You likely are aware that the sun’s ultraviolet light (UV) is to blame for your painful sunburn. But were you aware that a different type of ultraviolet light can be useful for keeping your residence’s air clean?
The sun lets off two types of damaging UV rays, UVA and UVB. These damaging rays can cause sunburn, skin cancer, wrinkles and other kinds of premature aging.
There’s another concentration 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 certain surfaces.
Contra Costa Heating & AC uses this light in several of our solutions to better air filtration in the Bay Area residences.
How Ultraviolet Light is Used
This specific wavelength is classified as “germicidal” since it kills the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens pass through this light, they eventually die as they can’t reproduce.
This makes UVC light a potent replacement to chemical disinfection. Germicidal light is applied in many disinfection applications, like medical laboratories and hospitals. It’s also employed to sterilize drinking water and other liquids produced in food processing.
It’s becoming a popular choice to purify air in homes in the Bay Area. That’s because it can also eliminate common indoor contaminants including mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an added advantage for loved ones who deal with seasonal allergies or asthma.
Having Germicidal UV Light in Your Residence
We install a germicidal UV light within your HVAC system’s ductwork. As the light is installed within the ductwork, it makes it compatible with most heating and cooling systems. This also keeps its rays safely confined while giving strong cleaning for your house’s air.
Filthy air is purified in a two-step process, first flowing through your air filter and then the UV light prior to moving across your house. Even when your heat or air conditioning isn’t running, these lights still function to keep your air, ductwork and home comfort equipment clean.
This whole-house product is superior to a portable air purifier, which is restricted to cleaning the air in a single area. Portable air purifiers also can’t purify your ductwork or the inside of your HVAC system. A clean HVAC system is often a more efficient one that could even work for a longer life span. And, the majority of portable air purifiers are known for creating ozone.
When thinking over buying a germicidal lamp for your residence, it’s important to choose one that doesn’t make ozone. While ozone is good at getting rid of odors and chemicals, it may also irritate your lungs and lead to other respiratory problems.
If you’re trying to find methods to clean your residence’s air, the indoor air quality pros at Contra Costa Heating & AC can help. We have a wide range of solutions to help your household breathe better. Contact us at 510-343-9841 to schedule a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate now!