Air Purifiers vs. UV Lights: What’s Right for My Home?
Indoor air quality is something to keep in mind for every home. If your home doesn’t have the proper air quality products, indoor air is often two to five times more contaminated over outdoor air. But with a large number of air cleaning methods to choose from, how do you determine which one is correct for your home and family? Here’s a comparison of two popular options—air purifiers and UV lights.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Air purifiers are designed to improve indoor air quality by removing dust, tobacco smoke, and pollen from the air. Some also collect odor-causing molecules for a clean scent. Air purifiers come in a portable form, which means they can only work in one room at a time.
There are several types of air purifiers, like mechanical filters, activated carbon filters, ozone generators, electronic air purifiers, and ionization systems. They all work slightly differently, but the goal is the same—to filter out airborne pollutants. However, once allergens fall to the floor, purifiers can no longer trap and remove them.
One underlying byproduct with several 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 weakens lung function and increases the risk of throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and lung inflammation. This is an ironic side effect, since a homeowner would only install an air purifier to improve indoor air quality, not make it worse! Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance, homeowners are encouraged to utilize proven systems of controlling indoor air pollution. These methods include phasing out or controlling pollutant sources, adding outdoor air ventilation and using any proven methods of air cleaning that doesn’t increase 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 called germicidal because it inactivates most viruses and eliminates bacteria and molds. UV lamps have been used as a sterilization system in hospitals and food production for decades. When installed in your HVAC system, UV lights can dramatically enhance indoor air quality.
The process is surprisingly simple: an ultraviolet lamp is installed in your ventilation system, where it runs throughout the day. Each time the air conditioner or furnace turns on, indoor air containing particles blows through the light. Airborne microorganisms are inactivated within 10 seconds of contact, rendering them unable to reproduce until they die shortly after UVC exposure. It is encouraged that UV lights be utilized alongside both high efficiency filtration and ventilation accessories. All three work with one another to provide the best, most pure indoor air for your home.
Air Purifiers vs. UV Lights – Which is Better?
Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning suggest installing UV lights for maximum indoor air quality. This solution can provide relief to people dealing with asthma and allergies, especially in warm, humid regions where microorganisms thrive. Unlike air purifiers, UV lights can:
- Clean the air in your entire home
- Eradicate the majority of viruses, bacteria and mold
- Lengthen your HVAC system’s lifespan
- Prevent the potential of creating ozone
If you feel a UV germicidal light is beneficial for your home, chat with one of our indoor air quality technicians today. We can point you to the ideal combination of equipment based on your HVAC equipment and indoor air quality needs. Remember, you should still have an HVAC air filtration system to remove dust, pollen and pet dander since UV lights won’t affect non-living allergens. To learn more about different air cleaning methods, or to request a free home health consultation, call us at 954-736-4314 today!
