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Are formaldehyde-free deodorizers as effective in high heat?

Hector V.asked 2 viewsOdor, Cleaning & ChemicalsFormaldehyde free deodorizerOdorDeodorizerHeatHolding tank

We're running 40 guys on a six-month commercial build in Phoenix. The sun bakes our standard units all day, hitting 110°F easy. For years, the rental company used the old-school blue liquid deodorizer. That stuff held up. The new formaldehyde-free deodorizer they switched to smells fine at 6 AM, but by noon it's like the heat cooks the scent right out. The holding tanks start to stink. I'm not against eco-friendly, but I need something that lasts a full day in this heat. Are the new formaldehyde-free formulas just as effective as the old ones when the temperature climbs? What are other superintendents in hot climates seeing with odor control?

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Tyler R.Columbus, OH

Formaldehyde-free deodorizer can last a full day at 110°F, but only when the charge and the pump schedule are set for summer heat and not for spring. The old blue stuff was forgiving. It covered for a light charge and an overloaded tank. The free formulas I've run on desert jobs are not forgiving at all once the tank is hot and getting heavy use.

What actually fixed the noon stink for us:

  1. Ask the driver for a heavier water and chemical charge through the hot months. A skimpy charge gets thick and concentrated by lunch and that is when it turns.
  2. Look at load per unit. Forty guys on the bare minimum count puts a lot into each holding tank. Adding a unit or a second pump day did more for smell than any chemical swap we tried.
  3. Get them out of full sun where the site lets you. Even shade off the side of the office trailer made the inside noticeably cooler.
  4. Check the vent stack is clear and keep doors closed. Propped doors cook the box.

If it still goes bad by noon after a heavier charge and an extra service, then push the vendor on the chemical. I'd look at service frequency first though.

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