UV Light Air Purifiers: Behind-the-Scenes Secrets You Should Know
Do UV air purifiers work?
Are UV air purifiers worth?
Are air purifiers with UV light safe?
You may ask such questions when you buy a UV light air purifier to combat bacteria, virus, mold and other allergens.
The answer is YES and NO!
It depends on where and how you use this type of air purifiers!
UV Light Air Purifier Myths & Facts:
#1. How UV Air Purifiers Work
#2. Are UV Light Air Purifiers Safe
#3. UV Air Purifiers: Pros and Cons
#4. Best Alternatives to UV Air Cleaners
#5. UV Air Filter Frequently Asked Questions
#1. How UV Light on Air Purifiers Works
What is a UV light air purifier? What does UV light do on air purifiers?
This type of air purifiers uses UV light technology to capture and pass the air through a filter. The air enters a small internal chamber where the air is exposed to UV light.
The UV light then will kill the bacteria of the air and filter the air before releasing it back into the room.
Most ultraviolet light air purifiers use UV-C light that can potentially alter the DNA of microorganisms and inactive or destroy them. With a combination of another filter, the UV air cleaner then pops out bacteria-free air from the air outlet.
#2. Are UV Light Air Purifiers Safe
Is it safe to use air purifier with UV light?
Is UV light in air purifier dangerous?
Is UV light in air purifiers harmful?
Are UV lights in air purifier safe to leave on?
Are UV air purifiers dangerous in any way?
Is the UV-C light leaking from my air purifier safe?
There are potential risk and dangers when using an air filter with UV light.
One of the UV light air purifier dangers is that UV-C light radiation has been proven to transform the oxygen in the air into ozone.
Even inhaling an extremely small amount of ozone in the air may result in chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation. Also, the emission of ozone would also worsen the global warmth.
Hence, it is not 100% safe, or it is even harmful to use UV light air cleaners for your home or office.
#3. UV Light Air Purifiers: Pros and Cons
Yes, you know that it could be harmful to use UV light air cleaners from the above explanation.
However, UV light air filters also have their own benefits. Let's dig deep into the advantages and side effects of UV air cleaners.
Benefits of UV light air purifiers:
- Remove bacteria from the air if exposed to UV light for quite few minutes and hours.
- Reduce the reproduction and suppress the growth of mold in your home or apartment.
Side effects of UV light air purifiers:
- Produce the by-products – the ozone, which is harmful to your personal health and the environment.
- UV light air filters cannot remove VOCs, smells or odors in the air.
- UV air filtration systems fail to filter out airborne particles, such as dust cleaning, pet dander/fur, pollen, dust mites and other particulate allergens.
Air purifiers with blue UV lights are not recommended when used at home for air cleaning. They may harm your health and may not be effective in removing allergens.
So, you need the best alternative to UV light air purifier.
#4. Best Alternatives to UV Air Cleaners
The best alternative for this type of air filtration systems is HEPA air purifiers, especially those purifiers with all-in-one filters.
Take Purivortex 201B as an example. This small air purifier has a 3-in-1 filter – the pre-filter, the H13 true HEPA filter and the activated carbon filter, which is able to remove ultrafine airborne particles (0.3 microns) and adsorb smells & odors.
Always get an air purifier with HEPA filter to replace the UV type, in order to effectively remove allergens in the air as well as truly providing clean air for your personal health.
#5. UV Air Purifiers Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any question about UV air filters, leave them in the comment below. We will add your questions in this FAQ list!
1. Do UV light air purifiers work?
Are UV light air purifiers effective?
Why does my air purifier have a UV light?
The purpose of UV light in air purifiers is for destroying bacteria. If you use this type of air cleaners solely for killing mold spores and other bacteria, UV light air filters are effective.
If you wanna use UV light air filtration systems to remove particles and smells, they'll fail to work.
2. When should I use UV light on air purifier?
You should use UV light on an air purifier when you need to reduce mold spores in humid environments or need to remove bacteria.
3. Does an air purifier need UV light?
Well, air purifiers don't need UV light to work. UV light technology is just one single air purification technology type in the air purifier field.
Other air purification technologies, such as HEPA, ion generator, PECO, etc. are also quite popular nowadays.
4. Do UV light air purifiers cause cancer?
Due to the high energy and intensity of UV light, even short-term exposure to UV-C light from a UV air purifier can cause damage to your eyes and skin, which can potentially lead to skin cancer.
5. Are UV air purifiers worth it?
If you simply want to remove bacteria and mold spores in humid areas where no one lives in, UV air purifiers are worth it as they are effective in removing bacteria and mold.
If you want to remove airborne particles and smells, they are not worth it as they do nothing about removing particles, VOCs, gases or odors.
6. Do UV air purifiers produce ozone?
Yes, air purifiers with UV light produce ozone which will cause damage to your health and make the greenhouse effect worse.
Do get an air purifier without UV light for air purification.