Winter is coming, and it’s time to guard your home against the elements. Your windows and doors are shut tight, so that cold air can’t get in from the outside. While this is great for saving energy, it’s not so good for your indoor air quality. Without an open window to supply fresh air, the same air gets cycled through your ductwork and pumped into your home again and again, all season. This leads to a buildup of mold, bacteria and other harmful contaminants. In fact, the air in your home can be far more polluted than the air outdoors. So how do you cleanse your stagnant air without letting winter into your home? Take a good look at germicidal UV light systems.
Ultraviolet (UV) light has a wavelength too short to be visible to the human eye. At these shorter wavelengths, UV rays are able to neutralize organic matter on contact, eventually eliminating it. While in some cases this can be dangerous, one particular form, UV-C light, is safe in moderate doses and has been found to work well in targeting mold, viruses, some forms of bacteria and other organic particles in your indoor air. Because of this, UV light systems are effective complements to any home air-cleaning strategy.
The UV lights are integrated into your HVAC system. As air moves through the ducts (or across coils in an A/C or heat pump), it’s irradiated with ultraviolet rays, eliminating organic matter by damaging its DNA, so that it won’t be able to spread. This improves your indoor air quality, creating a healthier home.
Be aware that UV light systems only disinfect the air; they don’t purify it. Though they work well for eliminating mold, bacteria, and viruses, they don’t work on dust particles or other inorganic matter. UV light systems should always be used in tandem with a good HVAC air filter, that is checked and replaced regularly. Your UV lights should be cleaned every six months and replaced every year. Never try to access your UV system without shutting it off first.
For more advice on raising your indoor air quality, contact our experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been northeast Ohio’s source for quality HVAC solutions for more than 50 years.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about UV light systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area