Review of the Airthereal MA10K-PRO Smart Ozone Generator

These days, people are paying more attention than ever to their indoor air quality. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that our homes aren’t cycling air in and out as much as they used to. They’re better-insulated, the windows aren’t drafty, and our doors even allow very little air flow. So when there’s an odor or contaminant in your house, it can tend to linger. Another reason we’re more concerned about our air quality is that we’ve become more health-conscious. 40 years ago, it was considered perfectly normal to do something like smoke a cigarette while changing your baby. If someone did that today, we would be horrified.

But there are different ways to keep your indoor air clean. One way is to use a HEPA filter. These are great for getting rid of particulates like pollen and mold spores. But what if you’re dealing with a lingering odor, or a persistent mold infestation? In that case, you need the right tool for the job: an ozone generator. Of course, there are many ozone generators on the market, and not all perform equally well. We wanted to choose one from a reliable manufacturer, so we decided to review an Airthereal model. Airthereal is a well-known manufacturer of many environmental and quality-of-life devices. We recently reviewed their “Evening Tide” tankless water heater, and we liked what we saw.

Today, we’ll be reviewing the Airthereal MA10K-PRO Smart Ozone Generator. This is a compact, powerful ozone generator that can treat an area as large as 2,000 square feet. It comes with independent fan and generator functions, so it can be used for ventilation. And with the smart app controls, you can turn on the machine after you’ve already left the room. But how well does it actually perform, and what can it be used for? Is it durable enough for long-term use, or does it wear out easily? We’ll need to look at a number of factors to find out whether this ozone generator is worth your while. Let’s see what we discover!

Ozone Generator Basics

Let’s begin with the basics. Why would you want an ozone generator, rather than a standard HEPA filter? The main difference is what they remove. Ozone can kill mold and bacteria, eliminate mildew, and remove odors, leaving the air smelling clean. A HEPA filter, even a medical-grade one like the Airthereal AGH380, only really removes particulates. If your air is full of pollen, dust, or smoke, you’ll do better with a HEPA filter.

So, how does an ozone generator work? It uses a pair of electrically-charged plates to generate ozone directly from the air. See, ordinary oxygen is a molecule consisting of two oxygen atoms. This stable molecule is called O2, and it’s the oxygen your body uses in its metabolism. Ozone, on the other hand, is a less stable molecule consisting of three oxygen atoms, and is called O3. And while it can’t be used for energy, it has other important benefits.

In fact, ozone is essential for life on Earth. Naturally-created ozone is created by lightning in the upper atmosphere, where it forms the ozone layer. When dangerous solar radiation hits an ozone molecule, the energy is absorbed by the third oxygen bond. The radiation is prevented from reaching Earth’s surface. Meanwhile, the O3 molecule splits into an O2 molecule and a single oxygen atom. When the single atom encounters another single atom, it will form another stable O2 molecule.

Inside the home, O3 can be used to kill most molds and mildews, as well as bacteria. It will also absorb odor-causing molecules. Keep in mind, though, that for an ozone generator to work, it needs to produce a lot of ozone. At high concentrations, ozone can be dangerous for your health. It causes airway inflammation, and can even damage your lungs. That’s why the EPA monitors ground level ozone levels, and issues alerts when they are high. It’s also why the state of California has banned ozone generators altogether.

That said, it’s entirely possible to use an ozone generator safely. The key is to clear the area before you treat a room or a home. Make sure all the doors and windows are closed. First off, you don’t want ozone to enter any surrounding rooms. But you also don’t want the ozone escaping instead of sitting around and doing its job. When a treatment is complete, you also need to ventilate the room afterwards. Go inside, and open all the windows. Then leave, and wait for an hour for the space to air out. After that, you’re free to resume using the space. And don’t worry about the escaping ozone contaminating the air. It will dissipate quickly, and sunlight will make short work of it.

Design & Construction

The Airthereal MA10K-PRO Smart Ozone Generator is a newer version of the existing MA10K-PRODIGI. It has similar capabilities, but a smaller housing, and with added new smartphone controls. Other than that, the two are more or less the same, and the original is actually still available.

The MA10K-PRO is constructed from 304 stainless steel, one of the most durable and corrosion-resistant steels available. It has a no-nonsense brushed black finish, with only very minimal branding. The shape is rectangular, with a length of 8.86 inches, a width of 7 inches, and a height of 5.9. Despite its smaller size, it’s actually noticeably heavier than the original, tipping the scales at 8.8 pounds. That said, it’s still easy to carry, with a plastic handle on the top that folds down for storage. The corners of the housing are rounded, so you won’t have any sharp edges to jab you.

Most of the important features are located on the front of the housing. The left two thirds are occupied by an outflow vent, where ozone is expelled from the machine. To the left, there’s a control panel, including an LCD display. This display shows the current fan setting, as well as the current ozone production level. These can be controlled independently. After a treatment, you can shut off the ozone and use the fan alone to vent the room. You’ll also see the total cycle length, and the amount of time remaining. Beneath the display is a set of five buttons that can be used to control the various functions.

The back of the housing has a large intake vent, with a socket for the AC power cord. Keep in mind that there are two versions: a 110-volt North American version, and a 220-volt European. Make sure to choose the right one for your region, so you get the right voltage and cord. Along with the cord, there are a couple of other accessories we should mention. To begin with, there’s a spare fuse. This is a common fuse that you can buy at any hardware store for a couple of dollars. But it’s still a nice touch, since a power surge can blow out the existing fuse at any time. In addition, there’s a plastic door tag with the words “No Entry” printed on it. This is essential for safety if you’re working in a building that’s open to the public.

Ease of Operation

The Airthereal MA10K-PRO can output up to 10,000mg of ozone per hour at the maximum setting. This is enough ozone to treat approximately 2,000 square feet of space. Even if you have to treat an entire home, you’ll be able to cover most homes with one machine. In addition, maintenance is very easy. Because this is an ozone generator, not a HEPA filter, you don’t have to deal with expensive filter changes. There’s just a little pre-filter in the rear of the housing. It will eventually get clogged with dust, but it can be washed and reused almost infinitely. Just make sure to thoroughly dry it out before you use the machine again.

Operation is simple and straightforward. First, you can use the standard timed mode. Use the timer button to select a treatment period of 1 to 12 hours. Once the timer is set, it will begin producing ozone in five minutes. This should give you enough time to get out of the treatment area. When the timer runs down to zero, the generator will shut down. This is the mode you’ll be using most of the time.

That said, you might have a persistent odor that keeps coming back. In that case, you can set the MA10K-PRO to run in interval mode. In this mode, it will run either every 12 hours, or every 24 hours. That said, in interval mode, it will only run for half an hour at a time. You also can’t choose what time to begin the interval; it begins when you hit the interval button. So if you want the generator to run at 9 PM, you have to press the interval button at 9 PM.

The main improvement in the MA10K-PRO is the app feature. Within the app, you can pair with the ozone generator over WiFi, and control it remotely. This lets you begin a cleaning cycle from outside the room, for even better safety. The app can be used to set up a standard cycle or interval mode, just like the front control panel. But you can also select the room area and the type of contaminants you want to remove. Then, the app will automatically select the ideal ozone output and treatment time.

Final Verdict

As you can see, the Airthereal MA10K-PRO Smart Ozone Generator is a powerful little machine. With the ability to treat up to 2,000 square feet of space, it can cover most indoor areas with ease. The housing is tough and rugged, so you know it can take a beating. And with multiple control options and a smartphone app, even a complete novice can get good results. If you need an ozone generator, this is an excellent choice.