What’s the Story on UV Air Cleaners?

You may have noticed on our Current Specials page that we are offering up to $100 off our best indoor air quality package, which includes an air cleaner with an ultraviolet purification light system. Since the whole concept of UV air purification is relatively new, we decided to give our readers a UV air purification 101 in hopes of not only educating our customers but also to help spread the word about this great technology.

The Basics: As you may have guessed the main component for a UV air purification system is Ultraviolet light. This light is known for its germicidal properties, meaning it deactivates the DNA of bacteria, viruses, allergens, mold, and other airborne pathogens that can be hazardous to your health. By deactivating their DNA, the organisms are unable to reproduce, and die before they can become a problem.

The Benefits: I think it’s fairly common knowledge that killing bacteria and viruses in the air is a good thing. That is why many hospitals and medical offices choose to use UV light as an air purification system. In addition to this, they are very low maintenance and require no filters. You simply plug them in and let them do their work.

The Evidence: Some research has been done on the effectiveness of UV air purifiers, and since it is such a new technology, there are still many questions. However, studies have shown that UV air purifying technology has effectively killed airborne pathogens. A study conducted by the U.S. Center for Disease Control conducted in 2003 showed that UV air purifiers inactivated a tuberculosis-like bacteria in a hospital room after being installed on the ceiling.

Also in 2003 the British medical journal The Lancet gave evidence that after installing UV air purifiers in an office ventilation system the workers’ breathing problems and overall sickness was significantly reduced.

The Drawbacks: As previously stated, since this is such a new technology, not a great amount of research and testing has been done to prove the general effectiveness of these air purifiers. Also, while they have been shown to effectively kill airborne pathogens they have been shown to work the best in conjunction with another air filtering unit. This is for a few reasons, one being that no air purifier will kill everything and each type has its own benefits. Also, the UV air purifier needs air to be moved through it so it can effectively purify as much air as possible.

The Final Word: At R.S. Andrews we strive to bring you the latest and greatest technologies to make your everyday life simpler. That’s why we’re excited to offer indoor air quality services in Atlanta, embracing advanced solutions like UV air purifiers among our offerings. We believe this technology is the way of the future.

That being said, we agree that it is best used in conjunction with another type of air filtration system. This technology would be particularly useful in homes with young children, the elderly, or those frequently exposed to illnesses or have weakened immune systems. The evidence has shown that UV air purifiers can effectively kill viruses and bacteria so we feel it’s a good investment.