UV Lights Help You Breathe Easier and Keep Your HVAC System Cleaner

Ultraviolet (UV) light has been used for many years for sterilization in food processing and medical settings. Homeowners can take advantage of the advances made in this field by installing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) technology in HVAC systems to target a range of microbes.

Air cleaning and purification are particularly important with the advent of airtight homes, where contaminants are trapped and >indoor air quality can suffer. Times of high humidity, when levels reach more than 50 percent, may also fuel concern, as this is the optimum condition for the production of mold.

How UV Lights Work

Filtration can certainly trap many types of particles, but they won’t kill them. UV technology makes use of shortwave light to destroy the DNA in bacteria, fungus, mold and viruses so they’re unable to reproduce. Ultraviolet irradiation systems are generally installed near the indoor coil of the HVAC system, an area where damp conditions may encourage the growth of organisms that can aggravate >allergies and asthma. UV lights also help reduce pollutants on the coil that may slow air flow.

Air purification systems abound, and some are available in less expensive portable models that can be moved from room to room, which may be used for spot treatment. With UV light technology, however, a whole-house approach is recommended.

What to Look For

While there are a number of types of UV lights on the market, homeowners should be on the lookout for the following:

• A system that doesn’t produce hydroxyl radicals, which may damage health.
• Long-lasting bulb.
• Installation flexibility so that lamps can be focused for maximum exposure of the light onto the coil. UV lights installed in the ducts, where air is treated as it passes through the system, can’t kill microbes in the brief time that the organisms pass under the lights.
• Minimal maintenance, including no need to clean.

For more information about UV lights for your home, call us at Tempco Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Arlington Heights area for more than 20 years.