“UV germicidal lights” sounds like something out of a science fiction movie. In point of fact, however, it’s very real and can provide a huge boon to your home, especially here in the winter. It works to cleanse the air of biological contaminants such as cold bugs, germs, dust mites and mold spores, and it does so cheaply and efficiently to boot. If you’re looking for a way to combat those pesky winter colds here in Oregon City, OR, it might just be the secret weapon you need.
How Does It Work?
The term “UV” stands for “ultraviolet, which is a spectrum of light beyond our ability to see. It appears naturally in sunlight, and is what causes our skin to tan and burn when we spend too much time in the sun. At lower levels, UV lights are used at rock concerts and amusement parks to make white clothes glow in the dark. (The light interacts with chemicals in our washing detergent to create the effect.)
It’s perfectly safe for humans and other multi-celled organisms (such as pets) at this level. For germs and other tiny unwanted guests in your home, however, it’s considerably more dangerous: either killing them outright, or fusing their DNA so that they cannot replicate or reproduce.
Getting That to Work for Your Home
Obviously, it’s not practical for you to simply cover your entire house in UV lights. You want to place the lights somewhere that will do the most good for the least amount of space involved. The apex to the ducts makes the ideal spot: where your furnace (and your air conditioner in the summer) circulates air from throughout your house. The system shines a UV light across the width of the ducts, from top to bottom. As air circulates, the germs in it can’t help but pass through the lights and be destroyed. This forms a gradual “scrubbing” of the air as your heater runs, leading to a cleaner, healthier environment.
Benefits That Continue
UV germicidal lights are particularly effective in the winter because we rarely open up our homes, leading to stuffy, stale air where germs can circulate easily. They have no moving parts, which means they rarely suffer from mechanical problems. As long as you periodically change the lightbulbs, you can expect many years of service from your unit at a comparatively small installation cost. The lights work well for any household, but in particular, they help families with the following members:
- Infants or newborns who may be more vulnerable to germs and illnesses.
- Elderly family members, for whom any illness is a serious matter.
- Family members suffering from asthma or have compromised immune systems.
- Family members with jobs that make them vulnerable to germs, such as hospital workers or those who routinely work with large numbers of the public.
Best of all, installation is fast and easy when you go through a qualified HVAC technician.
For more information on UV germicidal lights or to schedule a consultation, talk to the friendly pros at Aspen Heating & Cooling today!