Why Your Air Purifier Smells like Ozone and How To Fix It

Do you know why your air purifier smells like ozone?

Do you experience throat irritation, breathlessness, or chest pains when the air purifier is or has been running? The cause of these symptoms is ozone being released into your indoor space.

The home appliances that we use daily produce certain smells that can alert you to a pending breakdown or an already serious problem.

The air purifier can develop many smells. For instance, it can smell like burning. It can also produce a plastic odor. In many cases, when the indoor air has been cleansed, the smells that you might experience are mostly the smells that have always been in the house.

But first…

What does ozone smell like in an air purifier?

Not many people know what ozone smells like. But if you have been experiencing a sharp, disinfectant-like odor when your purifier is or has been running, it is ozone gas!

Read: Pure Enrichment Humidifier Problems

When there has been a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning, there is usually a pungent smell. That is the smell of ozone. That is why it is also referred to as “after a thunderstorm smell.”

After a thunderstorm, the smell of ozone dissipates fast because there is more fresh air. However, if you have an appliance that is producing the O3 gas indoors, the smell of chlorine can linger for some time.

Many people also report their Honeywell air purifier has a weird smell. While these devices produce different kinds of smells, not all of them are bad.

It is best to try to identify the smell first so that you can know whether you need to take any action. The air purifier’s ozone smell is hard to miss because it has the same odor as chlorine.

When your unit is new, it is going to produce a plastic smell. There is nothing to be alarmed about because the plastic smell is the smell of newness.

Why does your air purifier smell like ozone?

It smells like ozone because it is ozone. Perhaps the question that you should ask here is: Why does the unit produce ozone?

Mainly, there are two types of air purifiers. Some use HEPA filters and suction fans. These work by sucking in the air. The air then passes through the filters, which capture the pollutants.

The fans will whip the clean air out into your room, and that is how you enjoy fresh, clean air.

The second class is ionizer air purifiers. They use electricity to create negative ions, which they release into the air in your room.

The negative ions bond with pollutants such as pollen, smoke molecules, formaldehyde, and other VOCs (volatile organic compounds). They become too heavy, and they fall to the ground.

The ion-generating air purifier is the culprit for releasing ozone into your home. But it is not all bad. It has its benefits, too. For instance, there are no filters to clean or change.

Why is ozone from air purifiers dangerous?

Ozone is capable of oxidizing the air in your home. It is also capable of oxidizing your lung tissue. It can also aggravate respiratory illnesses.

Read: Health effects of too much humidity

While ozone is not good for your health, especially indoors, this does not mean that you should not use these types of air purifiers.

After all, they are very effective.

However, you need to know how to use the unit efficiently. That way, there will be no harm coming to the occupants of your home.

In addition to damaging the lungs, ozone can also give you chest pain, affect the throat tissue, and cause breathlessness.

Air purifier makes the room smell like ozone: How to fix

If you have an ozone generator instead of a unit that uses HEPA filters, there is nothing to fix. By this, we mean that the ion generator will release ozone for its entire lifespan.

So then, does this mean you should change it?

Not really. However, you should take more deliberate measures to protect your family from the effects of ozone.

Here are a few things to help you:

First, use the air-purifying unit when there is no one at home. That way, no one will inhale air with high concentrations of ozone. Do not use it in a room with animals or indoor plants.

Secondly, after running the unit for some time, give the air enough time to dissipate the ozone. Unfortunately, you cannot open the windows because polluted air will come in from outside.

Thirdly, you should not run the ion-generating air purifier longer than necessary. If you live in a place with very polluted air, you can run it for a few hours.

Just keep your windows and doors closed so that polluted air does not seep in from outside. Let the ozone dissipate fully through the ventilation before coming back into the room.

Also read: How do I stop humidifier white dust?

Air Purifier Smells Like Ozone: FAQ

When your air purifier smells funny, you can be confused. While you have seen information about how to know whether your unit is generating ozone, this is often a confusing topic. We hope this section on frequently asked questions will help you:

What is the smell coming from an air purifier?

Not every smell coming from the air purifier is ozone. If it is not pungent or does not smell like chlorine, it is not ozone. If your unit contains mold, it will smell like a wet dog. It can cause mold sickness.

If it produces a chlorine-like smell, it is generating ozone. You should wait for the gas to dissipate completely before occupying the room.

How do I know if my air purifier produces ozone?

If the unit has a blue UV light running somewhere on its body, it is an ozone generator.  If the unit generates a very small amount of O3, it is not bad for your health. However, if it causes chest pain and shortness of breath, it is not good at all.

What is ozone from air purifiers?

This is just that: ozone gas, which means three oxygen atoms. It oxidizes the air in the room, making it unsafe for inhalation. It also oxidizes your lungs, and prolonged exposure can cause serious lung damage. This gas has serious health effects, so it is best to avoid inhaling it.

What does ozone smell like?

It smells like the pungent smell that comes from smoke when you are welding, or it is close to that. This smell is also close to that of chlorine. The smell is also similar to that of the after-lightning effect.

How can you tell if you are being affected by ozone?

If you experience shortness of breath and/or chest pains anytime the air purifier is running, you are experiencing the symptoms of exposure to ozone.

Some people also experience chest pain and nose, throat, and eye irritation.

Image of air purifier makes room smell

How do you get rid of the ozone smell?

The best way to remove the odor of ozone from your home is to let it dissipate naturally. However, since it can linger too long indoors, you can always use essential oils to get rid of the odor. You can also air out the room or even use a fan to whip the air around and force it through the ventilation.

Do ionizing air purifiers create ozone?

Ionizing air purifiers are also referred to as ozone generators. They release negative ions into your indoor air to bond with pollutants and make them drop instead of floating in the air, where you can inhale them easily. They also release ozone, which causes lung damage.

How long does ozone stay in the air?

You can let the ozone dissipate on its own. Depending on the quantity, it can last between 30 and 4 hours in the air before it evaporates.

Does the ozone smell go away?

Higher concentrations of ozone take up to 4 hours to dissolve into oxygen. However, even after that happens, there will still be a lingering smell of O3, which is sweet and not harmful to your lungs, throat, or eyes. This smell can take up to a week to fade out completely.

Conclusion

It is not always possible to buy HEPA filter air purifiers. Ionizing air purifiers have many benefits, but on the flip side, they produce ozone. If you are exposed to “enough” quantities of this compound, you will sustain lung damage, breathing issues, throat irritation, and eye irritation.

Do not take chances with your health. It is best to let the ozone dissolve into oxygen completely before you enter the room.