How UV Lights Actually Clean the Air

The idea of killing off the germs in your home just by shining a light into your air ducts admittedly sounds a little too good to be true, but HVAC UV lights really can improve your home’s air quality. In fact, these lights have been used for decades in hospitals and other facilities where sanitation is critical.

Ultraviolet (UV) lights for HVAC systems are commonly known as ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems. They target a very specific type of air contaminant, namely microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and mold spores. You might be familiar with the way hanging laundry out in the sunshine helps kill any germs or mold clinging to it. UV lights work in essentially the same way.

UV light’s ability to kill pathogens in water and air was scientifically proven early in the 20th century. These systems have been used in hospitals as far back as the 1930s to reduce the spread of diseases such as measles and tuberculosis.

You’ll need to choose which of the two types of available are right for your needs:

• Air Sterilization – This system is specifically designed to kill microbes in your air. It’s usually installed in the return air duct and turns on only when the heating or cooling system is running. Because it purifies all the air passing through, it also reduces the risk of microbial buildup on your HVAC components, such as your evaporator coil, air ducts, air filter, and drain pan.
• Coil Sterilization – This is the most common type. It’s installed near the air conditioner’s indoor evaporator coil and shines constantly to prevent mold and bacteria from building up on or around the coil. Less mold and microbes on your coil means less in your air.

 Our professional technicians here at Safe House Air Duct Cleaning will be able to advise you on which type of system will do the best job of purifying your home’s air.