Do UVC Air Purifiers Work?

September 08, 2020

Perhaps you realize that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) causes painful sunburn. But were you aware that a different type of ultraviolet light can be useful for keeping your house’s air clean?

The sun gives off two types of dangerous UV rays, UVA and UVB. These harmful rays can result in sunburn, skin cancer, wrinkles and other types of premature aging.

There’s another concentration of UV light, known as UVC. While full exposure to this ultraviolet light is bad for your skin or eyes, it can safely be utilized to disinfect air, water and various surfaces.

Connolly Electric & Mechanical uses this light in a few of our solutions to better air filtration in Cottonwood & Prescott homes.

How Ultraviolet Light is Used

This precise wavelength is referred to as “germicidal” since it destroys the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens travel through this light, they eventually cease to exist because they can’t multiply.

This makes UVC light a powerful replacement to chemical disinfection. Germicidal light is employed in many disinfection uses, such as medical laboratories and hospitals. It’s also used to sterilize drinking water and other liquids produced in food processing.

It’s becoming more popular to freshen air in residences in Cottonwood & Prescott. That’s due to the fact it can also eradicate frequent indoor contaminants such as mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an additional benefit if someone in your household has seasonal allergies or asthma.

Uses for Germicidal UV Light in Your Home

We place a germicidal UV light in your HVAC system’s ductwork. As the light is installed in the ductwork, it makes it compatible with most heating and cooling units. This also keeps its light securely confined while delivering powerful cleaning for your residence’s air.

Filthy air is cleaned in a two-step process, first flowing through your air filter and then the UV light before flowing around your home. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t operating, these lights still operate to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort system clean.

This whole-house option is greater than a portable air purifier, which can only clean the air in one room. Portable air purifiers also can’t clean your ductwork or the innerworkings of your HVAC equipment. A clean HVAC system is often a more efficient one that could even operate for a longer life span. And, the majority of portable air purifiers are notorious for creating ozone.

When thinking over buying a germicidal lamp for your home, it’s essential to buy one that doesn’t produce ozone. While ozone is great at wiping out odors and chemicals, it could also irritate your lungs and lead to other respiratory issues.

If you’re looking for approaches to freshen your house’s air, the indoor air quality professionals at Connolly Electric & Mechanical can help. We sell a large range of options to help your household breathe more easily. Contact us at 928-251-4327 to schedule a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate right away!