Indoor air quality is a concern for every homeowner. If your home doesn’t have adequate air quality products, indoor air is often two to five times more contaminated than outdoor air. But with a large number of air cleaning methods to choose from, how do you recognize which one is correct for your home and family? Here’s a comparison of two quality options—air purifiers and UV lights.
How Do Air Purifiers Work?
Air purifiers are built to enhance indoor air quality by trapping dust, tobacco smoke, and pollen from the air. Some also capture odor-causing molecules for a fresher 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, such as mechanical filters, activated carbon filters, ozone generators, electronic air purifiers, and ionization systems. They all function a little differently, but the goal is the same—to capture airborne substances. However, once allergens settle to the floor, purifiers can no longer trap and remove them.
One underlying problem with many air purifiers is that they create ozone. Whether in its raw form or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be detrimental to health. Being exposed to ozone affects lung function and enhances the risk of throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and lung inflammation. This is an ironic side effect, since a homeowner would only use an air purifier to improve indoor air quality, not make it worse! Based on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, homeowners are encouraged to take advantage of proven approaches of controlling indoor air pollution. These methods include eliminating or controlling pollutant sources, bolstering 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 known as germicidal because it inactivates most viruses and eliminates bacteria and molds. UV lamps have been used as a sterilization mechanism in hospitals and food production for decades. When added to your HVAC system, UV lights can drastically increase indoor air quality.
The process is quite uncomplicated: an ultraviolet lamp is installed in your ventilation system, where it runs throughout the day. Each time the air conditioner or furnace starts, indoor air containing pollutants moves past the light. Airborne microorganisms are inactivated in under 10 seconds of contact, rendering them unable to reproduce until they die soon after UVC exposure. It is encouraged that UV lights be installed alongside both high efficiency filtration and ventilation equipment. All three work together to produce the best, most pure indoor air for your home.
Air Purifiers vs. UV Lights – Which is Better?
Calverley Service Experts encourages you to consider installing UV lights for maximum indoor air quality. This solution can provide relief to those dealing with asthma and allergies, especially in sunny, humid regions where microorganisms are in abundance. Unlike air purifiers, UV lights can:
- Clean the air in your entire home
- Destroy the bulk of viruses, bacteria and mold
- Enhance your HVAC system’s lifespan
- Avoid the possibility of creating ozone
If you think a UV germicidal light is useful for your home, discuss it with one of our indoor air quality specialists today. We can walk you through the perfect combination of systems based on your HVAC equipment and indoor air quality needs. Keep in mind, you should still install 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 different air cleaning methods, or to arrange a free home health consultation, call us at 817-380-5647 now!