The Jenergy Air experts are asked all of the time if UV lights in HVAC systems are worth the money, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic where people are looking for ways to help sanitize their homes and businesses. UV lights have been used for decades to sanitize surfaces in medical environments, and have recently been used as indoor air purifiers in HVAC systems. Our HVAC experts have been recommending UV lights for everything from musty odors to concerns over air quality for asthma and allergy-related health concerns. Contact us today to learn more about UV lights and if they’re right for your home.

Do UV Lights Kill Viruses?

The big question everyone is wondering, can UV light disinfect objects and surfaces, thus “killing” viruses? While more research can always be done to prove sanitization of surfaces from UV lights, studies in numerous journals have indeed found that UV light destroys viruses and other microbes on surfaces and is being used as germicidal treatments in hospitals, restaurants and grocery stores.

Read more studies about the effectiveness of UV lights on viruses here:

• This study is the first to document the effectiveness of a multiple-emitter, automated, whole-room UV-C system or any whole-room disinfection system against RNA viruses
• This study looks at: Can UV Light Fight the Spread of Influenza?
• This study researches the Effectiveness of Germicidal UV Radiation for Reducing Fungal Contamination within Air-Handling Units

One of the leading global providers of ultraviolet disinfection systems and our personal favorite air purification company, Fresh-Aire UV says, “[our] UV systems are tested and validated against bacteria, viruses, mold & fungus and achieve up to a 99.999% reduction on microorganisms.”

UVC germicidal light at the 254 nm wavelength is tested & proven effective for the inactivation of microorganisms. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers says that “ultraviolet energy inactivates viral, bacterial, and fungal organisms so they are unable to replicate and potentially cause disease.”

Can a UV Light Help Clean My HVAC System?

Mold, mildew, bacteria and bad odors are all constant threats to the indoor air quality of your home and the cleanliness of your HVAC system. UV lights are found to damage the DNA of mold and other microbes, helping eliminate them from your air and system surface. The dark, moisture-filled and sometimes dusty area around an indoor air handler, especially one in the humid environment in the Tampa Bay area, is the ideal environment for mold to thrive in your home. Air ducts contaminated with mold have been found to contribute to symptoms and complications from asthma, allergic rhinitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and cancer.

Best UV Lights for HVAC Systems

Our HVAC experts can tell you the exact type of UV light that is best for your HVAC system. A surface treatment or coil sanitizing UV light is installed above or next to the evaporator coil of the interior air handler and is meant to kill and prevent microbial growth on the surface of the coil, the ductwork, and anything else the light can reach such as the drip pan or blower fan. Another option is installed in the air handler or ductwork. Air sanitizing or treatment lights help kill airborne germs and mold. Again, we are big fans of the Fresh-Aire UV brand of air purification products. Contact us today to speak to an expert about which UV light is best for your HVAC system.

UV Light Installation by Jenergy Air Experts

So are UV lights worth the cost? After the Jenergy Air experts help choose the most effective UV light for your system, we’ll help you factor in the estimated costs to use the light. If someone in your home is experiencing any health conditions that may be alleviated by better indoor air quality, then a UV light may be worth the cost. Contact us today at (727) 595-5366 to learn more.