An air cleaner does a great job at improving the air quality in your home, but it is only able to control one type of indoor air contaminant: airborne particles. The truth is, there are other types of contaminants in our air that can hurt our health. To control those, you need the help of a UV light air purifier.
The concept behind a UV light air purifier
UV light air purifiers model their technology after the sun. Outside, the sun gives off UV rays that kill and control many of the germs, bacteria, and viruses in the air. Since those UV rays don’t make it inside our homes, there is nothing to naturally kill and control germs and gasses in our indoor air.
How does a UV light air purifier work?
To mimic the germ-controlling process of the sun, UV lights can be installed into your HVAC system. These lights are placed in your ductwork before the air reaches your air filter or an air cleaner. When the air from your home passes by, the UV light either kills or sterilizes the germs, bacteria, and viruses that are in the air stream. They can also be used to kill the growth of these contaminants in your HVAC system.
What are the benefits of installing a UV light air purifier?
There are three types of indoor air contaminants: particles, germs, and gasses. Air filters and air cleaners are designed to control particles, but they aren’t effective at controlling germs or gasses. That’s where a UV light comes in. UV lights come in wavelengths that control germs, known as UVC lights, as well as those that kill gasses, known as UVV lights. Dual-wavelength systems that can control both germs and gasses in one unit are also available.
Germs and gasses are responsible for spreading viruses, causing colds and flu, and aggravating symptoms of asthma and allergies. By installing a UV light, you can significantly increase the quality of your air and protect the health of you and your family.
UV lights also protect your filter or air cleaner from the same germs. If bacteria get trapped in an air filter, they can grow on the filter and further contaminate your air.
If you have any questions about a UV light air purifier, or if you’d like an air purification system installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Louis area heating and cooling company.
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