Is UV Light for My AC or Furnace Worth It?

September 08, 2020

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

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

There’s another variety of UV light, called UVC. While direct exposure to this ultraviolet light is harmful for your skin or eyes, it can safely be used to clean air, water and certain surfaces.

Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning uses this light in some of our solutions to improve air filtration in Savage homes.

How Ultraviolet Light is Used

This specific wavelength is referred to as “germicidal” since it wipes out the DNA of bacteria and viruses. When pathogens travel through this light, they eventually perish because they can’t multiply.

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

It’s becoming a popular choice to disinfect air in homes in Savage. That’s because it can also eliminate common indoor contaminants including mold, mildew and bacteria. This is an added benefit for family members who suffer from seasonal allergies or asthma.

Uses for Germicidal UV Light in Your Residence

We place a germicidal UV light in your HVAC system’s ductwork. Since the light is placed in the ductwork, it makes it compatible with many heating and cooling equipment. This also keeps its light safely confined while providing strong disinfection for your house’s air.

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

This whole-house product is superior to a portable air purifier, which can only clean the air in a lone room. Portable air purifiers also can’t purify your ductwork or the innerworkings of your HVAC system. A clean HVAC system is usually a more efficient one that may even last for an extended period of time. And, many portable air purifiers are known for creating ozone.

When thinking about buying a germicidal lamp for your residence, it’s critical to get one that doesn’t produce ozone. While ozone is fantastic at eradicating odors and chemicals, it might also irritate your lungs and cause other respiratory issues.

If you’re looking for approaches to purify your house’s air, the indoor air quality specialists at Gopher Heating and Air Conditioning can help. We sell a wide range of options to help your loved ones breathe more easily. Contact us at 952-373-0377 to set up a free, no-obligation home comfort analysis and estimate today!