Spring And Summer Allergies: Do You Need UV Lights, An Electronic Air Cleaner Or Both?

Do You Need UV Lights, An Electronic Air Cleaner Or Both?Many Pasadena residents suffer from spring and summer allergies. UV lights and electronic air cleaners both work to remove allergens from your home’s air. They fight against different types of air pollutants, so you will have the best indoor air quality if you use both types of air purifiers. However, depending on your current air quality and the types of allergies you’re dealing with, you might only need one type of air cleaner.

UV lights

UV lights clean your home’s air by killing biological contaminants within your air ducts. The UV rays alter the DNA of germs and other pollutants, rendering them harmless. UV lights work against:

  • Bacteria
  • Viruses
  • Mold spores

If you have mold allergies, a UV purification system can help by greatly reducing the number of mold spores that come out of your HVAC vents. UV lights may also reduce the number of illnesses your family gets by killing the viruses and bacteria that cause colds and other common sicknesses. Unfortunately, UV air cleaners do not remove allergy-causing particulate matter from the air, such as pollen.

Electronic air cleaners

If Pasadena’s springtime pollen causes your allergies to flare up, consider an electronic air cleaner. Electronic air cleaners give particles in the air a charge. The particles then stick to oppositely-charged surfaces rather than remaining in the air.

Ionizers cause the particles to settle on surfaces around your home, such as walls and curtains. Electrostatic precipitators have oppositely-charged plates within them, so the particles do not leave your air ducts and settle around the house.

Consider an electronic air cleaner if you are allergic to:

  • Pet dander
  • Dust
  • Pollen

Choosing an air cleaner

If you have mold and mildew allergies, a UV light system is a good choice for your home. If you are allergic to pet dander, dust or pollen, you will also benefit from an electronic air cleaner. For multiple allergy types, consider installing both types of purifiers. Consider professional indoor air quality testing for help determining which type of air cleaner will be most beneficial.

For help choosing and installing air purification systems in the Pasadena area, contact the experts at Air-Tro Inc.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about uv lights and other HVAC topics, visit our website.

Air-Tro Inc. services the greater Los Angeles area as well as the metro areas of Riverside and San Bernardino County. 

UV light image via Shutterstock

Tags