There are several indoor air quality issues that you may experience in your San Antonio, TX home. In addition to particulate matter like dust and pollen, your indoor air may contain different types of bacteria and viruses as well. Mold may even be present, which can be very dangerous for your health. There are several methods you can use to improve the quality of your indoor air. This includes UV light technology, which can protect your health as well as your HVAC system.
What Is a UV Light?
You probably know about UV rays coming from the sun. The types of UV rays that come from the sun are UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-C functions on wavelengths between 100 and 280 nanometers. It can be very damaging to anything that is living when exposed to it in high enough doses.
You can have a UV light installed onto your HVAC system to address any microorganisms that are present in your indoor air. As germs pass through this light, they will be damaged at a cellular level. This makes them harmless to the human body. Therefore, these germs can’t make you sick any longer. This is a great feature for the middle of cold and flu season when someone in your home is sick. You can cut down on the risk of passing an illness from person to person.
Protecting Your HVAC System
In addition to protecting the quality of your indoor air, UV lights can also protect your HVAC system. When microbes are present in the air that’s circulating through your system, they can end up on the interior components of your heating and cooling equipment as well as ductwork. This can lead to extensive microbial growth, which can damage your equipment. It’s much easier to prevent this growth than it is to try and eradicate it. You may see fewer HVAC repair needs over the lifespan of your equipment if you take advantage of a UV light.
UV light filtration is very effective when it comes to destroying mold spores. You should take appropriate steps to prevent the growth of mold in your home. However, any spores that make their way into your HVAC system can be quickly destroyed using UV filtration so that they don’t have the opportunity to spread. There are no filters to replace with UV light, making it a very simple and effective way to improve the overall quality of your indoor air.
Professional Installation of UV Lights
It’s important that you call our team if you want a UV light installed onto your HVAC system. The process isn’t overly complicated, but it’s important that you don’t accidentally expose yourself to UV-C rays during the installation process. Also, there will be routine maintenance that must be performed on your UV light periodically. This includes cleaning the surface of the light and replacing the bulb every year or so. This is maintenance that our team can perform for you. We recommend that you schedule this service as part of your annual heating and AC inspection and maintenance.
Considering Whole-House Filtration
It’s important to note that UV filters do not trap particulate matter. This is something that you’ll need to address using your furnace filter and potentially whole-house filtration. There are many kinds of filters that can remove as much as 99.97% of the particulate matter in your air. This is accomplished with things like high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters or activated carbon filtration. You should see an improvement in your allergy symptoms when you utilize these filters.
Make sure that you’re not using too restrictive of a filter in your furnace. This can lead to efficiency issues and damage. This is when whole-house filtration is ideal. This filtration equipment can usually handle much more restrictive filters, providing the opportunity to remove more particulate matter from your indoor air.
If you are interested in learning more about the use of a UV light as part of your San Antonio home’s HVAC setup, MD Air Conditioning & Heating can help. We can also install this equipment for you as well as any whole-home filtration devices that you are interested in. Maintaining optimal indoor air quality in your home is essential for the health and well-being of you and your family. Contact MD Air Conditioning & Heating in San Antonio for more information.
Tags: IAQ tips, Indoor Air Quality