UV Lights: Bulbs Need Changing for Top Performance
Ultraviolet lamps (also known as UV lights) emit light with a shorter wavelength than regular sunlight. While UV light is found in sunlight, much of the shorter wavelengths are filtered out by the ozone. Otherwise it would cause significant damage to living organisms.
However, when UV light is in the correct band range, it is highly effective at sterilization, and is often used to destroy various organic contaminants. UV lights work by penetrating the membrane and nucleus of these organisms, and then breaking apart the DNA’s molecular bonds, effectively destroying the germ or disrupting its reproductive cycle. Thus, UV lamps can be used to destroy everything from mold and mildew to various pathogens that could negatively affect your health, including bacteria, viruses and mold spores.
If you are considering installing a UV system, there are certain factors you need to analyze:
- What type of system do you need for your particular needs?
- How to use the system effectively for mold reduction?
- Should you install one or two systems?
These are questions you need answers to, which is generally why it’s a good idea to purchase your UV light system through a reliable HVAC contractor. They can give you the best possible advice on choosing the right system for your needs.
Once you’ve had a UV system installed, you will have to change the bulbs at least every 9,000 hours for it to continue functioning at maximum efficiency. If you use the UV system solely to keep your HVAC unit’s coils clean, you can wait two years before changing the bulbs.
Even if the bulbs appear to be working, you still need to change them. The UV light that destroys pathogens degrades over time. So, even if a UV bulb still lights up, after a year it has lost its ability to sterilize.
For more expert advice about UV lights and other matters related to home comfort, please contact us at NisAir Air Conditioning and Heating. We’ve been proudly increasing home comfort in South Florida since 1973.
