How Do UVC Air Purifiers Work?

September 08, 2020

You probably know that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) results in painful sunburn. But did you know that a different type of ultraviolet light can be useful for keeping your house’s air clean?

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

There’s another type of UV light, called UVC. While full exposure to this ultraviolet light isn’t good for your skin or eyes, it can safely be utilized to clean air, water and various surfaces.

McFadden Heating & Cooling uses this light in several of our solutions to better air filtration in Dresden residences.

How Ultraviolet Light is Used

This distinct wavelength is called “germicidal” because it destroys the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens travel through this light, they eventually cease to exist since they can’t spread.

This makes UVC light a powerful replacement to chemical disinfection. Germicidal light is used in lots of disinfection uses, like medical laboratories and hospitals. It’s also employed to sterilize drinking water and other liquids created in food processing.

It’s growing in popularity to purify air in homes in Dresden. That’s because it can also eliminate typical indoor contaminants like mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an extra perk if someone in your household has seasonal allergies or asthma.

How to Use Germicidal UV Light in Your Residence

We put a germicidal UV light within your HVAC system’s ductwork. Because the light is put inside the ductwork, it makes it compatible with many heating and cooling systems. This also keeps its light carefully contained while delivering powerful cleaning for your home’s air.

Dirty air is cleaned in a two-step process, first traveling through your air filter and then the UV light before circulating around your residence. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t operating, these lights still work to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort unit clean.

This whole-house product is better than a portable air purifier, which is restricted to cleaning the air in a lone room. Portable air purifiers also can’t freshen your ductwork or the interior of your HVAC system. A clean HVAC system is often a more efficient one that may even run for an extended period of time. And, many portable air purifiers are known for producing ozone.

When thinking about getting a germicidal lamp for your home, it’s important to choose one that doesn’t create ozone. While ozone is great at eradicating odors and chemicals, it could also irritate your lungs and lead to other respiratory symptoms.

If you’re looking for ways to purify your residence’s air, the indoor air quality professionals at McFadden Heating & Cooling can help. We sell a broad range of products to help your family breathe easier. Contact us at 1-866-781-0111 to schedule a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate now!