Providing Quality Indoor Air Quality

Ultraviolet light (UV) forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Invisible to the human eye, it has a much shorter wavelength of visible light. UV light comes in three forms: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C.

All three types are generated by the sun, but only UV-A and UV-B make it past our planet’s atmosphere. These rays are responsible for sunburn and skin damage. UV-C is by far the most harmful of the three, but these rays are fortunately stopped by the atmosphere before they reach us.

UV-C, the type of light emitted by the bulbs on a UV air purifier, is extremely effective at destroying cells and DNA. A UV air purifier works by forcing conditioned air through a chamber containing powerful UV bulbs. As it does so, UV-C rays eliminate many of the microbes that have evaded the system’s filter.

UV air purifiers require almost no maintenance. All that you need to do is to replace the bulb once every year or once every two years, depending on the model.

Provided the UV air purifier is of good quality; it will be completely safe to run. UV-C light is extremely harmful to the cells in our bodies, but UV air purifiers are made with UV lights that are enclosed in a sealed tube, which does not let any of the UV rays escape.

UV purifiers can cause a reaction in which oxygen (O2) is converted into ozone (O3). Ozone is a greenhouse gas that is harmful to humans. However, most UV light purification systems today use bulbs that have a special coating, which prevents the production of ozone in unsafe levels.

Provided that the bulbs used by the UV air purifier are coated, the system should not produce any ozone at all.

The cost of installing a UV air purifier will vary depending on the strength of the bulbs the system uses, the brand and model, and the contractor’s installation charges.

Nonetheless, the cost of installation can be as low as $300 to some systems being as much as $1500.

The UV-C rays used by UV air purification systems have the potential to eliminate a wide range of microbes, including viruses. Whether your system is capable of eliminating viruses will depend on the strength of the UV-C rays it uses and the length of time that the conditioned air is exposed to the rays in the system.

The UV-C light used in UV air purification systems damages living organisms on a cellular level. It is extremely effective at killing germs or inactivating their vital functions by destroying their DNA. Among the microbes eliminated by UV lights are bacteria, viruses, molds, and fungus.

UV air purification systems can vary in the amount of energy they require to run. However, when compared with many other household appliances, the vast majority of them can be described as energy-efficient.

A typical UV air purifier will use around 50-150 watts of energy to run. When you think that a household light bulb uses 60 watts of energy, this is not much at all. All things considered, the total energy cost to run a UV air purifier amounts to $15-$30 a year.

An HVAC air filter performs an important role in trapping microbes. Nonetheless, even the best filters are incapable of removing 100 percent of the microbes contained in the air that passes through them. Microbes that do manage to find a way through can multiply and cause health problems for the inhabitants of a building.

UV light has the potential to eliminate the microbes that make it past the air filter. When used in conjunction with a high-quality HEPA or activated carbon filter, UV air purifiers are the best way of ensuring excellent, microbe-free air quality.

UV air purification systems can vary in the amount of energy they require to run. However, when compared with many other household appliances, the vast majority of them can be described as energy-efficient.

A typical UV air purifier will use around 50-150 watts of energy to run. When you think that a household light bulb uses 60 watts of energy, this is not much at all. All things considered, the total energy cost to run a UV air purifier amounts to $15-$30 a year.

A UV air purifier will typically work for 9,000 hours of use before the bulb needs replacing. This equates to just over a year, at which point the light will lose much of its effectiveness at killing microbes.

The cost of replacing a bulb in a UV air purifier will vary depending on the make and model of your system and the strength of the bulb. However, as a general rule, you are looking at a price range of $70-$100 for a new bulb.

The two main types of UV air purifiers are coil sanitizing lights and air sanitizing lights.

The most common type found in HVAC systems today are coil sanitizing lights. These systems include lights that are installed so that they shine directly onto the evaporator coils of the cooling unit. Coil sanitizing lights are effective at eliminating the microbial growth that can form in the moist environment around the evaporating coils. Coil sanitizing lights are left on permanently.

Air sanitizing lights are typically installed in the ductwork, which brings return air to the system. The idea is that they kill airborne microbes as they are circulated in the system airflow. Many air sanitizing light systems are designed to turn on and off as the HVAC system’s blower motor is turned on and off.

There are a number of tell-tale signs that you may need to replace your air purifier, including higher-than-usual electricity bills, abnormal humming or buzzing, or an increase in allergies.

As a general rule, you should replace your purifier’s bulb every year to ensure it stays effective.