If this past year has taught us anything it is that we can never be to prepared for things that may affect our quality of life. Most often those things that affect us the worst are those we cannot see Things such as Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Radon, bacteria, Pollen, dust, Viruses, Voc’s, and many others.
We at the Mechanical Services Company have been ridding businesses and homes of these problems for many years thru multiple methods including but not limited to:
- UV Lighting-We installed our first UV system back in the 1980’s. We use a product from Dynamic Air Quality Solutions and Eco-Healthy Home.
What is Ultraviolet Light and how does it work?
The C wavelength of the UV spectrum targets the DNA of microorganisms, destroying their cells or making replication impossible. Directed at a cooling coil or drain pan, UVC energy destroys surface biofilm, a gluey matrix of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, debris, et al.) that grows in the presence of moisture. Biofilm is prevalent in HVAC systems and leads to a host of indoor air quality (IAQ) and operational problems that are sometimes mistakenly attributed solely to mold. UVC also destroys airborne viruses and bacteria that circulate through an HVAC system. UVC light was artificially created in the 1880’s and later commercially used to kill waterborne viruses and bacteria in 1909. By the 1930’s surgeons were using UVC light in operating rooms to reduce airborne bacterial and viral infections.
Ultraviolet (UV) lights have been used since the 1930s in commercial and industrial applications including, but not limited to, sanitizing meats and vegetables, medical applications, air treatment, and water treatment. Residentially they started to emerge as in-duct air purifiers in the early 1990’s and today there are several manufacturers jumping on the band wagon. UV lights are a proven technology, yet they must have the right wavelength and have enough power for surface kill of biological growth, as well as airborne control of micro-organisms and germs.
To make sure you are getting what you paid for when deciding on which UV light to have installed into your HVAC system the light must have a UVC germicidal wavelength lamp and enough microwatts of power to get the job done. UV lights below 55 microwatts of power have little effect for this application and 70 – 180 microwatts is recommended.
Outside the sun emits several wavelengths of light that serve many purposes in our outdoor environment: helping plants grow, producing vitamin D in the skin, skin tanning, kill germs and deodorize the air. These wavelengths are broken down with different measurements each serving a separate function or purpose and they are measured in nanometers (nm). The Ultraviolet (UV) spectrum consists of UVA, UVB, UVC, and VUV (or UVV). Visual light is above 400 nm and the UV spectrum ranges from 400 to 10 nm as depicted below:
| Name | Abbreviation | Wavelength range |
| Before UV spectrum | Visible light | above 400 nm |
| Ultraviolet, long wave, or black light | UVA | 400 nm–315 nm |
| UVB or medium wave tanning solons | UVB | 315 nm–280 nm |
| Ultraviolet C short wave or germicidal | UVC | 280 nm–100 nm |
| Ultraviolet V (Vacuum) ozone | VUV or UVV | 200 nm–100 nm |
| Beyond UV range | X-rays | below 10 nm |
Benefits
By controlling surface and airborne microbes, UVC can be beneficial in many ways, including Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) control and energy savings:
IAQ Control. UVC improves air quality by preventing the spread of airborne viruses and reducing the allergy and asthma symptoms triggered by biofilm/mold. It creates safer and more comfortable indoor environments, resulting in a happier and healthier home for you and your family.
Energy Savings. Studies show that even a very thin (.024″) layer of biofilm buildup on a coil increases energy consumption by 21.5%. UVC provides continuous cleaning of coils to eliminate biofilm more effectively than conventional cleaning methods. Field data from UVC commercial and healthcare installations has shown resulting HVAC energy savings ranging from 10% to 28%.(source www.Dynamiciacqs.com)
2.)Air Filtration-While most businesses and homes do not seem to notice some of the poor filtration set ups that have been used tHe Mechanical Services Company has been utilizing the latest technology and methods to improve filtration to help reduce dust and dirt in hvac systems.
Did you know that approximately 10 percent of the air in a ducted hvac system can by pass the filters if not properly installed? Unfortunately, the dust and Germs go with the bypassing air.
By using only high quality properly rated and sized filters, looking for and sealing off any potential bypass we can eliminate more of the dust and Pollen in a system. This, overtime, will increase the quality of the indoor air in a building or home for easier breathing.
3.)Fresh air-Buildings and homes have never had standards for efficiency as they do currently. With insulation standards, windows being tight, homes being wrapped seems like a never ending quest for zero air infiltration. This has lead to sick building syndrome, Sick home Syndrome increases in breathing problems Etc.
In years gone by-1900-Homes had single pane windows they were wooden and many times over the years they loosened in their tracks and you could get a nice “breeze” off the window when it was cold or hot outside. So while the costs to heat and cool our homes was increased we never had to worry about many of the issues we have currently with Sick Buildings/Homes.
The Mechanical Services Company has been helping building owners/managers and home owners with these problems since the early 1970. From better fresh air control thru upgrades in equipment to introducing fresh air into homes and buildings in new manageable ways.