Bright idea in air quality.
Bacteria, fungi and molds can find a welcome home in and around your air conditioner's evaporator coil. That can lead to odors, illnesses and bothersome allergies. When properly installed near the air conditioning coil the PUROAIR SYSTEM germicidal lamp kills the harmful growths and eliminates the odors associated with this growth. It's a great solution for well being throughout your home.
Save money and protect your investment. When your air conditioning evaporator coil is "clean," easier on the compressor, that means greater efficiency and lower utility costs. The UV lamp eliminates biological growth so there's much less wear and tear on your cooling compressor, extending the life of your air conditioning equipment.
How the unit is powered, line cord or hardwired?
An eight (8) foot 120 volt line cord powers the unit.
What is the lamp extension length (the distance that the lamps extend into the duct when mounted)?
The bulb extends 18" inches into the duct depending on the model.
How does the unit turn off and on?
The lamps are lit continuously when the line cord is plugged in. For best performance the lamp(s) should remain powered.
Should the coil unit be installed IN or ABOVE the coil?
The UV lamp should be installed above the air conditioning coil. Drilling inside the coil frame is risky due to refrigerant lines in the vicinity.
Should the coil be cleaned before installing the UV?
If there is evidence of mold/mildew such as odors, dark spots, etc. than yes clean it. The UV-C light that is emitted works as a biocide. If the coil is dirty when the lights are installed, the UV will kill mold and then the mold and then dead particles will blow through the HVAC system. The lamps should be used to keep the cooling system components clean.
What is the effect of UV on the components and accessories of the heating, ventilating, air conditioning (HVAC) system, drain pans, humidifiers, media filters, wires and other HVAC materials?
Accelerated life tests have been completed to quantify the effect of the UV light on plastic materials, including our humidifiers. UV light may cause some discoloration and slight chalking to some plastics, but little structural damage.
Why do the UV devices when mounted in the supply kill mold and when mounted in the return kill air airborne bacteria?
Mold has a much higher kill threshold than bacteria and requires a longer exposure time to kill mold spores while airborne. When on the surface (and immobile), exposure time is unlimited, and the mold is easily killed.
Is there a suggested area of the return to install the UV system?
For optimal performance, the UV light should be installed in the middle of a long, straight run of the return air duct (optimally three (3) straight feet both upstream and downstream of the lamps). This provides maximum line of sight of the bioaerosols as they approach and leave the lamp, increasing the exposure time and kill rate.
Does the UV light produce an odor?
No, the UV light itself does not produce an odor. A combination of UV and the heat that generates may cause other chemicals present in the ducts to break down and form odors. The lamp is not a source of the odor. If an odor does occur it should be a temporary situation.
Is it okay to touch the lamp with bare hands?
A cool, unlit lamp will not damage your skin, but the natural oils on your skin will leave residue on the glass and lower its performance level. You should only handle the glass portion of your lamps with a soft dry cloth. Use of the clean cloth makes this much easier. Never look directly at or handle a powered lamp.
Will water dripping on the lamp hurt it?
You never want water dripping on the light bulb so install it above the coil not in it or below it.
What is the recommended square footage capability of the single lamp return and dual lamp return?
The square footage of the house is a very indirect consideration in sizing the UV system. Of much more importance is duct size and airflow velocity. Performance testing was done by a third party independent laboratory, in a 12 x 25 duct at 2000 cfm. The actual performance in an application will vary as these parameters vary.
What maintenance is required?
Routine cleaning of the lamp(s) will help maintain optimum efficiency-every three (3) months is recommended. The use of common glass cleaner works well. Refer to the owner's manual for more details. Keep in mind that will decrease the efficiency. Always remember that the power should be turned off at least 15 minutes prior to maintenance or replacement to allow the lamp to cool.
How should the UV lamp be disposed of?
The UV lamp should be disposed of in the same manner as a fluorescent light bulb. Each lamp contains less than 5mg of mercury and should not be placed in a regular waste bin. Contact local hazardous waste authority for instructions.
What is a typical life span of the lamp, and when does users know when the lamp should be replaced; is there any visual indication?
The amount of UV energy produced by the lamp will reach its "end of life" performance and the lamps should be replaced. There is a light pipe that allows the user to safely view the lamp to determine that lamp is lit. Even though the lamps could continue to burn for years, we recommend that the lamps be changed every 12 months because they do lose intensity, which impacts the kill rate. Even if the lamp is lit, it may emit sufficient amounts of UV energy.
How far away from filters or humidifiers should the UV lamp be placed?
The unit should be mounted at least three (3) feet away from air filters and humidifiers. This is to achieve optimum kill, as well as minimizing the UV exposure to plastic materials in the humidifier or filter.
How was efficiency measured? How were our products tested?
Airborne bacteria kill rate testing was done in 12" x 25" ducts at 2000 cfm, which results in an air velocity of 960 feet/minute. (NOTE: Typical return air systems have a design air velocity of 400-500 feet per minute. Our products are tested at a high threshold, almost double the fpm of a typical installation.)
3-log reduction of mol (99.9%) is referenced in the some literature - What is the 99.9% referring to?
A log reduction equals a factor of 10. So 1-log reduction in the amount of mold means that 10% is remaining and 90% is killed. A 2-log reduction means 1% is remaining and 99% is killed. A 3-log reduction means 0.1% is remaining and 99.9% is killed, and so on. The 99.9% is the minimum spec for our coil irradiation product. Meaning that per the condition of the test, of the live mold initially present, 99.9% of it is destroyed.
Is there a layman's term for serratia marcescens? Does it fall in the virus or bacteria category?
Serratia marcescens is a bacterium. It is commonly used in lab testing because it is safe to handle, and its kill threshold is very close to the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, which was a significant consideration at the time that UV systems were being developed 40 to 50 years.
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