UV treatment for HVAC systems is still relatively new to the HVAC industry. Accordingly, there are many questions that still need to be addressed about UV treatment and its effectiveness. Many homeowners in Nederland, Texas, have questions about the link between UV treatment of air conditioners and heaters and asthma. While not much is known, studies have shown that UV treatment does address issues with air quality by killing surface mold and airborne bacteria.
What Is UV Treatment?
Ultraviolet, which is a high-energy light, is invisible to the human eye. UV waves are usually measured using nanometers. UV treatment relies on the UV-C band, which is 200 to 280 nanometers. This band of UV light is germicidal and can damage the DNA of cells.
What Is the Link Between UV Treatment and Asthma?
Since the UV-C band can kill bacteria, manufacturers have incorporated UV treatment into HVAC systems. As these HVAC systems heat or cool air within a home, the UV treatment kills airborne bacteria and mold spores, which can both be triggers for asthma attacks and allergies. By eliminating these triggers from the air in a home with asthma-afflicted occupants, many believe that UV treatment can prevent asthma attacks.
What Factors Influence Effectiveness?
There are many factors that influence the effectiveness of UV treatment when it comes to killing airborne bacteria and mold spores. Some of these factors are:
- Lamp intensity – The lamp’s intensity must be sufficient in order to kill the vast majority of bacteria and mold spores in the air. When it comes to UV treatment of HVAC systems, time is limited because air travels quickly in and out of the range of the light. Therefore, intensity is very important.
- Lamp life – The industry standard for UV light bulbs is that they should emit UV-C for at least 8,000 hours. As a UV light approaches the end of life, mercury will accumulate within the bulb, reducing the output of UV-C.
Many homeowners are considering UV treatment of HVAC systems to reduce asthma triggers in their home’s indoor air. For more information, don’t hesitate to speak with a skilled technician from Thermacon Service Company, Inc. Call us today at 409-289-8008.
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