Are UV Air Purifiers right for you? UV lighting is known to kill bacteria and other airborne pathogens. UV-C light is commonly used to disinfect surfaces, water, and air. It’s used in many air purifiers to help increase indoor air quality. But, does it kill the coronavirus? Well, it’s a little more difficult to answer than that. Let’s take a deeper look to understand more about UV air purifiers and how they can help clean your air.
Portable Air Purifiers with UV Light
The UV lighting in portable air purifiers are not normally as intense as hospital grade purifiers. The coronavirus will require more exposure to the UV light because of its lower intensity. The air exchange rate is usually too high for the low intensity UV ray to destroy the virus. Therefore, MOST household air purifiers with UV lighting you can buy off the shelf are not sufficient enough to destroy the coronavirus.
UV Air Purifiers
However, it does not mean that UV light cannot destroy the virus. There are many UV air purifiers that are sufficient in the inactivation of airborne pathogens. You just need to do your research and find an air purifier that best suites your needs.
HEPA Filters
Most viruses are smaller than 0.1 microns and can easily pass through HEPA filters. Make sure you are replacing your HEPA filters with true HEPAs. And, although HEPA filters can trap most viruses, it does not deactivate them. So, be sure to replace your filters very carefully and make sure there are no leaks around the filters. Using HEPA filters with a UV air purifier may be something you can look into.
Conclusion
If you’re in the market for a UV air purifier, be sure to find one that has strong UV light rays and allows sufficient time between air exchanges to actively destroy live pathogens. Also, make sure your purifier has a high quality true HEPA filter to help trap those live pathogens from circulating your air. If you’re looking for replacement filters for your air purifier or negative air machine, visit our filter page or contact us directly with any questions you may have. We’re here to help.
