How Does Germicidal UV Light Work?

September 08, 2020

You probably know that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) is to blame for your painful sunburn. But did you realize that another variety of ultraviolet light can be useful for keeping your house’s air clean?

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

There’s another kind of UV light, known as UVC. While direct exposure to this ultraviolet light isn’t good for your skin or eyes, it can safely be used to purify air, water and some surfaces.

B & B Heating & Cooling uses this light in several of our products to enhance air filtration in Florissant houses.

Applications for Ultraviolet Light

This specific wavelength is classified as “germicidal” as it eradicates the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens travel through this light, they eventually cease to exist because they can’t spread.

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

It’s becoming more popular to freshen air in residences in Florissant. That’s because it can also wipe out frequent indoor contaminants like mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an additional advantage if someone in your household has seasonal allergies or asthma.

Having Germicidal UV Light in Your House

We install 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 rays safely housed while delivering strong disinfection for your house’s air.

Contaminated air is purified in a two-step process, first flowing through your air filter and then the UV light prior to flowing across your house. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t running, these lights still operate to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort system clean.

This whole-house option is greater than a portable air purifier, which can only clean the air in a lone space. Portable air purifiers also can’t freshen your ductwork or the innerworkings of your HVAC equipment. A clean HVAC system is usually a more efficient one that could even operate for a longer life span. And, the majority of portable air purifiers have a bad reputation for creating ozone.

When thinking over adding a germicidal lamp to your house, it’s essential to buy one that doesn’t produce ozone. While ozone is great at getting rid of odors and chemicals, it could also irritate your lungs and cause other respiratory problems.

If you’re looking for approaches to clean your house’s air, the indoor air quality experts at B & B Heating & Cooling can help. We have a large range of products to help your family breathe easier. Contact us at 314-325-7552 to schedule a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate right away!