Can UV Light Kill Coronavirus?

Households have been vigilant in finding new ways to battle the novel coronavirus in addition to current efforts, including self-quarante and constant disinfecting of commonly touched surfaces. And, since man-made sanitizers/disinfectants have become limited in supply, many are turning to nature’s disinfectant: ultraviolet light. 

I have recently been receiving a lot of inquiries about installing UV LED lights for HVAC systems: Is UV Light Effective Against Coronavirus? I’ve done some researches and here is the interesting result:

As a technology, ultraviolet light disinfection has been around for a while. A recent study from Seoul in early April reported a “99.9% sterilization of coronavirus (COVID-19) in 30 seconds” with their UV LED products. Therefore, some hospitals in the US use UV light to sterilize face masks for healthcare workers.

UV Light is Used To Sanitize Masks

It’s worth noting that not all UV wavelengths are alike and safe with long exposure. A particular spectrum of ultraviolet light called the far UV-C have been determined effective in inactivating bacteria without becoming a human hazard.

Do you need the UV light for your HVAC?

When it’s properly installed to an HVAC system, these UV lights can:

• Kills bacteria, viruses and germs
• Controls mold (Link this to the previous web post about How to get rid or prevent mold)  and other allergens
• Removes Volatile Organic Compounds
• Reduces smells and odors
• Maintains a cleaner coils and condensate drain line
• Reduces maintenance requirements

And again, make sure to install it properly so it works and more importantly, it doesn’t cause any safety hazard. UV lights should generally be installed near the evaporator coil AC coil, above the primary condensate pan (so it keeps the pan clean) or in your ductwork.

Feel free to reach out if you would like to know more about HVAC UV lights or set up the appointment online