Do UV Lights Improve Indoor Air Quality
While the idea of killing germs inside your HVAC unit with light may seem unrealistic, UV lights are an excellent defence when it comes to protecting your indoor air quality (IAQ) from bacteria. The quality of air inside your home is crucial to the health and comfort of your family, and this is true now more than ever! As we continue to spend more time indoors, it is especially important to pay attention to the air quality we breathe. The result will be cleaner, healthier and fresher smelling indoor air.
What is UV Light?
The first thought that may come to mind when considering UltraViolet (UV) light is skin cancer or harmful radiation. However, the effects of UV light vary according to wavelength. UV rays from the sun are composed of a combination of UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C rays.
Often called germicidal UV, UV-C is the most powerful form and can destroy microorganisms by scrambling their DNA. For this reason, UV-C light is a highly effective form of air purification, sterilization and disinfection. When installed into HVAC systems, UV lights will kill and sterilize these contaminants to purify indoor air.
Is Bacteria in My HVAC Unit Really a Health Concern?
While it may be easy to disregard a build-up of bacteria that you can’t see, it is proven that contamination in air ducts does contribute to indoor air pollution, which can cause respiratory health issues like allergies and asthma. Without proper maintenance of your indoor air quality, every breath you take at home could contain harmful bacteria and chemicals.
Did you know your home’s air can be up to 7x more polluted than outdoors? In today’s world, your family may be spending up to 90% of their time indoors! So it is crucial to pay attention to the air inside your home and eliminate any bacteria growing inside your HVAC unit.
How UV Lights Improve Indoor Air Quality
UV lights can drastically improve air quality in your home and reduce allergens significantly, leading to improved health and wellness of family members.
The UV light used in HVAC purification systems can kill:
- Viruses
- Mould
- Fungi
- Bacteria
UV lights are a chemical-free way to kill, neutralize and sterilize these contaminants as they pass through the HVAC unit. Spaces with high levels of bacteria, like hospitals and clinics, already use UV lights to keep surfaces clean and disinfected.
You may be wondering if UV light is necessary if you already have a good air filter? While air filters do a great job at blocking large particles from entering the air, like dust and pet hair, they cannot catch tiny particles like harmful bacteria and viruses. This is why UV lights can be helpful, as instead of blocking particles from entering the air, they will instantly kill them.
There are a few ways technicians can add UV lights to your HVAC system:
1. The most common way is a UV lamp attached to your evaporating coil. This helps keep the growth of mould and mildew from contaminating the air. As there is typically a lot of moisture in this area, the UV lamp will kill any growing mould.
2. A second option is to have the UV lights placed into the ductwork to thoroughly clean all the air flowing through the HVAC system. The main goal with this option is to sanitize the air versus cleaning areas of the HVAC unit.
Keep Your Air Quality Clean With AtlasCare
UV-C light can help eliminate many types of bacteria and viruses, including the virus that causes COVID-19. While social distancing and hand-washing are still the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus, AtlasCare’s air quality experts have other proven solutions to help improve the indoor air quality of your home. With proper installation by a professional HVAC technician, UV light can effectively kill viruses, mould, and bacteria.
Give us a call if you have questions about how to improve the air quality inside your home. Our technicians have been in the IAQ business for over 25 years and know the best and most effective way to clean your air without creating an extra hassle for you. Our team is familiar with many reliable systems and control strategies that can help you and your family breathe the highest quality air possible! Reach out to us for more information about our UV lights, air filters and accessories.
All AtlasCare field staff follow strict COVID-19 protocols based on the direction of the CDC, so you can rest assured that your family and our team remain safe at all times.
