WHAT IS OZONE
TREATMENT &
HOW DOES IT WORK?

What Is Ozone?

Ozone (O₃) is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. It occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere, where it forms the ozone layer, and at ground level as a component of air pollution from vehicle and industrial emissions. It can also be produced artificially using an ozone generator, which converts ordinary oxygen (O₂) into ozone using an electrical discharge.

Ozone is chemically unstable. The bond holding the third oxygen atom in the molecule is weak, and that atom readily detaches and reacts with other nearby molecules. This high reactivity is what makes ozone both effective as an odour treatment and potentially harmful at high concentrations to humans, animals and some materials.

How Ozone Eliminates Odour

Odours are caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — molecules with specific chemical structures that trigger olfactory receptors in the nose. Different smells correspond to different molecular structures: the smell of pet urine comes from amines and uric acid derivatives; tobacco smell from nicotine, tar and acrolein; mould smell from microbial VOCs like geosmin and 1-octen-3-ol.

When ozone contacts these molecules, the reactive oxygen atom attaches to them and permanently alters their chemical structure. The resulting compounds have different molecular shapes and typically do not trigger the olfactory receptors that the original compounds did. This is why ozone genuinely eliminates odour rather than masking it — the molecules responsible for the smell no longer exist in their original form.

Ozone also reacts with and destroys the cell walls of bacteria, mould spores and some viruses, which is why it is effective against biological odour sources.

How a Professional Ozone Treatment Works

1. Site assessment: We assess the property, identify the main odour sources, and determine which package is appropriate. We give you an honest recommendation — including if we think the situation does not require professional treatment.
2. Preparation: The property must be fully vacated — all people, pets, plants and food. Certain materials (rubber, latex, some fabrics) can be affected by high ozone concentrations and should be protected or removed.
3. Fogging (Advanced and Complete packages): We apply specialist odour-neutralising solution throughout the property using ULV (ultra-low volume) cold foggers. This reaches surfaces, curtains, carpets and voids that cannot be cleaned manually.
4. Ozone generation: Industrial ozone generators are placed throughout the property and run for a calculated period based on the property volume and odour severity. We monitor O₃ concentration in real time using calibrated sensors to verify that effective treatment levels are maintained in every room.
5. Dwell time: The property remains sealed during treatment. Ozone concentration is held at the target level for sufficient time to ensure thorough neutralisation throughout the space.
6. Dispersal and re-entry: After treatment, the generators are switched off and the property is ventilated. Ozone naturally breaks down back into oxygen. We monitor concentration until it drops to safe levels before confirming re-entry.

Why Ozone Works Best as Part of a Combined Treatment

Ozone is a gas-phase oxidiser — it reacts with molecules in the air and on surfaces, but does not penetrate deeply into porous materials. For established odour where compounds have been absorbed into wall paint, carpet backing, timber or plaster, ozone alone treats the accessible surface but not the embedded residue below.

This is why our Advanced and Complete packages use ozone as the final stage of a multi-step treatment rather than the only step. ULV fogging deposits chemical agents that work at a deeper surface level; the Complete package includes manual surface treatment that physically removes and chemically breaks down residue before fogging and ozone begin. The combination delivers more thorough and lasting results than ozone alone on established contamination.

Safety and Re-entry

Ozone is harmful to the respiratory system at the concentrations used in professional treatment. The property must be fully vacated during treatment — this includes people, all pets (including fish, birds and reptiles), all plants, and any food that cannot be sealed in airtight containers.

We use real-time monitoring to confirm that ozone has fully dispersed to safe levels (below 0.05 ppm, the UK occupational exposure limit) before confirming re-entry. We never estimate dispersal — we measure it.

What Results to Expect

Professional ozone treatment, properly applied as part of a staged process, typically delivers a significant and lasting improvement in property odour. For light to moderate contamination, results are usually dramatic — the property smells genuinely neutral after treatment.

For very heavy, long-standing contamination where odour compounds have deeply penetrated structural materials, results are still significant but may not be complete. In these cases, we will tell you honestly before treatment begins what is realistic — including whether any further steps (such as specialist stain-blocking primer before repainting) would help maintain the improvement.

What Does Professional Ozone Treatment Cost?

• Essential (ozone only, surfaces pre-cleaned): from £495 + VAT
• Advanced (fogging + ozone + ionisation): from £695 + VAT
• Complete (surface treatment + fogging + ozone): from £1,350 + VAT

Starting prices for studio / small 1-bed. Full pricing guide →