Ozone gas (O3) dissolved in ambient temperature water was first introduced in 1991 to the American laundry industry as a means to wash clothes. The system demonstrated its ability to reduce energy use and traditional wash chemicals in addition to recycling most of the wash water for reuse. Since then, the number of laundry facilities adopting this ozone technology has increased dramatically.
Here are some commonly asked questions regarding use of ozone generator for laundry.
DO I STILL NEED HOT WATER?
The temperature for washing your towels and sheets (room linens) should be cold (ambient). However, for washing rags, you may need some hot water. This is because the greases and oils need to melt at 120°F or less. The final step of some ozone systems is to rinse the linen with warm water to provide a pleasant ozone smell.
WHAT ARE THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS?
The most important thing for ozone equipment in the laundry is to keep it dry and reasonably lint-free. Laundries can be a tough environment for equipment and it is important to ensure that components are made of or designed to last in such a harsh environment.
WILL OZONE DMAGE MY LAUNDRY WASHERS?
Gas-phase ozone is more aggressive than water-dissolved ozone. In some cases, the washer has been damaged by direct injection of ozone in water from systems (see direct vs. indirect below). However, there have been no reports of washer damage using indirect ozone systems.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INDIRECT AND DIRECT OZONE SYSTEMS?
Indirect ozone laundry systems dissolve the ozone gas in the water before it is entered into the washing machine. The dissolved ozone is also eliminated. It offers plenty of flexibility and allows small and large washers alike to be handled by a single system. The design facilitates ensuring the system is working properly and is maintaining adequate levels of ozone. These systems perform like direct inject (bubble) systems, but they also apply micro-bubbles to increase surface area contact with the linen and minimize off-gas concerns.
For smaller washers (50 lbs), direct inject systems have proved to be effective. Larger washer sizes produce bigger bubbles, and applying the necessary amounts of ozone becomes increasingly difficult.
WHAT ABOUT OZONE & PERSONAL CLOTHES?
When used properly, ozone does not damage the clothes and it freshen linen and leave it with a soft sweet smell that is completely gone by the time it is dried. Ozone has a distinctive odor and too much of it will be apparent in the laundry. Ozone levels that are far beyond OSHA guidelines can be detected by a strong whiff of chlorine immediately felt in sinuses.
HOW MUCH OZONE DO I NEED?
There must be at least 0.5ppm of ozone.
HOW LONG DOES AN OZONE SYSTEM LAST?
System life expectancy is 20 years or more. And there is no need to purchase spare parts or maintenance for 15-20 years.
DO YOU STILL NEED BLEACH WHEN USING OZONE FOR LAUNDRY?
In OPL laundries, you will likely need to use bleach in conjunction with ozone unless you are using a very high level of ozone, which is usually not feasible. A controlled pH level and minimum levels of ozone are necessary to activate bleach in cold water. However, for domestic use, there is no need of bleach.
CAN OZONE REDUCE MY DRYING TIMES?
By lessening the excessive drying time before applying ozone, you can usually save on chemicals. That being said, you will notice faster drying times, particularly in moderate to warm climates.
Leave a Comment