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Improving Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality with Ultraviolet Light
Depending on the season and your situation, indoor air quality can be improved in a variety of ways; adding or removing humidity, greater ventilation and better filtration. Now, home comfort systems are enlisting some old technology to tackle new problems.
One of the latest innovations in HVAC (Heating, Cooling & Ventilation) technology is the use of UV lighting inside your heating and cooling system. Used for decades in hospitals and other environments, Ultraviolet lighting has been proven to kill germs, bacteria and even viruses, something of concern to us all these days.
How UV Light Kills Bacteria, Germs and Viruses in Your Home
For more than 100 years, UV light has been shown to kill bacteria, viruses and mould. In 1903, the Nobel Prize for Medicine was given to Niels Finsen for his work in treating patients with Ultraviolet light for skin infections. A 2012 study proved that UV lights killed 97% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the so-called “superbugs” that are the most difficult to kill. Today, UV light is used in hospitals, grocery stores and restaurants for germicidal use and now you can put it to work inside your home.
Invisible to the human eye, UV-C waves are effective for germicidal control, and are ideal for air purification, helping to eliminate many types of bacteria and viruses. UV-C lighting found within or added to HVAC systems can reduce or prevent microorganisms from circulating within the duct-work of your home, helping to disinfect your home’s heating and cooling systems.
Bacteria, germs and viruses within your HVAC system have been scientifically proven to be a health concern and should not be ignored. These are often contributors to allergies, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and bacterial and/or viral infections in larger buildings such as offices or apartment buildings. In your home, allergens, bacteria, germs and yes, viruses all circulate through your HVAC system. Often if one member of the family has a cold, flu or other illness, there is a strong possibility that other residents will contract it as well, via the air you share within your home.
Improving Your Indoor Air Quality with UV Lights
UV lights can dramatically improve the air quality within your home, however, they must be installed correctly to be effective. A variety of conditions including the correct placement & direction, number of lights, humidity levels and temperature all play a factor in how effective UV lighting will be. Reliable Home Environment has qualified, licensed HVAC technicians right here in Ottawa who can skillfully install a germ, bacteria and virus killing system in your home.
Sometimes known as germicidal lights, these UV lights for HVAC systems kill the DNA of mould spores, germs, viruses, bacteria and fungi as they pass through the unit’s air handler system. The light kills nearly 100% of these harmful organisms, preventing them from multiplying and spreading throughout your home via your heating and cooling systems. If the UV-C light does not kill them immediately, it renders them unable to reproduce and shortens their lifespan.
Because modern homes are constructed to be energy-efficient, cracks and crevices are sealed to prevent heated and cooled air from escaping. This creates an ideal environment for microorganisms to thrive inside your home. Equipping your home’s HVAC system with UV-C lighting can control or eliminate these harmful contaminates, significantly improving your indoor air quality.
Learn More About UV Light Technology For Your HVAC System
If you’d like to learn more about using UV lights in your HVAC system to improve your home’s indoor air quality, Reliable Home Environment is here to help.
Reliable Home Environment has been serving Ottawa, Nepean, Barrhaven, Manotick, Kanata and beyond with outstanding customer care and support for more than 10 years. Our family-owned business and team of highly trained HVAC technicians are proud to be the ones you call on for your heating and air conditioning needs.
