Do UVC Air Purifiers Work?

September 08, 2020

Perhaps you realize that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) is to blame for your painful sunburn. But did you realize that a different type of ultraviolet light can be installed to keep your home’s air clean?

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

There’s another kind of UV light, known as UVC. While unprotected exposure to this ultraviolet light is harmful for your skin or eyes, it can safely be utilized to disinfect air, water and various surfaces.

Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning uses this light in a few of our solutions to enhance air filtration in Winnipeg homes.

Applications for Ultraviolet Light

This distinct wavelength is called “germicidal” because it wipes out the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens pass through this light, they eventually die since they can’t multiply.

This makes UVC light a potent substitute to chemical disinfection. Germicidal light is applied in lots of disinfection applications, including medical laboratories and hospitals. It’s also applied to clean drinking water and other liquids created in food processing.

It’s becoming a popular choice to disinfect air in houses in Winnipeg. That’s since it can also wipe out frequent indoor contaminants including mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an extra advantage for family members who suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma.

Uses for Germicidal UV Light in Your Residence

We put a germicidal UV light inside your HVAC system’s ductwork. Because the light is set within the ductwork, it makes it compatible with the majority of heating and cooling equipment. This also keeps its rays safely confined while giving strong disinfection for your residence’s air.

Filthy air is purified in a two-step process, first flowing through your air filter and then the UV light in advance of flowing throughout your house. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t on, these lights still operate to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort equipment clean.

This whole-house solution is better than a portable air purifier, which is restricted to cleaning the air in one area. Portable air purifiers also can’t purify your ductwork or the interior of your HVAC equipment. A clean HVAC system is usually a more efficient one that can even last longer. And, many portable air purifiers are known for making ozone.

When thinking about buying a germicidal lamp for your house, it’s essential to look for one that doesn’t create ozone. While ozone is great at wiping out odors and chemicals, it could also irritate your lungs and lead to other respiratory symptoms.

If you’re trying to find ways to freshen your home’s air, the indoor air quality professionals at Kirkfield Heating & Air Conditioning can help. We have a wide range of products to help your family breathe more easily. Contact us at 204-272-8128 to set up a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate now!