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As we head toward the time of year when more and more of us spend more and more time indoors, it’s time to think about how we’re going to stay healthy. Being cooped up and breathing in the same air someone else breathed out makes it all too easy to get sick. With a UV air purifier, you can dramatically reduce the amount of germs in your air.
We’ll tell you about 3 germs that can be eliminated by the UV lights in an air purifier. Just 3, you ask? Not just 3 germs—3 whole categories of germs!
So many things can be airborne: influenza, rhinovirus, Covid-19, and mysterious scary-sounding things like meningococcus, staphylococcus, legionella, and mycobacteria. While these little pathogens can do a lot of damage to us if we breathe them in, ultraviolet light at a specific frequency can do a lot of damage to them!
Bacteria
The cell walls of bacteria are extremely vulnerable to UV light. The proteins they are made of rely on chemical bonds to stay together, and the light unravels those bonds. The bacteria are scrambled like eggs and are no longer able to cause anyone any harm.
You might only be thinking about bacteria as something that can get you sick. But bacteria have another impressive skill: causing unpleasant odors. When you smell litter box or gym socks in your house, that’s because bacteria from those places are entering your nasal passages! Yuck. Eliminating those bacteria with UV light will make your house smell so much fresher.
Viruses
While the result of bacteria and viruses on the human body can be quite similar, the pathogens themselves are quite different. In general, viruses are less vulnerable, but they also vary widely. UV light can’t destroy all viruses quite as easily as it can destroy bacteria, but it can reduce the viral load in the air.
UV air purifiers contain filters, and many germs, including viruses, will be trapped there. Those that escape will be subjected to the light. Each pass the air makes through the purifier will kill more viruses, which is why it’s important to have a whole-house air purifier installed. A small portable one simply won’t be able to process enough air to significantly reduce viruses in the air.
Mold
You might think of mold as something that grows like a plant, but the way mold reproduces is by releasing spores into the air. Those spores can be very hazardous for people who are allergic or have underlying respiratory problems, and certain types of mold are toxic to everyone.
Like bacteria, mold spores are very vulnerable to UV light. Once they’re eliminated by your air purifier, the air will be healthier to breathe, and mold will have a much harder time growing in your home.
It’s important to select the correct air purifier for your HVAC system and the size of your home, and to have it professionally installed. Our team of experts in UV light services in Stamford, CT would love to help you with that!
