Two popular methods for improving indoor air quality are air ionizers and ozone generators. Both work to improve indoor air, and they have the same purpose. There are quite a few differences between air ionizers and ozone generators, despite some similarities. How do air ionizers and ozone generators differ and which one you should buy? Read the article to learn more about air ionizer vs ozone generator.

In order to differentiate between air ionizers and an ozone generator, three factors must be considered: the cleaning method, the operating time, and the cleaning effectiveness. Air ionizers clean the air by using negative ions, can be run constantly, and have the ability to eliminate all pollutants. By contrast, ozone generators clean the air by releasing ozone, should be turned on only at intervals, and are primarily used to get rid of odors.

The air we breathe, especially indoors, needs to be clean today. Several factors contribute to premature deaths in the developed world, including indoor air pollution, according to the World Health Organization. Therefore, people increasingly turn to air purifying as a solution to this problem. The use of air ionizers and ozone generators (also called ozonators) are two excellent ways to clean the air we breathe.  

We will be explaining each one of these aspects individually in the following sections. So feel free to stick around for a more detailed answer to this commonly asked question.

Air cleaning method

In case of air ionizers, negative ions are expelled from air ionizers as they release a large amount of them. As their name suggests, negative ions are negatively charged particles. These particles are negatively charged as opposed to air pollutants. We know from physics that opposites are attracted to each other, and that negatives repel each other. 

In other words, harmful particles and negative ions bind together in the air. They become quite heavy when this happens. It is heavy enough to be pulled down to the ground by gravity. These heavy combined masses cannot rise in the air again once they hit the ground. As a result, we cannot breathe them in. An easy-to-understand presentation of how negative ions clean the air is shown below, in four steps.

On the other hand, using ozone generator is a relatively simple process. Ozone generator machines are designed to take in ambient air from around them. A fan forces the air into the chamber, where it is transformed into ozone by a high-voltage mechanism. Pollutants and harmful particles are broken by ozone in the air. This is what we call “oxidation“. Odixation is the basis for ozone generators that purify the air. 

Operating time

It is necessary for us to explain this part first in order for you to fully understand. Ozone molecules and negative ions are completely different things, as you have just learned. Air ionizers generate negative ions, while ozone generators release ozone. It must be noted, however, that air ionizers use different methods of ionization, such as a steel needle, plasma, carbon, etc. In order to avoid overcomplicating matters, I will not go into great detail about how they oxidize over time. Ozone generators and oxidation go together, as you learned in the previous paragraph. Our point is that ozone is a byproduct of the majority of air ionizers. Understanding the operating time differences between an air ionizer and an ozone generator is vital.

The majority of air ionizers are able to run 24 hours a day, so you can use them without interruptions. In other words, there is no restriction on your presence during the cleaning process. As much as possible, keep air ionizers connected to the wall and running. 

As a result, even if the doors and windows of your flat or house are closed, new air is constantly being pumped into the rooms. Normally, an air ionizer takes a few hours to completely purify the air when it is first put in a room. Once it detects polluted air in the room, it cleans it immediately without delay, if you don’t turn it off.

Ozone generators, however, should only be operated between 3 and 10 hours at a time. The time needed to clean a small room will vary depending on its size. The ozone emissions from air ionizers and ozone generators are vastly different. A generator generates a lot of ozone. Because of this, an ozone generator should only be run in an empty room (not in an environment with people or animals). 

The ability to remove pollutants.

Last but not least, the pollutants they remove from the air differ between air ionizers and ozone generators.

The air ionizers can remove various harmful particles. Even the smallest harmful particles can be tacked with negative ions. Their small size allows them to remove even viruses and bacteria that other air purifiers struggle to remove.  

In addition to removing odors and smells, ozone generators can remove biological pollutants (viruses, bacteria and mold,). Ozone generators are therefore a great tool for treating allergies and other respiratory issues. 

Despite the fact that ozone removes odor, you must still eliminate the source of the odor in order to prevent the smell from returning!

Choosing between an Ozone generator and Air Ionizer

In this article, you learned the difference between an air ionizer and an ozone generator. Now, you need to decide which is best for your needs. There are several differences between these devices, and they each perform their role in a different way.

All things considered, an ozone generator will be more suitable for you if you are trying to eliminate strong odors or smells.  Ozone generators also perform well against other aspects like killing mold and bacteria.