Improve IAQ by Installing UV Lights

Improve IAQ by Installing UV LightsWhile a clean HVAC air filter removes airborne particulates you can see, UV lights control the troublesome pathogens you can’t see. Common dust and dirt in your household air are large enough to be effectively trapped by your system air filter. However, invisible mold spores, viruses, and bacteria slip through the filter and continue reproducing in your interior environment. These living microorganisms are linked to increasing incidence of allergies and other physical symptoms.

UV lights produce invisible illumination in the ultraviolet spectrum. While exposure to this light is harmless to people, ultraviolet wavelengths neutralize airborne microorganisms by penetrating the DNA and disrupting reproduction. The germicidal principles of ultraviolet light have been used for over a century in medical facilities to disinfect surfaces and sterilize environments like operating rooms.

UV Technology

Consuming only about 25 watts of electricity, UV lights resemble small fluorescent tubes from 8 inches to as long as 16 inches. A single or twin-tube light fixture is typically installed, depending on the volume of system airflow. Most UV lights are installed at two points in the HVAC system:

Return Duct Installation

Mounted in the large system return duct, a UV light tube exposes airflow to germicidal light. A qualified HVAC contractor can install the ultraviolet tube inside the ductwork with only a single small access hole. A ductwork light may be wired to the blower motor so the tube illuminates only when air is circulating through the duct.

Air Handler Installation

Mounted inside the air handler, ultraviolet light tubes inhibit toxic mold and bacteria on the A/C evaporator coil. Because the coil is frequently wet from condensation, it’s a common target for growth of microorganisms which, in turn, release toxic reproductive spores into your system airflow—not to mention decreasing coil efficiency. A UV light array sterilizes coil surfaces and penetrates deep into coil passageways to neutralize mold and bacteria.

In the Wabash Valley, Paitson Bros. has helped homeowners maintain a comfortable and healthy indoor environment since 1922. Contact us for more about the indoor air quality benefits of UV lights.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Terre Haute, Indiana about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). 

Credit/Copyright Attribution: “art_of_sun/Shutterstock”

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    By Jeff Paitson
  • About Jeff

    Jeff Paitson Jeff Paitson is a third generation business owner who continues to run the business with the same values that have been passed down from previous generations since 1922.

    Jeff’s belief is that the business belongs to Jesus Christ; therefore 10 percent of the company’s profits go toward the Maryland Community Church.

    Jeff is a Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce member and in his spare time, he enjoys photography.
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    Ethan Ethan Rayburn is a lifelong resident of Terre Haute and a 2005 graduate of Purdue University.

    An Eagle Scout, Ethan spent four years as a non-profit executive with the Boy Scouts of America before joining Paitson Bros. as a comfort advisor and later General Manager. In that role, Ethan has brought a renewed enthusiasm for customer care, integrity, value, and service to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning.

    Ethan enjoys singing and was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, spending time with his family and two young boys, and volunteering his time and resources with his church, Terre Haute First Baptist Church, which he has attended from a very young age.
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