The HVAC industry is expected to rise by 6.4% CAGR in the next few years. The popularity of quality HVAC services is rising, and people are looking for new and modern solutions to improve their HVAC systems.
Introducing HVAC UV light to improve indoor air quality by sanitizing the air through your HVAC system is a great way to strengthen the overall HVAC service ecosystem.
Being an HVAC service provider, you should be aware of the HVAC UV light system that can help you enhance the quality of customer experience and make them aware of the new technology upgrades in the industry.
We have compiled detailed information about HVAC UV light to help you better understand the topic and help your clients with the installation.
So, without further ado, let’s get the learning started.
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What are UV Lights for HVAC Systems?
The concept and usage of UV lights might look futuristic, but they have been used in hospitals for a century.
Doctors started using the lights in 1930 to treat tuberculosis; since then, they have been used across different industries, including HVAC.
Ultraviolet light emits energy rays that can help to kill fungi, viruses, and bacteria in the air and improve the overall air quality.
The HVAC UV lights can be used in commercial and residential spaces and deliver a quality customer experience to your clients.
UV lights have three radiation types: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Out of three types of UV radiation, only UVC is used in HVAC lasers and lights because of its powerful nature to kill microscopic germs and create a healthy ecosystem when the air comes out of the HVAC systems.
Now that we understand the basics of HVAC UV light systems let’s understand the working of UV lights.
How do HVAC UV Lights Work?
The HVAC UV light is installed either in the air handler or the ductwork. UV lights sanitize the germs and bacteria in the air to improve indoor air quality.
The germs moving through the central air system make it to the ultraviolet lights, and the light rays filter the air stream and enhance the residential HVAC systems.
Once the germs get exposed to the light, they absorb the UV rays coming from the light. The UV light unit releases rays that disrupt the DNA of the germs.
When mold’s DNA or bacteria is damaged, it will die or won’t reproduce, improving indoor air quality. You can use two types of UV light systems, i.e., coil sanitizing and air sanitizing.
Coiling sanitizing lights are placed near the evaporator coil, and the latter ones are placed near the return vents, which are part of the ductwork.
The HVAC UV light keeps the HVAC system clear and can only be used in a central HVAC system. Coil sanitizing lights look thin, long fluorescent lamps, and are commonly used compared to air sanitizing lights.
Let’s understand the difference between the UV lights to give you better clarity.
Coil sanitizing lights
The HVAC UV light keeps the HVAC system clear and can only be used in a central HVAC system. Coil sanitizing lights look thin, long fluorescent lamps, and are commonly used compared to air sanitizing lights.
They are less expensive and offer great sanitization results for your customers that keep the environment healthy.
The air handler is important in a furnace or air conditioner system. Inside the air handler, an evaporator coil holds the liquid refrigerant used for cooling.
Because of the frequent contact between the coil and the liquid refrigerant becomes a breeding ground for micro-level germs, because of the increase in moisture and bacteria, the evaporator coil can corrode.
The coil becomes less effective, creates an uncomfortable situation, and warms up the HVAC system.
The placement of UV light right above or next to the evaporator coil can help keep the fungi and bacteria away from the coil and improve the HVAC system’s overall condition and air quality of the HVAC system.
You can purchase and install single or dual-lamp units of these lights to ensure the smooth running of your HVAC system. You can kill the gunks and germs on the coil to avoid the customers facing long-term repair trouble.
But if your clients want the utmost efficiency in air sanitization and want to avoid severe allergies, you can choose air-sanitizing UV lights as the best option.
An air sanitizing lights
Air sanitizing lights work great for cleaning the air and ensuring a germ-free environment for your clients. These HVAC UV lights are installed in the ductwork of the central HVAC system.
The look and shape of the UV light are like the coil sanitizing UV light, but a few models are horseshoe-shaped, making it easier for them to fit in the ductwork.
The return vents suck air from each room and send it to the central HVAC system. Such lights then impact the DNA of the germs once they are sucked through the vent.
The lights can be wired with the blower motor and work in sync with the motor to ensure smooth air sanitization. However, the sanitizing air models are less popular than the coil sanitizing and are more expensive.
But UV lights treat indoor air quality more effectively than coil sanitizing lights. It cleans the air coming through the return vents, and the sanitized air enters the central HVAC system to deliver a quality experience to your clients.
If your clients have respiratory issues, you can recommend air sanitizing that offers an effective air cleaning and ensures no allergic particles travel freely in the living space.
Where Can You Install UV Lights in Your HVAC Unit?
Now that you know that the best spot to install a UV light system depends on the type of UV light, your HVAC techs should know the right locations to install a specific UV light.
The coil sanitizing lights can be installed near the evaporator coil, and the air sanitizing lights should be placed in the return vents, which are a significant part of the ductwork.
Once you understand the special requirements of your clients, your team should decide on the specific HVAC UV light and should be well-versed with the right installation procedure to deliver the highest quality results.
The pricing may vary based on the type of HVAC UV light, and so can your service cost. Let’s understand the overall cost of installing an HVAC UV light that can help you charge a competitive price and ensure decent profits.
How Much Does It Cost to Install HVAC UV Lights? Is it Worth it?
The cost of the HVAC UV lights and the service cost vary based on the types of UV lights installed in the HVAC system. However, it can be said that the cost of HVAC UV lights is much less when compared to air filtration systems like UV air purifiers and filters.
You should remain transparent with your clients, which can help you increase trust and customer retention.
Here’s a brief pricing table to help you better understand the UV lights’ pricing.
| Type of Light | Initial Equipment Cost | Installation Cost |
| Coil Sanitizing | $60-300 | $100-225 |
| Air Sanitizing | $80-400 | $150-295 |
The air sanitizing is more expensive than the other complex model to install in the central HVAC system. The installation is done in ductwork, which makes it more invasive.
At the same time, the coil sanitizing ultraviolet lights need to be placed near the evaporator coil, which makes the process simple and ensures that the germs are removed from the HVAC system.
The replacement UV lamps should also be included in the overall pricing because the UV lights may require one or two UV bulbs, each needing to be replaced within 6 to 12 months.
There’s no difference in the energy costs compared to the two UV lights which avoid the spike in the clients’ monthly electric bill.
The overall conclusion of the cost segmentation against the value provided by the UV lights is great, and it’s worth it for your clients to install these lights for quality air control.
Now, let’s understand the overall HVAC UV light installation process that can streamline your UV lamp installation.
HVAC UV light installation
The installation of such lights might be easier, but there is one obstacle that needs special attention. Your HVAC techs need to carve a hole into the air handler that makes space for the installation.
The hole must be of similar size to the UV light, i.e., between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. Being a professional HVAC contractor, you must use a professional and precise cutting tool to complete the process.
The next step is to place the UV light through the hole near the handler and then screw the light.
Plug the light into the outlet and deliver a quality customer experience by helping to bypass air bone health problems. Your HVAC techs need to be precise with cutting the hole to avoid damage to the air handler.
Like the coil sanitizing lights, such lights involve cutting a hole near the ductwork. Once done, follow the same process but with utmost care.
Sometimes, the hole can be big, and that can cause leaky ducts. It can cause problems for the clients and increase electricity usage. It can also increase wear and tear and risk to the overall HVAC system.
You need highly trained HVAC professionals to handle the installation of air sterilization lights and ensure that the mold and bacteria are removed from the air given out of the HVAC system.
Now that you know the minute details about installing HVAC UV light systems, it’s time you get started and deliver the best results for your customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are UV lights important for air conditioners?
When mold spores and bacteria wreak havoc in the central HVAC system, an HVAC unit light can ensure the surface treatment and kill mold. The lights can deliver efficient results compared to a whole-home UV HVAC air purifier. UV lights in an air conditioner can kill the germs inside the AC system and enable the machine to run at the optimal scale.
What are the benefits of UV light HVAC?
The UV sanitizing can help to keep the clients safe and healthy from harmful airborne bacteria and fungi. The lights target the germs that can worsen the conditions like COPD and asthma. The UV lights can also be off the VOCs that cause odors like tobacco smoke. Both types of sanitizing lights keep the gunk away from the building and ensure the HVAC remains clean and delivers a better and longer life.
How do UV lights for HVAC work?
HVAC UV light systems are installed either in the ductwork or in an air handler. When germs and bacteria move through the central air system, they are sanitized by the light. It creates a healthy ecosystem and ensures that your customers remain free from the risk of airborne diseases. The UV lights disrupt the DNA of the germs and restrict them from reproducing which improves the quality.
Are UV filters in HVAC worth it?
Yes. The UV filters are worth installing because they can help you deliver a quality customer experience. The filters can ensure that the indoor air quality is great and there are no germs or bacteria coming from the HVAC system.
How often do you change the HVAC UV lights?
The HVAC UV lights need to be replaced once or twice a year. You must provide regular maintenance support to your clients to ensure that the UV light delivers quality results for the clients.
Use UV Lights to Improve the HVAC Service Quality
HVAC UV light system can turn out to be a great addition in improving the quality of your customer experience and ensuring that you stand out with your HVAC service business.
You can educate your clients about the benefits of different UV lights that can help remove mold growth and volatile organic compounds.
Create a healthy and quality HVAC ecosystem for your clients and boost your presence in the HVAC industry.