My a/c company sent out an email advertising ultra violet system claiming the following:

"This is the perfect time to install an ultra violet system in your home. Our ultra violet systems eliminate mold, contaminants and pollutants while eliminating dust and particles throughout your home."

Any experts have information on the validity of this statement. I do find it intriguing.

Thanks.

The one I've seen is a single UV light source that mounts into your duct work, likely under or on top of the AC coil in the air handler. It sounds like your AC company is stretching the truth with that marketing claim.

UV light can be and is used food processing, industrial, and medical applications to sanitize/sterilize surfaces. So the theory is valid.

I am dubious however that the system this place is selling has the power to do anything useful. And UV light certainly does not remove any particles--that's what the filter is for. My guess is that it is snake oil, but if he can prove otherwise...

Interesting. I use uv as part of a drinking water filtration to create o2 that kills bacteria and allows iron to be filtered from water by oxidizing it.
I know uv elements have a lifespan of about 12 to 16 months , UV -C spectrum is needed to kill virus, virus needs 30 seconds exposure to be killed by uv-c. Given the flow of a home ac insufficient exposure time so the system would have to
pull-off" a small amount of air into the contact chamber and would likely have to run 24 hrs recirculating house air even if the heat/cool is not being run.
With all that it would be important to ask if the system is generating ozone, or is uv-c (or both). i can also imagine there may be some sort of ion collection that is attracting dust and allergens. All this should be found out.

I've been using an air filter for years (12+) very successfully that is a stand alone system (blueair 600) wife immediately mentioned she does not see as much dust. Filters are true hepa can be bought with charcoal inserts and as the maintainer noticed there are metal tabs in an ion chamber that charges the air (and particles making them electrically charges to be filtered out ais tha air goes thru the filter elements.

Laboratories use UV water purifiers.
I don't see how it can remove dust. There is condensation associated with the a/c coil so you'd think if the light was at that there would be some truth to keeping mould down. Regular cleaning and filter changes is probably all most houses would ever need.
I tried googling it and it seems that just about all sites that promote it are either manufacturers or hvac companies selling it.

I am about to submit a grant application to the Justice Department to install a system to take care of my jail and the rest of the building.
In addition, I have a specific UV unit coming in to sanitize equipment. I have two evidence drying cabinets which utilize UV, and was advised they re of the level to sanitize equipment. They utilize UV and air to dry and sterilize primarily clothing evidence related to crimes.

I have an MD friend who I mentioned this to. His home in Florida has the system already, and it was promoted to reduce mold possibility. He was please to learn it will kill virus as well. I anticipate this will be a trend in future building construction

One thing I found was that the builds need replacement every couple years. Thats about 3 thousand bucks for the unit handling a five story building.

Thanks to all for information. I have wood floors throughout, and with the right light, it's amazing to see how much dust accumulates within just days. So that was one thing that interested me about the system. I don't wear shoes in my house, so it's just dust mostly. Occasionally, if I don't stay on top of it, I'll pick something up that's been sitting on the floor for long time (like a brake kit box :D), and there will be mildew starting. I use Seventh Generation spray on it, and it kills it right away, then I wipe it away. In Florida there's no such thing as no mildew or mold. It's a matter of keeping it at a minimum, or so I've heard. I don't have allergies, so I really liked the less dust and mildew control aspect.

Yo lMop !

I’ve learned A LOT about HVAC stuff in the last 2 years .... I consider meself as a very well informed consumer!! ....BUCKLE UP if you get me started !!

Mold and mildew ? ... it’s best to have a unit that’s UNDERSIZED in btu cooling so it will pull humidity out of the air instead of cooling the temp of the air.

I learned this in an RV and also in the home AND talking with HVAC people who have done it for years.

They make dehumidifiers too

I have learned quite a bit about humidity, and I have to be careful about going too low in humidity though, because I get sinus headaches if the humidity is too low. I replaced my my central air about two years ago and chose accordingly with tonnage and seer rating. The humidity never gets real high in my house, and actually too low sometimes (under 40%). That's why I wondered if this other system might be a alternative.

Thanks

I hear you BUT a free standing unit like that blows out very hot air !

And ... that’s gotta be a shock going from 40% humidity into 90 ! ..., on the lEAST coast of Florida!!