Indoor air quality is really important in having a healthy and comfortable home. Most people think that when it comes to maintaining a clean home, changing out air filters and setting up scheduled maintenance is enough. Many don’t realize that another piece of technology can boost your HVAC performance and keep your air cleaner-UV lights. But does everyone need one in their AC?
Should My AC have UV lights? It is actually a UV light is not a required component in a home AC system; instead, it is an upgrade that can bring benefits to the household when there is excessive moisture, mold, allergens, and low indoor air quality. Understanding how these UV lights work and under what conditions will help to find out if this renovation will bring the value to your house. At 75 Degree AC, we offer locals upgrades to provide home comfort, efficiency, and excellent working capabilities.
Are UV Lights Necessary for AC Units?
Whether or not it is suitable for your home really depends on the circumstances that exist inside it. This article reviews the most crucial facts to assist you whether this new UV light system is the correct option for your home.
The vast majority of residential Air Conditioning systems do not require UV lights to operate properly. There is no performance reason for a manufacturer to specify that the unit come equipped with UV lighting, and a large portion of homes never encounter any circumstances that can be resolved by its installation.
However, in the following three circumstances UV lighting offers a substantial increase in performance: humid climate homes (more microbial growth within the ductwork of the home), allergy/asthma sensitive individuals or immune deficient inhabitants (cleaner air circulation), and homes with consistent mildew smells or persistent microbes in the evaporator coils.
As a result, UV lighting can almost be considered less of an integral part of air conditioning systems and more of a proactive improvement for the quality of air inside your home.
Benefits of Installing UV Lights
A lot of homeowners select UV lights that go even further than getting rid of germs, to kill germs, as there are many other pros to consider when you’re using the lights.
Helps Reduce Mold Growth
There is no escaping moisture in an air conditioner. If left unchecked, colonies of mold spores can take up residence in drain pans and evaporator coils. U-V lights can keep mold from ever growing and limit the spread of odors in the form of mold spores to the home via your ductwork.
Improves Indoor Air Quality
HVAC devices that are clean typically help make the indoor environment much better to breathe. While you don’t get dust or pollen on it by installing and keeping a UV light, UV systems have the capability to take out several other airborne pollutants that could affect freshness in your indoor air, as well.
Supports Better System Efficiency
Dirty Evaporator coils restrict the airflow over them. By having the coils cleaner, it is also able to transfer heat more effectively to the coolant, causing the air conditioning system not to work as hard, which can result in greater performance of your unit over time.
Reduces Maintenance Requirements
While no product can remove all reasons for professional HVAC service, UV lights help reduce microbe accumulation between service visits, meaning less time cleaning off biological growth from your evaporator coil.
Situations Where UV Lights Make the Most Sense
Indoor air quality concerns differ by home. Certain homes have more potential to reap the benefits of UV technology than others do.
Homes in Humid Climates
Excessive humidity makes it much easier for mold to thrive within your home’s HVAC system. Homeowners in coastal or very humid areas tend to see much higher levels of this biological material, in which case UV lighting would be a highly effective preventative measure.
Allergy or Asthma Concerns
For those dealing with lung disease in their homes, we know better air quality inside is priority one! Although it isn’t a remedy for allergy woes, a decrease in microbes inside the HVAC could go a ways toward cleaner conditions, as long as good filtration comes with it.
Older HVAC Systems
If you have older systems that always have biological contamination problems even with routine cleaning, you may want to install one of these systems to eliminate most of the source material and prevent the problem between cleanings. AUV light system for air conditioning systems may be a simple thing that will save you a lot of money in the future and keep things much clean the long haul; it will even help keep the evaporator part cleaner from buildup.
Homes With Persistent Musty Odors
A bad odor every time you run the Air conditioner in your home might be due to a breeding of microscopic organisms present in the AC or duct. UVA lights can kill a majority of bacteria and prevent this odor-creating organism growth.
Different Types of UV Lights for HVAC Systems
|
UV Light Type |
Primary Purpose | Best Application |
| Coil Sterilization | Keeps evaporator coils clean |
Most residential systems |
|
Air Sterilization |
Targets airborne microorganisms | Homes focused on indoor air quality |
| Combination Systems | Protects coils and circulating air |
Larger homes or advanced HVAC systems |
An experienced HVAC contractor can recommend the best option based on your equipment and indoor air quality goals.
Maintaining an AC UV Light
However, like many other systems in your house, you need to maintain UV systems from time to time for optimal efficiency. What is a typical 2-year run for your UV air purification light? In most cases, you will likely use your UV light for anywhere from one to two years, depending on your environment, before it becomes time to have it replaced.
Because the light may still look bright and seem as though it’s working fine, the germ-killing efficiency will begin to lessen over time.
During the regular inspections, you should consider having someone inspect your UV systems– which can include looking at, cleaning the cover around your UV lamp, as well as making certain that everything appears to be functional. Our technician has been servicing these systems as one of the measures of your regular HVAC tune-up that will let you make sure you always get the total benefits out of the UV light you currently have to help keep your household free from all germs and contagions in your home environment.
Choosing Professional Installation
The UV light effectiveness and performance rely heavily on correct installation methods. Unfortunately, a misplaced UV light can vastly limit effectiveness or not provide the necessary sterilization to stop microbially active surface areas from reproducing or cross-contaminating another.
Professional HVAC technicians evaluate factors such as:
- Air handler design
- Coil location
- Airflow patterns
- Electrical compatibility
- Safe mounting position
These factors improve efficiency while maintaining safe operating temperature.
UV Lights and Complete Indoor Air Quality
UV lighting works best as part of a complete indoor air quality strategy rather than a standalone solution.
For optimal results, homeowners should combine UV lights for HVAC systems with:
- High-quality HVAC air filters
- Regular filter replacement
- Annual professional maintenance
- Proper humidity control
- Clean ductwork when necessary
- Good household ventilation
The combined result of all these factors can be a healthier indoor climate and more efficient HVAC system performance.
Why Homeowners Trust 75 Degree AC
Let truthful solutions and guidance precede upselling on HVAC upgrades and add-ons, any time. At 75 Degree AC, we begin by analyzing your home’s needs and identifying how the indoor lighting (such as our UV lighting systems installation and other indoor air quality solutions) or other options could be a great fit – not necessarily trying to sell a package. If you’re tired of mold problems, smells, and just need better indoor air quality, we offer professional indoor light installations, preventative upkeep, and professional HVAC service you can rely on.
Conclusion
While not at all a requirement to keep your house livable, UV lights do bring considerable merit to any AC unit. UV lights in your home can prove to be extremely useful and offer an assortment of home benefits like reduction in mold growth, air purification of indoor spaces, a defense against your evaporator coils, and proper functioning of the HVAC system. If there is mold, allergies, or if there is frequent recurring biological residue building up in your home, then adding a UV light might be a benefit to your air conditioning system.
As an addition to the maintenance and quality filters you use with your HVAC system, UV lighting should improve air quality and maintain optimal HVAC efficiency for many years. If you are unsure as to whether a UV light is appropriate for your home, you may call 75 Degree AC to perform a consultation and make suggestions based on your home and your unique circumstances.
FAQs
Can UV Lights Remove mold on AC unit?
Yes, UV-C light can help prevent mold and bacteria from multiplying inside an air conditioner on the air handler fan, evaporator coils, and other surfaces that moisture condenses upon.2.
Are UV lights a replacement for HVAC air filters?
No, air filters and UV lights perform entirely different tasks, and UV lights do not filter out pollen and pet dander, just to list two common contaminants.3.
Will UV Lights decrease bad odors in my air conditioner?
Yes, if bad odors in your home’s central air conditioner are due to mold growth or bacterial colonies on the evaporator coils and within the indoor air handler, UV light installation could decrease your odors.
