Ultraviolet (UV) lights are becoming increasingly popular for HVAC systems, as they can help to keep the air inside your home clean and safe. UV radiation has a higher frequency than visible light, and this energy is enough to destroy the DNA of bacteria and other microorganisms, killing them and disinfecting the air. There are two types of UV lights for HVAC systems: air sterilization and coil sterilization. Air sterilization is a complete UV light unit that sterilizes moving air.
The UV light unit is installed in the return air duct and is turned on with the air controller fan. This type of UV light is also known as a UVC duct system, and it works by improving the reflective surface within the ducts, maximizing the UV-C light in all directions. Coil sterilization involves installing UV-C lamps to attack sensitive and problem prone components, such as cooling coils, condensing trays, and filters. This allows microbial growth to be controlled in areas that are more difficult to reach, such as grooves, fins, seams and edges. When it comes to brands of UV lights available for HVAC systems, Philips offers a 17-degree UV-C lamp that can save between 10 and 25% by using its system.
Honeywell's UV2400U5000 system has additional technology that is usually cheaper than the company's dual bulb system, and it can also eliminate up to 90 percent of VOCs under certain circumstances. The Pure Air R-18D is a germicidal lamp that is reasonably priced and very effective in small and medium-sized homes. The Field Controls UV-18 is a UV-C purification system that uses a single bulb. Installing a UV light system for your HVAC system requires some caution. Be sure to check and recheck the instructions that came with the UV lamp before you start drilling.
Working with UV lights can be dangerous, so you should hire a professional to install them or take some safety precautions if you decide to do it yourself. The benefits of installing a UV light system in your HVAC system are numerous. Not only does it help to keep the air inside your home clean and safe, but it can also maximize the efficiency of your air conditioning system or keep the effects of allergens away. If you don't have respiratory problems or allergies, and if you don't have higher-than-normal rates of colds and other viruses, you probably don't need germicidal UV lights in your HVAC system. However, if you want to maximize the efficiency of your air conditioning system or keep the effects of allergens away, a UV light is a smart long-term investment.
