UV lights can eliminate bacteria, viruses, mold spores, VOCs, odors, and particulates/contaminants in your home environment. They create hydroperoxides, which actively attack these pollutants to ensure cleaner indoor air for you.
Coil-sanitizing UV Lights target moisture-prone evaporator coils of air handlers to inhibit mildew growth, thus contributing to overall home sanitation.
To learn more about how UV lights can enhance your indoor air quality, check out this informative article: https://www.diamondbackplumbing.com/blog/is-uv-light-technology-in-hvac-systems-worth-it/.
Kills germs and bacteria
Scientists have long understood that ultraviolet C radiation (UVC radiation) rapidly kills bacteria and viruses, making it one of the primary tools used in hospitals for decontaminating surgical equipment. Unfortunately, direct exposure can harm eyes and skin; therefore, this UVC light should only be used in unoccupied spaces to avoid potential health risks to humans.
Researchers at Columbia University have recently discovered that far-UVC, or ultraviolet far radiation, can effectively inactivate airborne viruses and bacteria within indoor spaces.
When aerosolized H1N1 flu viruses were exposed to low doses of far UVC of 222-nanometer wavelength, they were inactivated nearly as effectively as traditional germicidal UV treatments.
Far-UVC lighting is safe for human exposure and more cost-effective than traditional germicidal UV lamps, making it attractive to HVAC manufacturers who install far-UVC bulbs into residential HVAC systems to provide healthier air without incurring additional expenses.
As with conventional UV lamps, far-UVC bulbs must be changed out every one to five years as with conventional ones; additionally, they should be regularly cleaned to remove dust particles that reduce effectiveness.
Eliminates volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Studies have revealed that people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and studies also demonstrate that indoor air pollution concentration can be up to five times higher than outdoor levels – particularly VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which have been linked with eye and nose irritation, headaches, dizziness, and even reduced mental alertness.
UV lights don’t prevent VOC formation in homes. Still, they can significantly decrease their presence by decontaminating HVAC ductwork with UV lamps or inserting separate non-invasive UV lamps directly into it.
While UV lights don’t prevent their presence entirely in air quality testing results, their presence can significantly diminish as decontamination occurs, and any VOCs that enter are destroyed through decontamination processes.
UV lamps have been a staple in hospitals for years, aiding in the sanitation of surfaces and effectively reducing the transmission of bacteria and viruses. Furthermore, UV lights remove germs and VOCs from the air, helping keep these contaminants from spreading throughout a home and creating respiratory issues and skin irritation.
UV air purification systems can be easily installed in your HVAC ductwork or coil cabinet. However, for safety’s sake, it is wise to consult a qualified technician so as not to accidentally damage or harm yourself during installation.
Kills particulates
Researchers have recently discovered that an intense wavelength of ultraviolet C light called far-UVC can inactivate viruses on airborne particles, potentially helping prevent diseases like COVID-19 from spreading further. However, this technique needs to be certified by health officials and evaluated by home test volunteers before it can be widely utilized as an effective tool.
UV rays can kill bacteria, mold, and gasses without restricting airflow. Installing UV lights into your HVAC system is a cost-effective and efficient way to combat contaminants that spread throughout your house and helps avoid using toxic chemical cleaners that harm both you and the environment.
UV light can help eliminate foul odors in the house, such as those generated from tobacco smoke, perfumes, and cleaning products. These smells could aggravate certain people’s eyes, noses, and throats. For those who already have respiratory conditions like psoriasis, they may potentially make the condition worse.
UV light destroys volatile organic compounds present in homes to eliminate foul odors while improving indoor air quality.
Though DIY versions of UV lighting for your home exist, hiring an HVAC technician to install and maintain it would be wiser. Wipe down the UV lamp frequently to eliminate dirt and grime that might reduce its effectiveness, and ensure all filters in your HVAC system are kept clean to maximize operation while decreasing contaminants entering the home.
Kills fungi
UV light destroys fungi by dissociating their DNA, known as photo-disassociation. Bacteria lose their ability to reproduce themselves when their nucleic acid breaks down in less than a second. UV lighting is widely used in food processing plants to maintain clean production environments during production.
Installing a UV air purifier into your home’s HVAC system will help fight against mold and mildew in the ductwork, reduce foul odors caused by volatile organic compounds in your house, and help fight allergies that cause breathing difficulties for those with respiratory conditions.
Mold and mildew should be tackled early using UV lights when they’re still at an early stage of development. UV rays will kill any spores present in ductwork that might otherwise turn into full-blown mildew or mold growth later.
UV light must directly contact mold spores to destroy them effectively; it won’t work against deeper-seated mold in porous materials like drywall. Also, remember that before installing a UV air purifier into your HVAC system, a mold remediation company must physically remove all affected mold under strict containment measures.
