Hydroxyl Treatment
Odor elimination using hydroxyl radicals. Slower than ozone, but it can run while the building is still occupied.
Hydroxyl treatment is odor removal using a generator that produces hydroxyl radicals, typically with UV light and ambient air, to break down the compounds causing the smell. It is the treatment most crews reach for when the building still has people in it.
Why crews choose it
The practical advantage over ozone is occupancy. Hydroxyl generators are commonly run in occupied spaces, which means the homeowner does not have to leave, the job does not stall, and additional living expenses do not keep climbing. On a fire or heavy odor loss where the family is staying put in part of the house, hydroxyl is often the only workable option.
What running it looks like
- It is slower than ozone. Plan on days, not hours, and expect to move the unit room to room as areas are finished.
- Air movement matters. The radicals are short lived, so techs use air movers to circulate treated air rather than parking a generator in a corner and walking away.
- It works on exposed surfaces and air. Anything sealed inside a wall cavity or buried in a packed box is not getting treated, which is why cleaning and pack-out come first.
- UV lamps have a service life. A unit with tired lamps is a fan with a light in it.
What it does not replace
Hydroxyl is deodorization, not cleaning. If soot and residue are still on the surfaces, the odor source is still in the building and the generator is fighting an unwinnable fight. Clean first, treat second.
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