Ozone treatment in house with closed-cell spray foam
Is there any research on the effect on ozone concentrations like those used in ozone machines on closed-cell spray foam?
I had hoped that the new HVAC system with ventilator would solve the “old-house” smell issue but it didn’t and now I’m faced with blasting the house with an ozone machine for three days to get rid of the smell.
It’s not a mold issue, we’ve had the air tested, it’s just general bad smell. My buddy who works in the water-damage/smoke-damage world in another state has walked me through this problem. We are planning on blasting the house with ozone and then painting all of the walls and ceilings in the living space with KILZ.
The only thing I’m concerned about is the effect of the ozone on the closed-cell spray foam but I haven’t been able to find any research specific to the interaction between these two chemicals. I guess I could also be super safe and coat the spray foam with some sort of coating that doesn’t interact with ozone?
Any suggestions?
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I can't say for sure, as I'm not a chemistry expert, but it is an interest of mine.
In a Google search I found that MDI--one of the primary compounds--breaks down in the atmosphere in the presence of hydroxyl radicals, or OH- compounds. The negative charge makes them attractive to some compounds, apparently including MDI.
Ozone machines turn atmospheric oxygen, 02, into o3, which also has a net negative charge and one of the 02 molecules readily breaks off to combine with other compounds. I can't be sure but I imagine that if MDI reacts readily with OH-, it probably does with O- as well.
I was told by a spray foam manufacture that the ozone will break down the spray foam and will keep gassing
While investigating this it appears that I may need an ignition barrier over the spray foam anyways so maybe I should do this before the ozone treatment.
Sealing the spray foam in paint may be enough to reduce the off gassing odor. Maybe wait a few weeks after that before bringing in the ozone generator. In general, they are nasty contraptions that destroy everything - both good and bad. I know Corbett Lunsford has plenty of videos on them. If you are already living in the house I would strongly caution against using one. If this is pre-move in then it may be okay.
This is pre-move in. We can't move in until that smell is gone and might have to never move in and maybe try to sell the house to someone who doesn't care if we can't solve the problem. :-(
are you sure it’s not the foam that smells? Did the house smell before you installed it? is it an old house? or just smells like an old house? I really would not use ozone with closed cell foam. You can put foam in a mason jar and smell it 48 hours later and see if that’s it. iphone can make your problems much worse. Search on reddit stories about ozone in general. if it’s the foam their are other ways to go about it.