Battles with mold in your New Lennox, IL home should be relatively short-lived. Every successful mold treatment starts by identifying the underlying source of excess moisture. After all, mold spores and mildew are far less likely to thrive when your indoor humidity is at or below 60%. After finding and addressing slow and hidden leaks and making all other necessary building repairs, professional mold remediation should work. If it doesn’t, you need extra support. Sanitizing UV lights are popular HVAC system additions. These integrated accessories eliminate mold spores before conditioned air is distributed. With UV lights installed, your HVAC system will become your most valuable tool for improving your indoor air quality (IAQ).
How Germicidal UV Lights Work
As integrated HVAC accessories, germicidal UV lights are either attached to air handlers or installed directly in HVAC ductwork. Air that enters your HVAC system passes through your air filter and has heat extracted or added. Once conditioned, this air will then be routed beneath your UV lights for sanitization. Germicidal UV lights use UV-C rays. These rays enter mold spores and break down their DNA.
With an effective, integrated HVAC accessory offering ongoing mold treatment, you won’t have to worry about mold spores constantly reinfesting areas that you’ve already treated. Moreover, as your IAQ improves, building residents will experience fewer mold-related symptoms like:
- Recurring headaches
- Skin rashes and general skin irritation
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Sneezing, wheezing, and coughing
- Nasal and sinus congestion
Many people who use UV lights to round out their mold treatment plans also enjoy higher levels of energy and deeper and more restful sleep.
Additional Health Benefits Provided by Germicidal UV Lights
With quality, well-maintained UV lights installed, you can eliminate your current mold problems and prevent additional issues from developing. However, sanitizing UV lights will continue to provide great value even after your indoor mold has been eradicated. These lights prevent algae from flourishing in AC condensate drain lines, pans, and outgoing drains. This prevents problems like air conditioner short cycling, leaking, and poor humidity regulation.
Just as germicidal UV lights disrupt the DNA in mold spores, they also deactivate viruses, bacteria, and other harmful pathogens. Thus, your UV lights will eliminate the germs found in the aerosols of coughs and sneezes before they’re cycled through your HVAC system and distributed from room to room. Having these lights in place could cause fewer flus and colds for everyone.
Another important benefit of germicidal UV lights is their ability to neutralize unpleasant odors. Not only do they get rid of odor-causing fungi and bacteria, but they also break down foul-smelling chemical compounds as air passes over their photocatalysts.
Getting to the Bottom of Your Moisture Issues
Slow and hidden leaks are among the most common causes of indoor humidity problems. You might have:
- A slab leak
- Loose connections at the backs of your appliances
- Leaky pipes behind your drywall or in your crawlspaces
- An inconspicuous roof leak
However, some households are prone to creating overly moist indoor conditions even when no leaks exist. Whenever there are lots of people cooking, showering, using the dryer, and engaging in other moisture-generating activities, problems like wet drywall, condensation-covered windows, and mold abound.
Sometimes the solution to overly moist building interiors is to simply increase ventilation. You may need to clean your bathroom exhaust fans and range hood vent or have your dryer vent professionally cleaned. If none of these measures work, you might need whole-home dehumidification instead. While UV lights are effective for eliminating existing mold, they can’t resolve the moisture problems that promote mold formation.
How to Know If Germicidal UV Lights Are the Right Integrated Accessory for You
Germicidal UV lights aren’t just great for ending prolonged battles with mold. They also minimize the risk of communicable illnesses and protect the health of heat pumps and air conditioners by staving off algal blooms. They’re excellent integrated HVAC system accessories for residents with chronic respiratory illnesses, terminal illnesses, and compromised immunity. They also significantly improve IAQ to support the needs of age-in-place senior and newborn babies.
Trust the Professionals
The best way to determine if germicidal UV lights are the right integrated HVAC accessory for your home is by scheduling an indoor air quality assessment. This assessment will measure your home’s humidity, determine which allergens, pathogens, and contaminants are present, and measure their concentrations. With the resulting IAQ report, you can make an informed purchasing decision.
We help homeowners in New Lennox, IL maintain clean, healthy, comfortable homes. In addition to top-notch heating and cooling services, we offer cutting-edge IAQ solutions. You can count on us for the latest and most innovative options in air scrubbers, air purifiers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and germicidal UV lights. To find out more or schedule an appointment, contact Zark Heating & Cooling now.
