Using UV Lights to Reduce Allergens and Contaminants

Inside your Charlotte, NC home, several contaminants can decrease the quality of your indoor air. Although indoor air quality can vary from one residence to the next, several contaminants are common. If you have pets at home, their dander and fur can cause allergies and respiratory issues for those who are prone to reactions. Pollen from the outdoors can come inside and cause sneezing, itching, and coughing. Other indoor contaminants include volatile organic compounds, dust, dust mites, and mold spores. There are several ways you can improve the quality of your indoor air, including using a UV light to reduce allergens.

What Is a UV Light?

A UV light is typically used to help sanitize homes. Essentially, you would have a light that emits UV-C radiation installed onto your HVAC system. As air passes through the light, any microorganisms in the air will be rendered harmless. UV-C light destroys the cellular structure of things like bacteria, viruses, and mold spores.

UV light technology for sanitation was first designed for use in hospitals and medical settings. However, they are becoming more popular in homes to reduce the allergens and contaminants that make many people sick.

There isn’t a lot of maintenance that you need to concern yourself with if you install a UV light in your home. You’ll want to periodically check the light and clean its surface. If it becomes too dusty or dirty, this can impact its effectiveness. Also, consider having your light replaced once every year or so.

How Does a UV Light Reduce Allergens?

A UV light works differently than other methods of air purification. A whole-house air purifier will filter the air that passes through your HVAC system. Using a filter, particulate matter will be trapped before it can circulate into your living spaces. UV lights don’t have the ability to trap particulate matter. As discussed, they damage specific contaminants to render them harmless.

Many people are susceptible to allergy symptoms when they are exposed to mold. Mold can grow in your home if there is excess moisture present in your air. If you have a plumbing leak or issue, you may have water accumulating under your sinks, in your basement, or around your foundation. You’ll want to have your plumbing system inspected once per year by a professional to spot issues early. You can also use a whole-house dehumidifier to bring high levels of moisture back down if you live in a humid area. Whole-house filtration can trap mold spores in your home. You can also use a UV light to damage the mold spores before they make you sick.

If you suspect mold in your home, schedule an indoor air quality test. This is ideal if you or someone in your household has been dealing with symptoms like frequent headaches, nausea, fatigue, and brain fog with no known cause. If you have asthma, mold can be a major trigger for shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Mold remediation may be necessary to deal with large-scale issues.

Cuts Down on Illness

If you’re already feeling miserable because of seasonal allergies, the last thing you want is to get sick with a cold or the flu. A UV light can effectively remove bacteria and viruses from your indoor air. Instead of passing illnesses around from one family to another, you’ll be able to stay healthy.

Provides Seasonal Relief

It’s important to be able to relax in your home during allergy season so you can get a break from the allergens that are outside. Keeping your home closed up during the day can decrease the quality of your indoor air. However, you can use technology, like whole-house filtration equipment and UV lights, to improve indoor air quality and reduce the presence of allergens. Just make sure that you’re changing your filters and having your equipment inspected on a regular basis to ensure everything is working correctly and efficiently.

Integrity Heating & Cooling can help with indoor air quality issues in the Charlotte area. We can test the quality of your indoor air, install whole-house filtration equipment, and place a UV light onto your HVAC system. Contact Integrity Heating & Cooling today to schedule an appointment and find out more about our services.