Air purifiers enhance indoor air quality with two main components: a filter and a fan. Some air purifiers have multiple filters, but the concept is the same. The fan sucks in and circulates air, filtering it before returning it into the room.
HVAC UV Air Purifiers
UV light is a form of electromagnetic radiation. UV light purifiers for HVAC systems is installed in either the air handler or ductwork.
UV air purifiers use high-powered ultraviolet light to trap and destroy airborne particles. They are good for removing harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which would not be removed with a standard filter.
When germs and other pollutants are sucked into the central system, they eventually come into contact with the UV light air purifier, which destroys these microscopic particles.
UV air purifiers have been used for almost a century and were of special use to hospitals in the 1930s to treat conditions like tuberculosis.
In addition to killing flu and other viruses, the UV air purifier is highly effective at reducing the indoor pollutants that commonly affect those with allergies.
UV air purifiers can be used in both residential and commercial spaces.
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HVAC UV Coil Purifiers
UV coil purifiers, or coil sanitizing lights, are long thin fluorescent lamps. They are more common and less expensive than UV air purifiers.
Inside an air handler, which is the component inside the home, there is an evaporator coil. This coil holds the refrigerant that cools the home. The coil comes into contact with many pollutants from the liquid refrigerant and bacteria in the HVAC system.
UV coil purifiers are placed right above or next to the evaporator coil to kill bacteria and sanitize at the site, preventing bacteria from breeding and causing damage to the HVAC system.
They are usually used day and night and can be purchased as a single or dual lamp.
UV coil purifiers are effective at killing bacteria at the source of the evaporator coil but are not as effective as UV air purifiers for improving overall air quality. They are, however, known to improve energy efficiency by keeping the evaporator coil clean and running at top performance.
Portable UV Air Purifiers
In contrast to the two above options that are intended to treat the air in the whole home, there are portable UV air purifiers on the market. These are smaller devices, ranging from a hundred to a thousand dollars, depending on their strength, durability, and functions.
The best and worst options for portable air purifiers have been reviewed in U.S. Consumer Reports, and you can find the list here. This summary examines the room size each portable device can cover, noise level, effectiveness of removing air contaminants, and cost.
For more information about the benefits or cost of an HVAC UV air purifier in your home, contact us at Pilchuck Heating.
