Many Portlanders spend a lot of time indoors to avoid frequently rainy weather. Unfortunately, most homes could use better indoor air quality. One way to improve indoor air quality is to get an air cleaner, such as an ultraviolet (UV) light purification system. Air cleaners are especially useful when you keep your house sealed, trapping pollutants inside.
What UV Lights Do
Poor indoor air quality contributes to a variety of health problems, including allergies, asthma, colds and the flu. A UV light system works to prevent some of these health risks by killing biological contaminants in the air. The UV system fits inside your HVAC ductwork and alters the DNA inside any microbes that pass by. These DNA changes make it impossible for the microbes to reproduce and cause infections. UV lights are so effective that many hospitals and food processing centers use them to help sterilize equipment.
Benefits
UV purification systems kill biological pollutants, including:
- Bacteria.
- Viruses.
- Mold spores.
Portland has a very damp climate, so mold prevention is especially beneficial in this area. A UV system will reduce the occurrence of mold spores in the air, helping individuals with mold allergies. This type of system also prevents damage to your home by preventing colonies of mold and mildew from growing inside your HVAC ducts.
Unfortunately, UV lights do not physically remove unhealthy particulate matter from the air, such as dust, pollen and pet dander. Because of this limitation, many people choose to use a UV system in conjunction with a regular air filter or an electronic purification system.
Convenience
A UV system is easy to maintain, because they just require a new light bulb about once per year at the very most. They are also efficient, so they don’t add much to your energy bills.
For help testing your indoor air quality or choosing and installing a UV purification system in the Portland area, contact the friendly experts at (503) 266-1249!
