Home

[granddi]

Our HVAC service guy told us about a UltraViolet light disinfection system can be added to the air duct work. It is said to be effective in killing SARS-CoV-2. Many schools(and public buildings) are looking at installing. The unit is REME HALO. Quoted price of $1200.00 per unit.

[Mz iMac]

Resorts Hotel/Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. uses the UV disinfection light throughout the building.

[gardenman]

UV lighting has been used in the aquarium hobby for decades. To be effective, there is a required exposure time. In aquariums, you need a low flow of water for it to be effective. It would be the same in a heating duct. You'd need slow air movement through the ducts for it to be effective. As a general rule, forced air systems move a lot of air quickly. Also, the bulbs have a short lifespan. They typically should be replaced yearly. Even though they still light, the effectiveness diminishes over time and after one year they should be replaced. The long exposure time and frequent bulb replacement makes it an impractical option for most people.

[Suzeecat]

The condo that I purchased a couple yrs ago came with a state of the art HVAC system with a UV light with the air filter.  The first time I had it serviced they told me it wasn't working because it had a bad ballast and it would cost several hundred dollars to replace.  I decided I didn't really need it for that price.  The air filter continues to work fine without it.

[Still Raining]

Our schools have been mainly shut since last March and teachers are ahead of the elder for vaccination.

So this a hold my beer issue for reopening.

The professional opinion is that this is basically unproven scam for COVID.  There can be other applications.

[ThinkOutsidetheBox]

The length of time needed for UV light to kill a virus is just not achieved when it is applied in a residential HVAC setting. Likewise for those scammy UV wands that are being sold to wave over things to disinfect them. They do not work for those applications. We have a UV light installed in our HVAC air handler for a different reason though (although I have my reservations about that too). It is there to shine on the coils and kill mold, since we supposedly have mold spores in our air due to a wet crawlspace. My husband wanted the light. I doubt it does anything other than give me a migraine (because I can smell the light when the air blows out of our ducts). It is like a tanning salon smell from the 90s. It is probably destroying all the plastics and wiring coatings too thanks to the constant UV exposure. That will be a nice bill in the future. You can't tell husbands anything though.