Should I Get a UV Light in My AC to Help Deter Mold?
If you have an older AC unit it very likely does not include a UV (Ultra Violet) light.
In Florida, it is especially important to listen to the recommendations of your AC technician and include one in your installation initially or add one during maintenance. The reason being that Florida is such a damp humid tropical environment that moisture cannot help but to collect in the ductwork no matter how efficient your HVAC unit is.
That small bit of condensation can lead to mold growth. The kinds of mold we have here in Florida are anything but good for your health. Often times during your annual service your technician may say that you have mold growth where your return air connects to the unit. While bleach can be an ok short-term fix, left untreated, mold is almost guaranteed to return. The real fix is to install a UV light unit inside the air conditioner itself on the evaporator coil.
One of the biggest contributing factors is residents who are not home all the time year round or work during the day out of the house. We all like to save money so we flip the AC to off or raise the temperature. The warmer it is the more suitable it becomes for mold and mildew growth.
While the cost can seem high upfront – ranging anywhere from a few hundred to a thousand dollars, it will keep the mold away and it will prevent you from becoming “toxic mold sick” which can not only wreak havoc on your immune system but cost you far more in medical bills over time ending with you really needing to install one in the end anyway.
There is a misconception that a UV light will clean your air. That is not the case. What it does is shine constantly on the surfaces within the unit and prevent any spores from taking hold or growing. In that respect, it results in cleaner air, but a UV light is not an air purification system. It works more like a disinfectant.
Black mold, which is what is most often found in the Fort Myers area as well as all of Southwest Florida is highly toxic to humans and pets and not just those with allergy issues. It can cause you to have a constantly runny nose and even develop scabs inside of your nose that is very difficult to heal, you may feel fatigued and run down, have sneezing and or throat irritation and over time can develop from a nuisance into more serious conditions like asthma or COPD.
If you suspect you may have mold already in your ductwork or your HVAC unit please don’t wait. Give us a call today at 1-239-357-0727 or visit online www.alldayaircooling.com to see our list of services.
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