If you’re worried about the quality of your indoor air, then you’ve likely investigated the various options available to enhance it. One common method is to use an HVAC light that is integrated into your existing ductwork or air handler. We’re going to share with you what this light can do and whether it’s a good investment for your Lake Havasu City, AZ home.
What Is a UV Light?
Known as ultraviolet light, UV light is used to remove harmful contaminants from the air passing through it. The light’s UVC rays penetrate and kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi. As contaminated air passes through your ducting, the UV light positioned in your ductwork or your air handler will help sanitize your air before it circulates back into your home.
How Does It Work?
When UV light emits powerful UVC rays, contaminants in the air absorb them. These UV rays actively work to disrupt the DNA of the contaminant, effectively killing it or preventing it from reproducing.
UV Light Styles
There are two different styles of UV lights that you can have installed in your HVAC system. The first is a coil-sanitizing light that gets placed near your evaporator coil. This is inside your indoor air handler unit. The second type is an air-sanitizing light that gets positioned inside your return ducting.
Coil Sanitizing Lights
Coil-sanitizing UV lights are the more inexpensive option and easier to install. You can opt for a single or dual light positioned right next to or over the evaporator coil. These tend to look like very thin fluorescent lights and are intended to always stay on.
Coil-based UV lights are particularly great at preventing bacteria and mold growth on your evaporator coil. This part of your HVAC system is particularly susceptible to mold growth due to the constant condensation that forms here. A coil sanitizing light is particularly ideal for homeowners looking to increase the overall longevity of their HVAC system while moderately enhancing their indoor air quality level.
Air Sanitizing Lights
Air-sanitizing lights are installed inside the return vent of your ducting. Their main goal is to sanitize the air before it reaches your indoor air handler unit. Air-sanitizing lights tend to look very similar to coil-sanitizing lights. However, some are available in a horseshoe-like shape.
This type of sanitizing UV light is more expensive than coil lights but provides more adequate sanitization of the air. The air-sanitizing UV light is recommended over the coil UV light for those suffering from respiratory conditions, asthma, or severe allergies. In most cases, an air-sanitizing light can be easily wired to the blower motor so that it will turn on whenever your HVAC system turns on.
Maintenance Requirements
Regardless of the type of UV-sanitizing light you purchase, it’s recommended that you have the bulb replaced frequently. Most UV sanitization lights have been shown to lose their effectiveness after a set amount of time. For air-sanitizing lights, their effectiveness starts to dwindle after 9,000 to 12,000 hours of use, which is equal to around one year’s time.
A coil sanitizing light will last longer, with its sanitizing effects diminishing after around 18,000 to 24,000 hours of use. This is equal to around two years for the average household. You’ll need to have a licensed HVAC technician do the light bulb replacement for you. This is because these bulbs are highly sensitive, and they can be dangerous when their light is exposed to the human body.
Increase HVAC Efficiency
Due to the condensation that happens as heat is removed from the air, your evaporator coils can be the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. This occurs on top of the coils, blocking their ability to adequately transfer heat. This leads to the inefficient operation of your system. When you invest in a UV sanitizing light, it can prevent mold and mildew from growing on top of your coils and ensure that your HVAC system operates as efficiently as possible.
Remove Unpleasant Odors
Another great benefit of UV sanitizing lights is that they can help reduce the number of unpleasant odors inside your home. Whether it be the odor of cigarette smoke, cooking, pets, or even chemical-based cleaning products, UV light will help to get rid of them. Additionally, UV sanitizing lights will help prevent mold and mildew growth inside your HVAC system that could lead to a musty, unpleasant smell.
Less Cleaning
It can be very frustrating to constantly have to dust your home. Unfortunately, when you have poor indoor air quality, excess dust and other airborne particles can continually circulate throughout your home. When you invest in a UV light for your HVAC system, it can go a long way in helping to remove the accumulation of dust and other debris on your surfaces so that you can enjoy cleaning your home less often.
Better Health
When you’re constantly exposed to poor indoor air quality, it can lead to a variety of unfavorable symptoms. You can experience headaches, sinus pressure, sneezing, brain fog, and many other symptoms. This can compound and lead to a negative effect on your overall health. When you invest in a UV sanitizing light, you make an investment in improving not only your air quality but your family’s overall health and well-being. It doesn’t take long to notice a stark difference in how you feel and how much more energy you have while at home.
Expert Indoor Air Quality Services
Air Control Home Services offers expert indoor air quality services to the entire Lake Havasu City community. Our helpful technicians can also assist with all your heating, cooling, electric, heat pump, ductless mini-split, smart thermostat, and plumbing needs. Simply call our team today to schedule your next service appointment and ask us about our air purification.
