For several years now, homeowners have heard the mantra from the United States Environmental Protection Agency that indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air quality, even in urban areas. Closed environments produced by ever-tightening building envelopes, more energy-efficient windows and similar factors have contributed to a build-up of molds, fungi and other toxins emitted from carpeting, flooring and similar building materials.
Numerous studies have shown that germicidal UV lights can help improve the air quality inside homes above and beyond the presence of HVAC air filters and air purifiers. Several areas of your home could benefit from the presence of UV lights that reduce mold and other unwanted micro-organisms. Germicidal UV light, also known as UVC, works by breaking down the DNA or RNA of mold, mildew, fungi and viruses, bacteria and spores and can play a positive role in allergy prevention.
UV lights are known to help control germs that worsen asthma and can also kill or inactivate tuberculosis in indoor air. For areas where there are several harmful substances, a catalyst can be used in conjunction with UV lights to help destroy pollutants. The catalyst reacts to the ultraviolet rays, causing the pollutants to convert into harmless byproducts.
UV lamps can be used in two ways to improve indoor air quality, namely upper-room air and in-duct UV radiation. Many pathogens may be removed from air by using germicidal UV air disinfection systems. While these methods will not completely remove pathogens, then can greatly reduce the amount present.
A good way to use UV lights in your home is to shine them in ductwork or drain pans in your HVAC system as both areas have the potential for high mold growth. By shining UV lights into these areas or directly on evaporator coils, you’ll provide a big boost to your HVAC systems air cleaning efforts as particles and pathogens that accumulate on these surfaces are eventually spread throughout a building via ductwork and the blower in your HVAC system.
With the addition of ultraviolet radiation, along with your normal HVAC filtration system, you can have cleaner, more breathable air. For more information, give us a call.