Tens of millions of Americans suffer from respiratory conditions, and many suffer from irritation due to poor indoor air quality. Addressing this issue at your home’s HVAC is a great solution. Even better, adding UV light to the mix can make a big difference. Here is a look at what UV light is and its role in improving indoor air quality.
UV-C Band Light and Pathogens
UV-C light exists in a bandwidth that makes it ideal for breaking down DNA and RNA in pathogens, such as bacteria, mold spores, dust mites, and viruses. DNA and RNA molecules are essential to the reproduction of such pathogens. Consequently, UV light filtration systems are highly effective at removing pathogens from the air. More than 99% of pathogens in an indoor air sample are eliminated within 24 hours after the introduction of UV light filtration.
UV light is the same light that comes from the sun. If you’ve ever heard that sunlight is the best disinfectant, this is the practical origin of the saying. Absent prolonged and direct exposure, UV light is perfectly safe for use in all settings with people and pets.
Health Benefits
Everyone benefits from cleaner air, but those with conditions like allergies, asthma, or COPD tend to benefit the most. Foremost, removing potential sources of illness from the air reduces the risk of coming down with an illness. Getting sick is never fun, but illness can be particularly damaging to the breathing pathways of people who have respiratory problems.
Repeated illnesses can have a compounding effect. If someone with COPD ends up with a case of pneumonia, for example, the damage to their lungs can worsen their COPD even after they’ve recovered from the pneumonia. Preventing this cycle goes a long way toward supporting overall health.
Mold is also a particularly big part of the cycle of unhealthiness in a house. A person who has allergies or frequently gets lots of colds may not even know that their house is working against them. This has led to a rise in sick houses, homes that have mold present and are leading to persistent illnesses, even in otherwise healthy people. Removing mold from the air reduces irritation, leading to greater symptom relief and fewer periods of illness.
UV Light’s Place in HVAC and Indoor Air Quality Improvement
Notably, UV light filtration is just one part of the bigger picture when it comes to improving indoor air quality. Complementary filtration technologies like HEPA filters and dehumidifiers will augment the performance of a good UV light system. Even basic HVAC filters help capture large particles like lint and hair. This allows the UV light filter to be more effective because it’s treating more air and fewer large particles.
Retrofitting
By adding UV light filtration to an HVAC, our technicians can more easily retrofit most existing HVACs. We typically remove a small section of the ductwork and then place the UV filter into the gap. A specialized lightbulb operates inside the chamber, bombarding passing air and killing pathogens.
This design makes UV light filtration entirely safe for your household. UV light won’t travel outside of the chamber because it lacks the penetrating power to travel through even the thinnest of metals, glasses, or plastics. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about exposure to the UV light.
HVAC airflow remains uninterrupted, too. The length of the ductwork should remain the same, and nothing in the UV light chamber will obstruct the airflow. The goal is simply to treat the flowing air with light as it passes.
Bluewater Heating & Air offers many indoor air quality solutions for heating and cooling systems. We also offer financing upon credit approval for installation projects. Whether you’re looking to retrofit your HVAC with UV light filtration or include it as part of a new setup, our technicians will do a superb job.
Our business is fully licensed, and we take immense pride in providing top-notch customer service. Folks who check reviews on Facebook and Google will be impressed by what our customers have to say about the quality of our work, too.
If you’re interested in how UV light filtration can improve the indoor air quality of your Pensacola, FL home, reach out to Bluewater Heating & Air today.
