We often recommend UV air purifiers to our customers who are looking for the best in indoor air quality. UV air purifiers use the power of ultraviolet radiation, the same energy that comes from the UV rays in the sun, to kill organic pollutants moving through a home’s HVAC system. This includes bacteria, germs, viruses, and mold spores. UV air purifiers are especially helpful for the Florida climate, which is humid enough to make it easy for many unpleasant organic pollutants to thrive. Mold in particular is a problem that can get into many ventilation systems, where it not only releases unhealthy mold spores but can create damage to the ductwork.
But did you know that installing UV germicidal lights in your HVAC system helps your air conditioning system? Your AC will enjoy better performance, a longer service life, and keep your home more pleasant when it’s working in tandem with a UV air purifier.
The ways UV lights help an air conditioner
To understand why a UV air purifier benefits an air conditioner, first you need to know where the air purifier is positioned in the HVAC system. The UV lights of the air purifier are installed so they shine on the evaporator coil of the air conditioner. The evaporator coil is where the air conditioner actually cools the air; the cold refrigerant moves through the coil and evaporates as it comes into contact with the warmer air blown across it from the blower fan. As the coil absorbs the heat, it also causes moisture to condense from the air and form along the coil. The condensate then drips off the coil and down into a pan. This is why you periodically hear the sound of dripping water in your AC.
An AC in Florida deals with a large amount of water vapor along the coil—and not all of it drips away. The moisture remaining creates an environment for mold and mildew to start to form along the coil. This is why the air purifier’s UV lights are aimed at the coil: to prevent mold and mildew from growing along it.
- A layer of organic growth along the coil will reduce how effective the evaporator coil is at removing heat from the air. The UV purifier keeps the AC from losing its cooling power.
- These organic growths can also cause damage to the coil and cause it to fail years earlier than it should. Using a UV air purifier means a longer system life for the AC.
- Mold and mildew create a musty and unpleasant odor that will end up spread throughout the house on the air from the blower. This is called “dirty sock syndrome,” and it’s not a great odor for a house. The UV air purifier keeps your AC and your home smelling fresh.
To schedule HVAC services in Alachua, FL to install a UV air purifier in your house, all you have to do is give us a call.
Touchstone Heating & Air Inc: Serving the Communities of North Central Florida since 1998!