UV lights installed in the ductwork of your heating and cooling system can fill a critical gap in your healthy air quality strategy. Efficient filtration is necessary to control many of the inorganic constituents of indoor air pollution such as dust, dirt, elements of smoke and chemical gasses. However, living microorganisms such as mold, mildew and viruses often survive simple filtration. They may actually thrive inside filter media and multiply, increasing the load of airborne pathogens circulating throughout your home. The installation of UV lights takes simple mechanical filtration to a higher level.
The germicidal properties of ultraviolet light have been known for over 100 years and are routinely used to sterilize medical environments. Air passing through the ductwork is exposed to a concentrated dose of ultraviolet light from lamps installed in the ducts. Since all the air in your home circulates through the ducts up to seven times per day, continuous sterilization is ensured.
Typical utilization of UV lights include:
- Single lamp installation. A small circular hole is cut in the duct to insert the ultraviolet tube. The tube extends across the air path inside the duct and disinfects passing air.
- A lamp array included in a whole-house filter mounted inside the ducts. These units incorporate high-efficiency mechanical filter media plus UV light tubes to provide total filtration of both inorganic particulates and microorganisms. In addition, the whole-house filtration unit frequently includes a photocatalytic screen. When exposed to UV light, a catalytic reaction breaks down harmful chemical vapors such as volatile organic compounds in the airflow as it passes through the screen.
- Evaporator coil installations. The wet passages of an evaporator coil in an A/C air handler are common locations for mold. This growth narrows passages, restricts airflow and reduces coil efficiency. UV lights positioned in the air handler near the coil kill mold growth and keep coil surfaces clean.
In Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley, homeowners have trusted their interior comfort and air quality to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning since 1922. We’ll be happy to explain more of the benefits of UV lamps in your home’s HVAC system.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Terre Haute, Indiana about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about UV lights and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922