Do UVC Air Purifiers Work?

September 08, 2020

Perhaps you realize that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) is to blame for your painful sunburn. But were you aware that another variety of ultraviolet light can be useful for keeping your house’s air clean?

The sun emits two types of damaging UV rays, UVA and UVB. These damaging rays can lead to sunburn, skin cancer, wrinkles and other signs of premature aging.

There’s another concentration of UV light, known as UVC. While unprotected exposure to this ultraviolet light is bad for your skin or eyes, it can safely be utilized to purify air, water and certain surfaces.

Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling uses this light in some of our solutions to improve air filtration in Columbus residences.

What is an Ultraviolet Light Used For?

This specific wavelength is called “germicidal” because it eradicates the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens travel through this light, they eventually perish as they can’t spread.

This makes UVC light a strong substitute to chemical disinfection. Germicidal light is applied in a lot of disinfection applications, like medical laboratories and hospitals. It’s also applied to sterilize drinking water and other liquids made in food processing.

It’s becoming a popular choice to disinfect air in homes in Columbus. That’s because it can also eradicate typical indoor contaminants like mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an added perk for loved ones who deal with seasonal allergies or asthma.

How to Use Germicidal UV Light in Your Residence

We place a germicidal UV light inside your HVAC system’s ductwork. Since the light is put in the ductwork, it makes it compatible with many heating and cooling equipment. This also keeps its beams carefully confined while delivering great purification for your home’s air.

Contaminated air is freshened in a two-step process, first traveling through your air filter and then the UV light prior to moving throughout your residence. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t running, these lights still operate to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort unit clean.

This whole-house product is better than a portable air purifier, which can only clean the air in a single area. Portable air purifiers also can’t purify your ductwork or the inside of your HVAC unit. A clean HVAC system is typically a more efficient one that may even operate for a longer life span. And, many portable air purifiers have a bad reputation for producing ozone.

When considering adding a germicidal lamp to your home, it’s essential to look for one that doesn’t create ozone. While ozone is great at eliminating odors and chemicals, it could also irritate your lungs and cause other respiratory issues.

If you’re trying to find ways to purify your home’s air, the indoor air quality experts at Wolfe & Sons Heating and Cooling can help. We sell a broad range of solutions to help your household breathe better. Contact us at 614-451-0846 to set up a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate today!