UV germicidal lights can bring the sanitizing power of sunlight into your home by neutralizing toxic mold. In nature, mold colonies flourish only in locations sheltered from the sun. This is because certain wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) light present in natural sunshine can penetrate the DNA of mold, destroying its capacity to replicate.
Why It’s a Problem
In the great outdoors, airborne mold spore concentrations are generally in the hundreds or thousands per cubic foot of air. However, when a growing mold colony is contained within the enclosed confines of a house, airborne spores can exceed 100 times the level measured in open outdoor air. At this concentration, people who are sensitive to airborne spores may experience allergic reactions and a variety of physical symptoms.
Where It’s a Problem
Mold needs darkness, moisture and microscopic organic particles to thrive. Airborne mold spores can find these conditions inside various HVAC components, such as the ductwork and A/C evaporator coil. Since the total air volume in your home circulates throughout your ductwork multiple times a day, spores released by mold growth in your HVAC system are constantly disseminated into your living area.
How Ultraviolet Lights Solve the Problem
UV germicidal lights can continuously subject system airflow to beneficial disinfecting properties. As such, the mold spores circulating through your ducts are neutralized by repetitive exposure and don’t reproduce, inhibiting the spread of mold and its toxicity to humans.
Another common location of mold growth in your HVAC system is the A/C evaporator coil. Constantly wet with condensation, the dark passages of the coil provide a perfect environment for mold contamination. Mold also typically forms in the wet drip pan below the unit. In addition to indoor air quality issues, mold growth inside the coil can also constrict airflow, reducing system efficiency and raising operating costs. Installed at the evaporator coil, dedicated UV germicidal lights can keep the coil and drip pan mold-free.
Since 1922, Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning is your Terre Haute source for more information about the benefits of UV germicidal lights.
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 germicidal 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