If you've thought about improving your home's indoor air quality, then chances are you've considered several options, including the installation of a UV germicidal lamp. Ultraviolet light has proven effective at controlling and even eliminating numerous varieties of mold, viruses and bacteria. The following weighs the pros and cons of installing a UV germicidal lamp into your existing A/C system.

UV Light Tackles Mold and Viruses

Believe it or not, your air conditioner can contribute a great deal to your home's indoor air quality. It's not unusual for mold and bacteria to take residence inside your air conditioner, turning it into an incubator that could circulate mold spores throughout your home.

UV germicidal lamps take care of this problem by exposing the evaporator coil and other areas of your A/C system to germicidal ultraviolet radiation. This specific form of UV light works by destroying the molecular bonds that hold mold and bacteria together, effectively neutralizing both growth and reproduction.

UV Systems Promote Cleaner Indoor Air

By directly tackling mold and virus growth, UV germicidal lamps often have a positive impact on a home's indoor air quality. Several studies have shown that UV germicidal lamps are effective at combating symptoms caused by sick building syndrome. The use of UV light can also be a major help for those seeking relief from allergy and asthma symptoms commonly caused by mold and other organic airborne allergens.

UV germicidal lamps can also be used in conjunction with other types of air purification equipment, including HEPA filters and activated carbon filtration systems. UV lights are not recommended with ozone generators, however, due to the possible dangers of oh zone interacting with ultraviolet radiation.

UV Systems Are Not As Effective With Flowing Air

UV germicidal lights work best when disinfecting stationary surfaces such as your A/C system's evaporator coil. Lights built for this purpose aren't as effective at disinfecting the air flowing through your A/C unit, which could put it at a disadvantage when compared to other forms of air purification. However, there are UV germicidal lamps specifically designed to treat flowing air and therefore destroy airborne viruses and bacteria.

UV Light Could Affect A/C Durability

The effects of UV light aren't just limited to mold and bacteria. Constant exposure to UV light can also have harmful effects on certain plastics. Air conditioner components that are commonly made from plastics, including the condensate drip tray and flexible ducting, can fail in just a few short years due to constant UV exposure. For more information about AC repair, talk with an HVAC contractor in your area.