Air Purifiers vs. UV Lights: What’s Best for My Home?
Indoor air quality is important for every household. If you lack the right air quality products, indoor air is often two to five times more polluted over outdoor air. But with a large number of air cleaning methods to choose from, how do you know which one is ideal for your home and family? Here’s a comparison of two quality methods—air purifiers and UV lights.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Air purifiers are used to increase indoor air quality by trapping dust, tobacco smoke, and pollen from the air. Some also capture odor-causing molecules for a clean scent. Air purifiers can be found in a portable form, which means they can only clean the air in one room at a time.
There are several types of air purifiers, including mechanical filters, activated carbon filters, ozone generators, electronic air purifiers, and ionization systems. They all perform a little differently, but the goal is the same—to trap airborne substances. However, once allergens fall to the floor, purifiers can no longer capture and remove them.
One common problem with many air purifiers is that they produce ozone. Whether in its pure form or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be detrimental to health. Breathing ozone affects lung function and enhances the risk of throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and lung inflammation. This is an ironic side effect, because a homeowner would only use an air purifier to improve indoor air quality, not hurt it! Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) instructions, homeowners are encouraged to use proven systems of controlling indoor air pollution. These methods include phasing out or controlling pollutant sources, bolstering outdoor air ventilation and using any proven methods of air cleaning that doesn’t intensify or produce ozone.
How Do UV Lights Work?
Ultraviolet-C (UVC) rays are the highest energy portion of the UV radiation spectrum. This type of light is known as germicidal because it inactivates most viruses and kills bacteria and molds. UV lamps have been used as a sterilization method in hospitals and food production for a very long time. When placed in your HVAC system, UV lights can dramatically improve indoor air quality.
The process is very simple: an ultraviolet lamp is installed in your ductwork, where it runs constantly. Any time the air conditioner or furnace turns on, indoor air containing particles drifts through the light. Airborne microorganisms are deactivated in under 10 seconds of contact, rendering them unable to reproduce until they die shortly after UVC exposure. It is recommended that UV lights be installed alongside both high efficiency filtration and ventilation equipment. All three work in unison to provide the best, most pure indoor air for your home.
Air Purifiers vs. UV Lights – Which is Recommended?
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning encourages you to consider installing UV lights for enhanced indoor air quality. This solution can offer relief to anyone struggling with asthma and allergies, especially in sunny, humid settings where microorganisms flourish. Unlike air purifiers, UV lights can:
- Improve the air in your entire home
- Destroy the bulk of viruses, bacteria and mold
- Increase your HVAC system’s lifespan
- Reduce the likelihood of producing ozone
If you decide a UV germicidal light is right for your home, talk with one of our indoor air quality Experts today. We can recommend the perfect combination of products based on your HVAC equipment and indoor air quality needs. Don’t forget, you should still use an HVAC air filtration system to remove dust, pollen and pet dander since UV lights don’t affect non-living allergens. To learn more about available air cleaning methods, or to arrange a free home health consultation, call us at 954-736-4314 right away!
