Breathing cleaner air has huge benefits. It can help you and your family miss fewer days of school and work, reduce the frequency of asthma attacks and allergy symptoms, and prevent headaches, fatigue, and even bad moods! And an air purifier that uses UV light to sanitize the air is the best way to breathe easier. But does it need to be running all the time? Let’s consider.
How Do UV Air Purifiers Work?
While portable air purifiers are also an option, today we’re talking about whole house air purifiers. These are installed in your ductwork, as part of your HVAC system. As long as air is passing through those ducts, it will pass through the ultraviolet light, as well. This light is within a frequency range that has a huge impact on single-celled nasties like mold spores, bacteria, and other germs.
When these tiny pathogens with delicate outer membranes are exposed to the UV light, it easily passes into the entire cell. Picture the protein chains that hold this germ together as a spiral staircase. The light can actually unravel the bonds that keep the proteins chained. The pieces of that staircase are now floating apart, unable to function together, and definitely unable to reproduce or cause illness.
Does UV Light Kill All Germs Instantly?
Many of the microorganisms that float through the air have no real outer structure, only a thin lipid membrane, like a bubble of oil. This is certainly true of the vast majority of bacteria, so they are very quickly dispatched by the UV light. However, viruses are made of sturdier stuff. In order to be completely neutralized, a virus may need to pass through the UV light repeatedly as the air cycles through your ducts.
How Much Should I Run My Air Purifier?
As you can see, even occasional use will have some impact on the number of germs floating around in your air. But it’s actually recommended that the UV light stay on all the time. This way, every bit of air will eventually pass through it, and every little virus will end up there more than once, for maximum sanitizing power. But speaking of power, how much energy will it use to keep the purifier on 24/7?
How Much Does the Electricity for My Air Purifier Cost?
This is completely dependent upon things like the rate at your electrical provider and the efficiency of your air purifier. In general, though, most air purifiers use somewhere between 50-100 watts per hour. This means that even when they run every minute of every day, you’re likely to spend just four to ten dollars on that electricity each month, or $48-120 per year.
This is a tiny fraction of the energy you put toward other uses! The US Energy Information Administration calculated that 52% of American home energy use is spent on heating and cooling. Depending on the source for your statistics, that could add up to $1000-$2200 per year for your family! Seen from this angle, it’s clear that the cost of running an air purifier is minimal, and the benefits are fantastic.
Want to know more about air purifiers in Covington, LA? We’d love to talk with you.
When you need it done right, contact Professional Heating & Air.