professional ozone generator. This device can be bought for a few hundred PLN or rented from a car ozonation company. An alternative to self-disinfection is, of course, to use the services of such an enterprise. However, if you want to do it yourself, then:

• when the problem you want to eliminate is not only bacteria and viruses, but also a bad smell, make sure that its source is eliminated. This can be, for example, a stain of animal urine on upholstery that needs to be washed,
• place the ozonator in the vehicle (for example, in the front seat). If you are using a larger device, place it outdoors,
• if the ozonator is inside, run the power cable through a slightly ajar window. If the ozone generator is outside, use it to bring the ozone supply cable into the car interior,
• in both cases, leave the window slightly ajar, but be sure to seal it (for example, with silver tape) so that the ozone does not escape,
• turn on the air conditioner at maximum power, lowest temperature and closed circuit,
• start car ozonation: start the device and leave it for the time recommended by the manufacturer. It depends on the power of the ozonator and the specific case. It can last from a few minutes to even an hour.
• ventilate the car. Ventilate it until the specific smell of ozone disappears from the inside.

How much does car ozonation cost?

The answer to this question depends on the method you choose. The price of car ozonation can be:

• from 100 to several hundred zlotys - if you buy your own car ozonator (devices are available at a wide variety of prices),
• from a few dozen to 10 euros - if you use the services of a professional company that will do ozonation for you,
• from several dozen to 30 euros per day - in the case of renting an ozonizer (depending on power, training and transport costs).

If you are wondering how much car ozonation costs and whether it is a beneficial procedure, it is certainly worth considering how often you will use it. If the employer of our Mr. Zbigniew does not ensure the disinfection of the car, he will have to ensure that it is carried out as often as possible. In such a situation, buying your own ozonizer would be a smart investment. 

However, if your needs are limited to odor removal, air conditioning disinfection or seasonal car interior disinfection, it would be better to use a professional service. However, this method of fighting bacteria, viruses and fungi is definitely worth trying out. It shows excellent efficiency and requires minimal participation.