Introducing our Equipment pt. 2: Ozone Generators and Extractors

8/5/2019 (Permalink)

Carlos extracting water from a carpet using the weighted extracting unit.

Previously, we talked about dehumidifiers and air movers, which we use to clean up water
damage through air-flow control. Although these two machines are probably the most commonly
seen among our inventory, we have many more to take care and restore whatever the job
requires, whether it is damage from fire, water, or mold. Today, I’ll introduce a few of our other
machines that our technicians at SERVPRO of Northbrook / Wheeling / Glencoe are
professionally trained to use for maximum efficiency, ozone generators and extractors. These help with cleaning air, scents, and more nuanced areas that are harder to get to or require more power than your ordinary cleaning devices. As always, our team members are trained to use the right materials at the right job for safety, thoroughness, and efficiency.

Ozone Generators:
Ozone generators are used to eliminate odors. This includes scents that come from mildew,
mold, smoke, animals, oil, gasoline, or most other unpleasant sources. An ozone generator
breaks apart oxygen molecules O 2 , and then binds them to form ozone, O 3 , through electrical
discharge. Ozone is unstable and therefore highly reactive, so it breaks apart other compounds in
the air, which then clears away lingering scents. When an ozone generator is working, it creates a
smell reminiscent of a thunderstorm. It should be emphasized here that ozone is dangerous and
can cause harm to people and pets. We only use ozone generators when our technicians think
they’re absolutely necessary and the area is evacuated so that the procedure is safe and secure.

Extractors:
Extractors are high powered devices that eliminate scents, clean areas, and remove moisture.  Each one uses a vacuum, pump, and heater in order to pressurize the area with hot water and then extract everything in it. Our extractors come in a few different sizes and forms. We use portable extractors for smaller properties and our truck-mounted machine for large areas that require heavy-duty cleaning. The truck-mounted extractor is far more powerful and requires a lot of training to use safely. It utilizes an engine and more powerful machinery to pump hot water and chemicals where necessary, and it is often used at disaster sites or other areas that require emergency services.