An air purifier is a great asset to have in terms of breathing clean and fresh air.
It destroys the germs that cause you sickness and removes other air pollutants from the air it sucks in/filters.
Air purifiers come in various types; High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filters, air to air exchangers, ionic air purifiers, and ultraviolet purifiers.
You may be wondering: what does UV light do on an air purifier?
In this article, you will learn about Ultraviolet air purifiers, what makes them unique, what UV light does on an air filter, what they do, and everything you need to know about them.
What is UV light on air purifier?
An Ultraviolet air purifier uses UV light to kill the germs that pass through the air in the filter.
A UV air purifier is like any other air purifier that filters clean air of dust, dander, mold, and fungi. The only difference is that it is an air purifier with UV light.
How does the UV air purifier work?
The UV air purifier’s central role is to ensure that you breathe in germ-free air just like you drink pure water with best water softeners. It improves your indoor quality by destroying germs or microbes in the air with the help of the ultraviolet light from the bulb in an air purifier.
So, how does this purifier work?
· The air purifier has a motor-driven fan that collects air from the environment, pulls it into the purifier, and passes it through the light system.
· And as the air passes through the air purifier, the UV light shines on the germs, viruses, and other organic contaminants, killing/destroying them in the process.
· The germ-free air then passes through a pre-filter and finally a HEPA filter that traps other air contaminants like dust, dander, and smoke particles.
Does UV light improve air quality?
Yes. It kills germs/microorganisms and traps other non-organic contaminants like dust, smoke particles, and dander. In doing so, it cleans and freshens the air you breathe, improving air quality.
It doesn’t only do that. UV light also breaks down odors and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), giving you fresh, safe, and odorless air.
How effective is UV light in killing germs in air purifiers?
UV light is very effective in destroying germs.
There is a reason why staying too long in the sun is dangerous. It causes dehydration and sunburn. Too much exposure to UV light also affects your cell structure. That is why some people end up getting skin cancer and other skin issues.
Now, if UV light is that bad on you, imagine how more dangerous it is to microorganisms. When exposed to UV light, it burns or breaks down the DNA of these microorganisms in the air filter, thereby making them harmless to your health.
How can you increase the efficiency of UV light in your air filter?
· Use UV light with titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide works with UV light to produce a chemical reaction that effectively breaks down the organic matter in pollens, germs or pathogens, molds, and fungi into harmless or inactive byproducts.
· Use of reflectors. Because the air purifier uses light to work, you can increase your UV purifier’s efficiency by adding more reflecting surfaces like aluminum to a room. Reflections increase the exposure rate of the air to the light.
· Place your ultraviolet air purifier in an open room with high airflow. This will increase the air volume that the air purifier pulls into itself for cleansing.
· Increase the light intensity or brightness. The more intense the UV light is, the more effectively it kills the microbes.
Is the UV light in air purifiers safe?
Yes. The ultraviolet light in air purifiers is safe. The UV air purifiers completely contain or seal the UV light within the purifier. So there is no danger of you getting exposed to the UV rays.
To prevent the risk of exposure to UV light in the air purifiers:
· Buy UV light air purifiers with safety features to ensure UV light doesn’t leak through. Some UV air purifiers have a safety switch that immediately shuts off power when the filter cover opens up.
· Place a shield on the UV bulb when changing the filters to avoid getting exposed to the UV rays.
How often should you use a UV light on air purifiers?
Answer: All the time if possible.
Doing this will allow your air purifier to clean or sanitize the air in your house thoroughly throughout the whole day. And this will significantly improve your indoor air quality over the air that comes in from your doors or windows.
How much power does an air purifier that uses UV light need?
Little power. The UV light functionality uses little energy—a few watts. So, high electricity bills shouldn’t bother you.
What is the lifespan of the UV light bulb?
A UV light bulb will last 9-12 months. For better performance, change the bulbs every nine months.
Why you should use an Ultraviolet light air purifier
So, what does the UV light do on an air purifier? These are some of the benefits of UV light air purifiers.
· They effectively combat disease-causing organisms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other allergens. Ultraviolet light purifiers are a well-defined solution to disinfecting the air of microbes.
· It is fast. When the microbes and allergens contact the light from this device, the UV light destroys them immediately. All it takes is exposure to this light.
· It is cheap to maintain as it only calls for minimal supervision and continual replacement of the lights and filters.
· It covers a large surface area. With the help of reflectors, this light can spread all over a particular room without necessarily moving it.
· It is energy-saving. UltraViolet light uses very little energy in its work.
· It is quiet. It produces minimal sound while switched on, thereby doing away with any distracting sound.
Conclusion: What does UV light do on air purifier?
Now you are able to answer the question: what does UV light do in an air purifier?
If you have been looking for an air purifier that will solve all if not most of your air quality issues, an Ultraviolet air purifier is the best option for you. The air purifier is combined with other filters to attain good results. Such filters include a High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter, a carbon ion filter for foul odor, and an air-to-air filter for air movement.
A UV light air purifier guarantees you germ-free air. Click here to know how you can tell if your air purifier is working or not.
