Consider for a moment the air in your house. You can’t always tell what’s in it, can you? It’s somewhat like an invisible river that runs through each room, bearing warmth in the winter from your heating system, coolness in the summer from your air conditioner, and, every now and then, unwelcome little visitors that affect your indoor air quality (IAQ).
And now, what if you had a silent watchman, a gentle yet firm beam of UV light, working within your HVAC system to clean up that invisible river a bit, to make your air quality a bit fresher for your family and you? Here at Precision Air Solutions, as your Solano and surrounding county neighbors, we think ultimate home comfort is less about temperature and more about the peace of mind of knowing everything is running smoothly and dependably.
Recently, we’ve been hearing many more rumors and inquiries about a particular type of ultraviolet light for your HVAC – a technology that aims to boost your indoor air quality. Maybe you’ve asked yourself: Is this a genuinely useful development, or just a flash in the pan?
It’s a great question to ask, and we appreciate your thoughtfulness! Precision Air Solutions‘ whole philosophy is based on a simple foundation of integrity and giving you straightforward, honest information. So, let’s sort of pull back the curtain on this fascinating subject and discuss, in plain language, if UV light technology is the kind of magic that’s right for the air in your house.
First Off, What Is This UV Light Anyway?
You’ve probably heard of ultraviolet light, right? It’s the same type of light from the sun. There are several types. UVA and UVB rays are the type that will give you a sunburn or, with too much direct exposure over time, cause risks such as skin cancer.
There’s another type, though, and it’s known as UVC light. This is our hero for today. UVC lights use a special, invisible wavelength of light that’s really good at, well, zapping tiny living things. This UV radiation is some strong stuff!
How Do These Lights Function Within My Furnace or Air Conditioner?
Picture a small superhero, the UV lamp, placed inside your heating and air system (your HVAC). We usually place it close to the evaporator coil (those valuable coils that cool the air with refrigerant) or inside the ductwork itself.
Why the evaporator coil? It’s cold and wet in there due to condensation. And wherever you have moisture and condensation, there’s a potential for mold, fungi, and other biological contaminants to make themselves at home. Nobody wants that!
That is where ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (yes, that’s a mouthful, so we can refer to it as UVGI) enters the picture. The UVC light bathes these surfaces continuously. When microorganisms such as mold spores, bacteria, or viruses travel through these UV rays, the light assaults their very center – their DNA or nucleic acid. It essentially jumbles their instruction manual and can destroy their cellular walls, so they cannot reproduce and wreak havoc.
Here’s how it works: the UVC light keeps your furnace or air conditioner interior clean by cutting these microbes off at the pass. The cleaner the system, the fewer contaminants and allergens that can be blown into your house.
The Big Question: Will It Clean All the Air in My Home?
This is where we must be very clear, because it matters to us at Precision Air Solutions that you have realistic expectations.
UVC lights are great at sanitizing the surfaces within your HVAC system, such as those coils we were discussing. By making the AC systems cleaner, they can certainly minimize the amount of allergens and microbes that would otherwise be blown around.
Now, for cleaning the actual airflow as it zooms through your ducts? That’s a bit more difficult. The air has to be exposed for a particular amount of time so that the UV light can kill off contaminants in the air as it is passing. Some high-intensity UVGI units are designed to accomplish this, but it generally takes a more heavy-duty system, and the watts (power) of the UV light become very critical.
Proper installation by an HVAC professional is strictly necessary. It’s not merely a matter of putting a light in there. It’s where it’s placed, how powerful the light is, and how it’s suited to your individual HVAC unit and airflow.
Let’s Discuss Topics: Ozone and Safety
We understand. New tech often comes with new questions. Among the most common is one regarding ozone production. It’s true that some UV lights do produce ozone, which, in some concentrations, isn’t so wonderful for us to breathe and can be an irritant to lungs, particularly for people who have asthma.
It is here that our Precision Air Solutions pledge – “Precision. Quality. Trust.” – really guides us. We would only recommend UVC lights that are designed not to release harmful ozone. Your health and safety are our top priority.
One issue could be direct exposure to the UVC rays. You’re doing it correctly by asking, and that’s great! These lamps, however, are placed within the enclosed HVAC system (your air conditioner or furnace), so you and your family will not be directly exposed to the ultraviolet light. Once more, this is one of the reasons that proper installation is so important.
So, Are UV Lights a “Yes” for My Home?
Our two cents: installation of UV lights is not a magic solution for every and any air quality problem. However, it can be a very useful addition to your home comfort lineup in specific circumstances.
Consider UVC lights if:
- You live in an area where humidity levels are extremely high, so mold is always an issue.
- You have a member of your household who has allergies or asthma and is sensitive to mold spores or other airborne microbes.
- You would want to add another layer of protection to render your HVAC system more efficient and cleaner and possibly minimize the spread of contaminants.
At Precision Air Solutions, we like to think big. Improved IAQ is usually a mix of several things: high-quality air filters, inspecting your ductwork (the professional cleaning of ducts every now and then, adhering to standards such as those of NADCA – the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, may be a good option), and perhaps, just perhaps, UV lights. We see them as just one of the tools in our toolkit to help enhance the quality of life for our customers. We want to provide affordable, quality HVAC products, and that involves giving you the most effective recommendation for your specific situation.
Thinking It Over? Let’s Talk.
We hope this short discourse has lifted a little bit of the veil of mystery from UV lights in your HVAC system. It’s a technology with real benefits, especially for keeping the system itself free from fungi and mold, which can translate into better overall air quality.
If you’re in Solano County or the surrounding area and would like to know whether UVC lights would be a benefit to your air conditioner or furnace, we’d love to discuss it with you. No salesperson, just straight information from your local, trusted HVAC professional. Precision Air Solutions is committed to surpassing your expectations and delivering personal service, because your comfort and dependability mean most to us.
Call us. Let’s collaborate to make your home a bit more comfortable.
Precision. Quality. Trust. That is the guarantee of Precision Air Solutions.