There are some pretty serious illnesses going around. Whether you’ve seen the reports on the news or you have some friends who have likely needed to cancel plans because of how sick they feel, it’s all around us. There’s just something about the cold winter air making being ill with a virus or bacterial infection that much worse.
Well, even if our immune systems are still a little bit shot from the pandemic a few years ago, there are plenty of things we can do right now to protect ourselves and our families from getting sick. A UV air purifier in Cedar Rapids is one of those amazing inventions that could see the health of you and your family improve drastically over time.
But how do they work? And can they protect you from everything that seeks to do you harm? These are interesting questions that we’ll answer below. The more you know about these systems, the more likely you’ll be to make a smart decision when it comes to the installation of one.
How a UV Air Purifier Works
So, the million-dollar question–do UV air purifiers work? Yes! They do, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
UV air purifiers, as the name implies, produce UV light from a little light bulb in the system. These lights are set up in your ductwork so that all of the air cycling through your home passes through this ultraviolet light. UV light is a vital aspect of this system because just like daylight, it’s extremely dangerous to single-celled organisms, mainly mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. It irradiates them, changing their DNA from a cellular level and inhibiting their vital life processes like reproduction.
Once this process has taken place, these organisms are basically harmless. A virus or bacteriophage can’t infect you and make you sick if it lacks the ability to reproduce. Neat, right?
Are You Protected From Everything?
Unfortunately, a single UV air purifier is not going to be able to protect you from everything. Contaminants that are inorganic (meaning not alive) are not impacted by UV light and can still make you sick or cause you to feel ill. Things like dust, volatile organic compounds, and cooking smoke can still pass right through your ductwork and make your home feel stuffy or uncomfortable.
However, an air filtration unit or some other kind of air quality system that we provide can go a long way toward fixing this problem as well!
Are These Systems Safe?
With more technology being installed in your home, there’s a burning question that needs to be answered. Is this technology safe for me?
The answer is absolutely. Firstly, UV light isn’t inherently dangerous because it replicates the UV rays of the sun, which aren’t too bad for us. However, prolonged exposure to UV light can cause issues and burns. Luckily, your UV light purifier is set up in your air ducts where you don’t even come in contact with it, so you don’t get any negative health effects from it.
As far as an air filter goes, there are also no negative health consequences from these systems either, so you’re in the clear!
At Dalton Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, Electric and Fireplaces, Inc., your comfort is our promise! To set up an appointment in the Cedar Rapids area, give us a call at the number above, email customerservice@daltonphc.com or schedule an appointment online.