UV Lights & Why You Need Them
A high quality UV light for your HVAC system can improve both the longevity of your system, and your health.
In short, it helps keep your system cleaner, so that your air is healthier & the system lasts longer. Let’s take a deeper look at Ultraviolet lamps.
What is UV?
UV(ultraviolet) light is form of electromagnetic radiation that has a vibrational frequency outside of our eyes ability to detect. Basically, it is light that is beyond what our eyes can see.
UV radiation is a known disinfectant for air, water, and nonporous surfaces. UV radiation has effectively been used for decades to reduce the spread of bacteria. It is because of this, UV lamps are often called “germicidal” lamps.
What does UV do for my system?
Contamination in HVAC units is a widespread issue that shouldn’t be ignored. Let’s be honest, most people don’t replace their filters often enough. This contamination often contributes to building-related diseases, like viral or bacterial infections, allergic rhinitis, asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis, according to the National Institute of Health.
A high quality, properly installed UV purifier will prevent mold, bacteria, or other bio-growth from forming inside the system.
The Science of UV lights
The predominant type of UV light has been a pressurized mercury bulb. This technology has been in use for decades, and works well. The down side to these are that they are fragile, contain mercury, and need fairly frequent replacement.
The industry has adopted new, precision wavelength LEDs that are an improvement over past generations. They are mercury-free, last up to 2.5x LONGER, and are more efficient.
In addition to the LED bulbs, Photocatalytic Oxidation technology has become a feature of higher quality UV lights.
The catalysts release molecules of zinc that float in the air, attaching themselves to pollutants such as VOCs, bacteria, viruses, smoke, etc. The zinc neutralizes the compounds, and causes pollutants to clump together making them large enough to get caught in the filter & removing them from the airstream.
Do UV lights really help?
“If properly designed, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) cleaners that use ultraviolet radiation from UV lamps may destroy indoor biological pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, and some molds that are growing on the moist interiors of HVAC surfaces (e.g., cooling coils, drain pans, or ductwork).”, says the EPA.
Some models, like the Reme Halo-LED & Aerus Air Scrubber, combine UV & Zinc Enhanced catalysts for ultimate performance.
That said, UV lights must be used in conjunction with other air cleaning devices like a high quality filter(ideally a Media filter or better) to reach optimal indoor air quality levels.
Do I need an UV light?
I recommend UV lights on all equipment to prevent growth from ever forming, and to give you the best performance and highest air quality.
They keep the HVAC system clean & free from contaminants, and make the air in your home cleaner & healthier for your family to breathe.
If you value your health, you and your family, would benefit greatly from this addition. It can also extend the lifespan of your system, saving you THOUSANDS!
The Cooling King has decades of experience helping clients breathe easier. Let us help you find the right solution for your indoor air quality issues.
Call The Cooling King today for a Clean Air Consultation!
972-439-2537
