Do UVC Air Purifiers Work?

September 08, 2020

You likely are aware that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) causes painful sunburn. But did you realize that a different type of ultraviolet light can be useful for keeping your home’s air clean?

The sun emits two types of harmful UV rays, UVA and UVB. These damaging rays can cause sunburn, skin cancer, wrinkles and other kinds of premature aging.

There’s another kind of UV light, called UVC. While full exposure to this ultraviolet light is harmful for your skin or eyes, it can safely be utilized to purify air, water and some surfaces.

Farris Heating & Air uses this light in several of our products to improve air filtration in Bartlesville homes.

How Ultraviolet Light is Used

This precise wavelength is called “germicidal” because it destroys the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens move through this light, they eventually cease to exist as they can’t reproduce.

This makes UVC light a strong substitute to chemical disinfection. Germicidal light is used in a lot of disinfection procedures, like medical laboratories and hospitals. It’s also employed to purify drinking water and other liquids produced in food processing.

It’s becoming a popular choice to purify air in houses in Bartlesville. That’s because it can also eliminate common indoor contaminants such as mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an added perk for loved ones who deal with seasonal allergies or asthma.

Uses for Germicidal UV Light in Your House

We put a germicidal UV light within your HVAC system’s ductwork. Since the light is put in the ductwork, it makes it compatible with most heating and cooling systems. This also keeps its light carefully restricted while providing powerful disinfection for your home’s air.

Dirty air is freshened in a two-step process, first moving through your air filter and then the UV light prior to spreading across your residence. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t working, these lights still operate to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort system clean.

This whole-house option is better than a portable air purifier, which is limited to cleaning the air in one space. Portable air purifiers also can’t freshen your ductwork or the innerworkings of your HVAC unit. A clean HVAC system is usually a more efficient one that may even operate for an extended period of time. And, some portable air purifiers have a bad reputation for producing ozone.

When considering buying a germicidal lamp for your residence, it’s essential to choose one that doesn’t make ozone. While ozone is great at wiping out odors and chemicals, it can also irritate your lungs and lead to other respiratory symptoms.

If you’re looking for methods to clean your home’s air, the indoor air quality specialists at Farris Heating & Air can help. We sell a wide range of solutions to help your household breathe more easily. Contact us at 918-333-0376 to set up a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate now!