Improve Indoor Air Quality with Ultraviolet Air Cleaners

Ultraviolet air cleaners have been able to help people who suffer from severe allergies and compromised immune systems. With the time for pre-winter inspections approaching, you may be thinking of a way to incorporate one of these systems into your home. While this is a new technology, the costs of the system may justify the expected energy savings versus energy prices or not. You should understand what these systems involve, how they work, and what they are capable of handling. You can consult with your contractor for advice that is tailored especially for your situation. 

Ultraviolet Air Cleaners Basics

Ultraviolet air cleaners use ultraviolet radiation from lamps. In the ultraviolet spectrum, you will find three bands: UV-A, UV-B, which is the band that causes the most damage to the human body, and UV-C, which is the band that is used by these air cleaners, are short wave ultraviolet (UV) rays that cannot penetrate the skin. The ultraviolet lamps use the UV-C wave to destroy biological contaminants such as viruses, mold, mildew bacteria, fungi, and germs. There are three types of this class of cleaner: Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) cleaners, photocatalytic oxidation cleaners, and ozone generators. UVGI uses UV lamps to kill the contaminants and is the most commonly used. Photocatalytic oxidation air cleaners use a catalyst that is combined with the ultraviolet lamps that reacts with the light to transform harmful pollutants into harmless particles. Ozone generators produce ozone that is used to kill the pollutants. 

Where They Can Be Used

For many years, ultraviolet air cleaners have been used widely in hospitals and operating rooms before they were available for home use. These systems can destroy bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants that cause infection and complications for patients who are already compromised. These systems do not rely on air being blown through the unit; instead, it relies on the germs being mobilized to the location of the lamp in order to be killed. If you want one in your home, you must install the lamps directly over the coils in your existing HVAC system. The lamps will prevent mold and mildew from collecting in the drip pans which can end up being ventilated though the house. If you or a sick family member needs to be in a more sterile environment, you can put the portable unit in the room and it will help. 

What are the Benefits and Limitations?

While the ultraviolet air cleaners have the ability to kill biological pollutants, you should be aware of the limitations. The unit does not rely on air moving through it. It does not move air toward it. It uses the ultraviolet rays to burn the contaminants as they pass through the rays. This means that the pollutants must travel to the lamps in order to be destroyed. The unit does not circulate the air or use any type of blowers, fans, or air handlers. The germs must travel to the lamps and stay there until they are burned up. This is the only protection you will get when installed in the HVAC system is that it will keep it free of mold and mildew. You will also need multiple lights, depending upon the size of your home and the architecture of the ductwork. These air cleaners cannot remove larger particles from the air, such as pet dander, dust mite and cockroach allergens, dust, or pollen. It also cannot remove gaseous pollutants, such as paint or gas fumes. For complete, optimum indoor air quality, you could combine the ultraviolet air cleaner with a HEPA filter air cleaner. You should be prepared to perform regular maintenance on this type of system. The bulbs in the ultraviolet air cleaners must be replaced yearly because they burn out. Your energy bill may actually rise because of the running air cleaner.