UV Light Makes Your Home Safer? How Do UV Light Air Purifiers Work?
With all this illness running rampant through the world we are all looking for ways to make the air in our home safer and better. When everyone is stuck inside the quality of your air becomes even more important.
Have you considered getting an air purifier that uses a UV light? How do they work? Are they safe?
Here we will answer all your questions about how UV light helps purify the air, how UV light is produced, and how to choose a UV light air purifier.
What Does UV Light Do to Help Purify the Air?
In light of the recent coronavirus pandemic, there has been a renewed interest in the application of germicidal UV light to disinfect a variety of different indoor environments. This is especially important in hospitals, nursing homes, and other medical care facilities.
But, how does the UV light eliminate the issue? A UV light is part of the same electromagnetic spectrum as light, x-rays, and radio waves.
When UV lights are applied in conjunction with an air purification system it helps eliminate airborne pathogens by killing bacteria and viruses as they make contact with the light.
What Does UV Stand For and Are These Lights Dangerous?
UV stands for ultraviolet. This is a specific type of radiation that is generated by our sun and sent into our atmosphere. These rays are the ones that cause sunburn and can lead to skin cancer with repeated exposure without sunscreen.
Ultraviolet radiation is a combination of three different types of rays. These are UVA, UVB, and UVC and each act differently and cause different effects at different levels.
A combination of these elements is brought together into artificial UV lights and it is applied in a variety of different uses. Depending on how you’re using them they can be somewhat dangerous but the benefits can outweigh the risks.
Using UV Light for Disinfection, Germ Control, and Air Cleaning
A UV light is highly effective at disinfection. It is used to disinfect drinking water without the use of chemicals. The light makes it impossible for bacteria to reproduce which eliminates the threat of exposure.
In the air, there are a ton of pollutants including bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and more that can affect the quality of the air inside your home and pose a risk to vulnerable people, especially those with respiratory illnesses like asthma.
Installing an air purifier with a UV light aids in destroying the microorganisms in the air and has the ability to kill mold spores, mildew, germs, viruses, and different bacteria before they can make you sick.
The UV light is used in conjunction with HEPA filtration for maximum effectiveness.
Is It Safe to Use UV C in Air Purification Devices?
UV C lights placed in air purifiers is generally safe but they can sometimes have the potential to create ozone. Creating ozone is not a good idea.
To confirm that your device does not produce ozone you need to make sure the light wavelength produced is outside of the dangerous range.
If your light wavelength falls between the range of 160 to 240 nm you’re at risk of producing ozone after the unit has been running for a while.
This can cause major health issues for those exposed in contained spaces, like your home.
Will You Be Getting a UV Light Air Purifier for Your Home?
We hope we have informed you a little bit more about how UV light air purifiers work and the benefits and dangers of having one in your home.
If you are a person who is particularly vulnerable to airborne pathogens it’s a good idea to use one of these devices to make your air safer. Before installation confirm your unit produces wavelengths beyond the range of 160 to 240 nm to avoid the production of ozone.
Are you interested in upgrading your HVAC system and incorporating an air purification system at the same time? Trust Heating and Air is here to help.
Click here to learn more about our services and contact us today to schedule an appointment.
We look forward to meeting you and making your home an even more comfortable place to be.
