Can a UV Germicidal Light Protect My Home from Coronavirus?

When dealing with household germs, most homeowners use different agents to secure their families from the effects of these unseen enemies. Items such as antibacterial soaps, sprays, cleaning products, and disinfectants can help achieve this goal. But are these products enough to keep your home completely safe, especially from coronavirus? With the pandemic causing massive impacts on countless families, how can you ensure your home is protected?

Here at Four Seasons Air Specialists, we aim to provide you with a total solutions for your home comfort, including air purification and home disinfection. We are your friendly HVAC company in White Bear Lake MN.

Overview

There is a more effective way of getting rid of household contaminants: UV germicidal lights. This groundbreaking technology has effectively been used to reduce the spread of bacteria and other microscopic germs.

Types of UV Light

There are three types of UV light. They are as follows:

UVA - contains the lowest amount of energy. When you’re exposed to the sun, you get UVA light. Too much exposure to UVA light has been associated with skin aging and damage.

UVB - contains a medium amount of energy. A small portion of sunlight has UVB, which is the main source of sunburn and most skin cancers.

UVC - contains the most energy. Most of the UVC light is absorbed in the ozone layer, so humans are not normally exposed to it regularly. Having said that, there are man-made methods of creating UVC light. This is the kind of UV light that effectively kills germs, whether they are in the air, surfaces, or liquids. UVC light does this by damaging molecules like proteins and nucleic acids. As a result, germs lose the ability to perform the processes needed for their survival.

What are UV Germicidal Lights?

A germicidal light or bulb is designed to use a combination of special phosphors and a quartz glass envelope to eliminate germs and create ozone. It produces little visible light and is intended mainly to sterilize a home.

As early as the 1950s, UV has been used for disinfection purposes. It is used to clean drinking water, sterilize the air, and treat fruit and vegetable juices. Besides, UV lights are also used in many applications in the home, including protection from germs.

How Do UV Germicidal Lights Work?

UV Germicidal lights usually come in two main types: low pressure, which is almost always fluorescent lamps, and high-pressure lights that create a higher intensity output in a wider range of UV light.

Low-pressure germicidal lights are primarily used for germicidal applications and function by creating UV light in a specified range as a mutagen that kills bacteria by disrupting its DNA structure.

On the other hand, high-pressure lights are often used for other applications such as water purification, where a large area needs to be disinfected by each lamp.

Can UVC Germicidal Lights Kill the Coronavirus?

According to the FDA, UVC radiation has been proven to destroy the outer protein coating of the SARS-coronavirus, which is a different virus from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. It is possible that UVC lights can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus. But as of the moment, there isn’t enough data about the wavelength, dose, and duration of UVC radiation required to effectively kill the virus.

Benefits of Using UV Germicidal Lights

UV lamps, such as the Healthy Climate UV germicidal lights kill contaminants like mold, mildew, and bacteria. Using maximum-intensity ultraviolet light, they break the cell structure of microorganisms, preventing them from growing and spreading throughout your home.

These lamps also help you lower your utility costs. By eliminating household contaminants, your HVAC system works in a more relaxed environment. It doesn’t have to work as hard compared to a home with poor indoor air quality. As a result, UV germicidal lights help you save money in energy and potential HVAC repairs.

A UV germicidal light also provides protection for you and your family without producing ozone, a known lung irritant. Moreover, it takes away unpleasant smell in your home and reduces clogging in your HVAC system’s condensate drain.

Want to Know More About UV Germicidal Lights?

If you need more information about these bulbs that effectively fights off germs, call Four Seasons Air Specialists, your trusted Dellwood heating and air conditioning company.