We deal with viruses, bacteria, and other airborne contaminants in the world every day, and when we come home from being around other people, we bring all of that into our living space. With viruses like COVID-19 being able to remain on some surfaces for up to three days and (when aerosolized) in the air for up to three hours, it’s more important than ever to make sure your house is the safest it can be for you and your loved ones.
That’s why you should consider installing a UV-C light in your HVAC system.
What is Ultraviolet (UV) light and how do they work?
You might have heard of ultraviolet lights or rays when it comes to the sun and tanning. They are the rays that cause your skin to tan (or burn if you are exposed for too long). In the full light spectrum, they fall to the left of the visible light portion of the spectrum, next to the color violet.
Source: UV Resources
As you can see, there are three different types of UV lights. UV-A and UV-B are what you will find in tanning beds and are the rays that make it through the atmosphere to give you that nice tan. UV-C rays are the shortest light waves out of the three, and most of them don’t make it through the atmosphere.
UV disinfecting lights typically use UV-C rays because they are the most effective at decontaminating surfaces and the air. The UV messes up the DNA in any genetic material, and since bacteria and viruses lack any type of system to repair themselves as humans do, it renders them harmless after being exposed. This even includes viruses like COVID-19!
Where are UV-C Lights Installed?
UV-C lights have to be installed in places where there will be no potential exposure to humans or animals. Like we just mentioned, the rays break down genetic material, and if exposed for a long period of time, there are negative effects on the body. That’s why we recommend installing UV-C lights in your HVAC system.
Although you can get away with just one, many times two UV-C lights are installed. One in the AC unit where the air is coming out, and one in the air intake where the air is coming back into the system. This ensures that your air is fresh and clean, and it will also help keep your ductwork cleaner as well.
All in all, it seems like a good idea to install at least one UV-C light in your home HVAC system! We are happy to install UV-C lights for you here at Parthenon Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling. If you want to see how beneficial they are for you, give us a call at (615) 298-2995 to set up an appointment to install them in your home. You won’t regret it!
