UV Efficiencies in AC Units

Almost everyone enjoys the refreshing comfort of an AC unit in their home, commercial or industrial location during the heat of summer. But along with that comfort come microorganisms, mold, and mildew inherent in the passageways of an AC system. These unwanted intruders make the system work harder and shorten the mechanisms’ operating life.

AC Units: Breeding Ground for Pathogens

They can also cause a variety of ailments, including colds, allergies, COPD, bronchitis, asthma, headaches, and nausea. More serious illnesses include lung infections, pulmonary disease, autoimmune deficiency, and even cancer. This can cause serious long-term health consequences, even for those with no other underlying health conditions.

No amount of human labor, even by a licensed professional, can eliminate all the microorganisms and spores that collect in the vents, coils, and drain pans, and along the other interior surfaces of an AC system. Even the highest-quality HEPA filter cannot trap all the potentially toxic microscopic pathogens and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that escape the AC system. The application of chemicals will only dispel toxins into the same area the AC blower system is intended to service.

UV Light Prevents Build-Up and Improves Efficiency

The answer is to install, with a new AC unit or as a retrofitted adjunct to an existing unit, a UV light sterilization system, particularly with light in the frequency of 253.7 nanometers (commonly referred to as 254 nm). UV light at that pinpointed frequency will instantly destroy the nucleus of each microorganism that passes through its radiation. Such UV light purification systems will work with optimum efficiency at temperatures ranging from 40° to 120° F, can be programmed to radiate 24/7 or only in tandem with the AC blower, and are virtually maintenance free, with bulbs lasting several thousand hours.

The UV in-duct version of AC purification systems should be mounted near and downstream from the system’s coil and should be aimed at the coil and condensation pan. The efficiencies gained from installing a UV germicidal AC purification system are many and varied. Families will be healthier, with less time spent taking the kids to the doctor. Workforces will operate more efficiently with greater productivity and decreased absenteeism.

LightSources is a leading global supplier of high-quality UV germicidal lamps to suit HVAC sterilization needs.  We design, engineer and manufacture high-tech germicidal lamps to meet various disinfection system needs and OEM specifications. Contact us to learn more about our many options for UVC germicidal lamps.

Keeping Food Safe with UV Light

In the food growing, processing, and service industries, a lot of things can go wrong. Dangerous contaminants lurk around seemingly every corner during each step of the process of bringing food from the field to the table. As a result, the agricultural, food processing, and restaurant businesses are subject to some of the most stringent regulations, resulting in increased costs, both to producers and consumers.

UV light food sterilization equipment can play an indispensable part as a silent partner in keeping food safe and of optimal quality for human consumption. UV light can be used to destroy harmful microbes, viruses, and other microorganisms that can threaten to shut down a business, temporarily or permanently, through substantial government fines, product recalls, costly litigation, and their resultant bad publicity.

UV Food Sterilization Keeps Food Fresher Longer

Properly installed and operated, UV light food sterilization systems can effectively and efficiently ensure that food and beverage products are free from the harmful microorganisms that human effort alone cannot begin to adequately combat. The result is a safer end product that stays fresher longer, increasing shelf life and preventing premature sprouting of foods like potatoes and onions.

Products during processing are invariably exposed to the air and various surfaces within the sphere of operation. UV germicidal lamps can continuously sterilize such air and surfaces, along with any water used for rinsing products or included as an ingredient in the production process. Surfaces may include everything from tables to slicers and grinders to pans, bottles, and conveyor belts, to the final packaging material, all of which can be constantly sanitized by UV light.

UV light sterilization systems are relatively low cost and very low maintenance, and eliminate the need for chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides. Examples of food industries efficiently and effectively benefited by UV light sterilization systems are beef, fish, and poultry producers; dairy and cheesemakers; beverage companies; liquid sweetener manufacturers, such as corn syrup; frozen food companies; bakeries (where UV light was first used to treat flour and yeast to eliminate insects); fruit and vegetable producers; and chocolatiers.

LightSources is a leading supplier of UVC germicidal lamps, found in air, surface, and water sterilization applications around the globe. We offer a wide selection of UV lamps and equipment to meet the needs of any surface, water or air sterilization system.  Contact us to speak with an engineer about our high-tech UV germicidal lamps.

UVC Robots Enter the Battle Against COVID

COVID-19 and its variants have been ravaging the globe for more than a year now, and hopefully the war is winding to its conclusion, with increased vaccinations and increasingly knowledgeable diligence by citizens to help curb the spread of infection.

There is another significant weapon in the fight against COVID: UVC germicidal lamp robots. Several scientific studies have confirmed UVC light’s effectiveness in killing the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, and businesses, particularly hospitals, are increasingly deploying robots to aid in sterilization of air and surfaces. Many hospitals across the United States are using UV light robots as an added layer of protection against the spread of the pernicious virus. 

Human resources and personal protective equipment are sometimes pressed to exhaustion during surges in COVID-19 cases. That is when UV robots can provide valuable resources with additional sterilization.  UVC robots can be programmed to enter a hospital room after the manual cleaning is complete and finish the job by killing bacteria and viruses missed by overworked staff. The robots can work tirelessly and even navigate back to their charging ports when sensing depletion of their battery power.

UVC germicidal lamps have been proven effective in eliminating causes all along the spectrum of coronavirus diseases, including Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).  

UVC Robots Valuable in Many Settings

The value of UVC robots does not end with battling coronaviruses. They also reduce risk of the most common Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) generated from superbugs that invade hospital environments. UVC robots are increasingly employed outside the medical field where masses gather in concentrated locations, such as airports, train stations, shopping malls, and public shelters. 

As with any UVC sterilization system, the type of germicidal UV lamps is key to reaching maximum disinfection. LightSources is a leader among UV lamp manufacturers, with decades of experience, a global presence, and the leading high-tech lamp engineers in the industry.

LightSources follows a strict quality policy as part of our ISO9001:2015 certification and provides high-tech germicidal lamps that outlast and outperform comparable lamps. Our lighting engineers possess in-depth knowledge of lamp manufacturing design and engineering and UV radiation, offering custom solutions to meet various sterilization needs. Contact us to speak to an engineer about our UVC germicidal lamps for UVC light robots.