UV light for AC units improves indoor air quality, helping to fight against lung infections caused from airborne pathogens and improves efficient operation of your AC system.
UV Light for AC Systems: How it Works
Installing ultraviolet (UV) lights in your central air-conditioning system is a sensible investment for your home and health that provides many important benefits. When we start to use our air-conditioning system during the warmer weather months, the stationary air in your home is drawn into the return vents to circulate through the air handler unit where it is cooled by the AC’s evaporator coils. The air in your home continues to circulate until it is cooled down to the temperature set on your thermostat.
This continued circulation over cooling coils promotes a buildup of residue, mold, fungal spores, and dust on the evaporator coils which causes your AC unit to work harder with significantly less efficient operation. It is recommended to have this part of your central air system cleaned periodically by a licensed professional, in addition to having your air vents cleaned.
During the air circulation process, air moves through a filter designed to remove dust, allergens, and dander. Unfortunately, even high efficiency HEPA filters cannot collect all particles. Air filters are effective at collecting dust and particles larger than .3 microns, but smaller particles like bacteria and viruses are typically between .2 and 2 microns and are known to pass through air filter systems. These microscopic pathogens include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that could potentially be toxic and may also cause a foul odor as the air continues to circulate throughout your home.
UV Light Fights Against Infection from AC Contaminants
In addition to less efficient operation and spreading of VOCs, viruses and allergens that pass through your AC air filter are prone to cause lung infections. People who are especially susceptible to lung infections from airborne contaminants include people with lung disease like asthma, COPD, pulmonary disease, or those with a compromised immune system. This continual spreading of harmful microorganisms, fungal spores or chemical agents can cause serious long-term health consequences, even for people without underlying health conditions.
The installation of UV lights for AC systems has been proven to be highly effective at controlling the buildup of mold and reducing fungal contamination in the air handler unit, as proven in this research study by National Institutes of Health. According to the study, air handler units (AHUs) with UV lights installed showed significantly lower fungal levels in the insulation lining of AC systems than control units without UV lights. The use of UVC germicidal lamps also resulted in significantly lower levels of total viable airborne fungi.
Benefits of UV Light for AC Systems
UVC germicidal lamps are proven to quickly eliminate harmful pathogens to disinfect and purify air, providing many advantages when utilizing UV light for AC systems. Having UV germicidal lamps mounted on your AHU provides the following benefits:
- Disinfects AC coils and drain pan
- Kills biological growth: viruses, mold, fungi and bacteria
- Improves the indoor air quality of your home
- Helps to prevent illness, common colds, lung infections and allergy symptoms
- Saves energy with more efficient operation
- Reduces maintenance costs by keeping your AC system clean
UV lights in air conditioning systems provide these benefits and more, as there is no measure to place on the health of your family. Keeping everyone in your home healthier with cleaner air and reducing your energy costs are well worth the investment of having UV lights installed in your air-conditioning system.
Types of UV Lights for AC Systems
There are two types of UV lights for HVAC / AC systems, which can be installed into different areas to keep your air-conditioning coils clean and also to purify the air as it circulates.
- Coil disinfection- a UVC germicidal lamp, typically a straight lamp like a stick, is installed inside the return air duct to disinfect the coils in the AHU. This UV lamp typically runs 24/7 and is highly effective at preventing buildup of mold, fungi and microbes on your cooling coils.
- Air disinection– A UV light installed in the return air duct designed to cycle on with the air handler blower disinfects and purifies moving air as it circulates.
Installing UV lights in your AC system is a small investment that brings big benefits. LightSources is a leading supplier of high-quality germicidal UVC lamps used in air purification systems worldwide. We offer a wide selection of UVC lamps proven highly effective at disinfecting and purifying the air, as well as germicidal lamps to disinfect water and surfaces. Improve your indoor air quality in any environment; residential, commercial, or industrial, with germicidal lamps proven to outlast and outperform comparable lamps.
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UV Germicidal ApplicationsLightSources, LightTech and our valuable partner companies together make the LightSources group, known for delivering high tech UV lamps for nearly any application. Our lighting engineers possess a deep technical knowledge of UV radiation, offering custom designed lamp products and prototypes to meet your unique specifications. Contact us with any questions on choosing the best germicidal lamps for your application and for more information on the benefits of UV light for AC systems.