It has been found that there are certain types of UV lights that can be beneficial to reducing one’s exposure to microorganisms that are harmful to people. Knowing which ones are effective is key to being able to utilize the UV lights successfully. Now let’s explore facts about what UV lights are and how to have them help disinfect your HVAC system.
What Is UV Light?
We all know that light is a form of energy. According to the CDC ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of energy that is undetectable by the human eye. With UV lights, they are classified into three components:
Ultraviolet A (UV-A) 98% of the UVA light that reaches Earth from the sun is UVA. This type of ultraviolet light has higher wavelengths, but lower energy levels than the other UV rays. They can cause skin to age prematurely, leading to visible side effects such as wrinkles.
Ultraviolet B (UV-B) About 5% of the UVB rays reach the ground. WIth overexposure to UVB lights, you are more likely to get a sunburn, have a higher chance of getting skin cancer, and have your skin age prematurely.
Ultraviolet C (UV-C) These rays are completely filtered out by the ozone layer fortunately because they can cause serious damage to all life forms. UVC rays have the shortest wavelengths and the highest energy levels of the three types. The only UVC light on Earth is the result of man-made sources including welding torches, special bacteria killing light bulbs, and mercury lamps. This is the most effective wavelength for germicidal control.
Benefits of UV Lights for HVAC
Is there a possibility of my HVAC system becoming a health concern?
Yes and no. Your ducts are made from a non porous material that helps in reducing the risk of unwanted microorganisms from over growing within your system. However, contamination within your HVAC units is a large problem that should not be ignored. It can cause health problems, breathing issues, increased snoring, and the cause of poor air flow will overwork your HVAC system. Having clean air ducts is beneficial coupled with an air purifier and changing your air filter regularly. But only certain UV lights can be used in air purification. The Ultraviolet Germicidal light (UVGi) can help eliminate many types of bacteria and viruses. The UVGi light operates within the UV-C spectrum.
How Can UV Lights Increase the Air Quality in My Home?
Proper installation by using the correct spectrum of UV light is key. Having a qualified technician to install your air purifier is crucial in ensuring that it works properly. The correct placement and direction of the proper number of UVGi lights has as much bearing on effectiveness as the temperature and humidity levels within the home.
Does Air Filtration Help?
Improving indoor air quality is a great benefit to having UV light installed in your home or office. Since COVID-19, many government units have implemented utilizing UV light to help curb the spread of the disease. Now that many are spending more time indoors, ensuring that the air you breathe in and the surfaces you touch daily are in a healthy atmosphere is crucial. One of the main benefits of using an air purifier is that it continuously kills the bacteria, viruses, and germs that would otherwise circulate throughout your ventilation system.
UV lights are also efficient at not only removing pathogens within the air, but also removes allergens such as pet dander, molds, dirt, and dust. You will notice a huge decrease in allergy flare ups such as runny nose, eye irritations, and continuous sneezing attacks when having a UV air purification in your home.
Reducing unpleasant household odors is just another benefit of having an air purification system. Scents are the result of lingering molecules in the air particles and may cause unpleasant smells inside of your home. This can be a result of unknowingly bringing in items that can impact the air quality within your home or office such as new furniture, carpets, pesticides, and even cigarette smoke. By being able to have a UV-C light purification system, you can eliminate the smells as well as purify the quality of the air around you.
For all of your air purification needs, we are happy to help you here at Anchor Electric of Florida Inc. Give us a call and we can schedule your free estimate!