Can I have some thoughts on the use of Ultraviolet light in air heated and cooled systems.either return, air out or coils? Also wholehouse ductworked Electronic air cleaners. I have a new geothermal(manufactured by Hydron)2 well system and am thinking of using both of Honeywell's products. I think that having the Honeywell's top of the line Ultraviolet system that both cleans the coil and the air. Humidity in the summer is a big problem being only a couple of miles between the ocean and the bay. And with 2 dogs and naturally occuring dust, I thought the Electronic air cleaner would help out with my allergies! Thanks for any responses! Kent bbikes@aol.com

I would suggest using a uv-c to irradiate the coil and I would see if Honeywell offers the same air cleaner technology that Carrier and Trane(including American Standard) have introduced. Previous electronic air cleaners have a higher likelyhood of producing ozone.
Unless you intend to use a media type air cleaner in your return, I would suggest not using additional uv lights. With a media air cleaner you will trap most of the troublesome allergens and then zap them with the uv. These newer generation air purifiers are supposed to effectively do the same thing. I personally use a Lennox electronic air cleaner and a uv light.
I only use the light during the summer months. I read an article in an engineering magazine that reported on the energy savings as well as the health benefits of irradiating evaporator coils in a hospital setting. It would make sense that the same benefits would apply to your home.
May I also congratulate you on your choice of geothermal heatpump system. Good choice! Best wishes,
Gary

As an expert in IAQ I would not disagree with irradiating the coils. If microbials are going to grow within the system the most suspect area are the coils. They collect dirt and moisture and that is the perfect conditions for mold. I would disagree with only using it in the summer monts. Since UV lights are used to kill spores and microbials I would use it year round. Microbials may even exist more in the winter months as we close up our windows and doors and keep recirculating the Indoor Air as we know it. Most homes do not have adequate fresh air intakes so it's better to clean the air we already have in the house. On the subject of electrostatic air cleaners, I am not a fan. Just a personal preferance. The filtration is inadequate and 99.9% of the people don't maintain or clean them properly. This makes them virtually useless. I use high efficiency extended surface filters myself.

I agree that most folks don't maintain eac's properly. I prefer to use them, however because most duct systems are inadequate and the added resistance can create other problems.
I'm pretty interested in the new air purifiers that Trane and Carrier have introduced.
I use my uv light only in the summer because it is the older type, which as you know, creates ozone.

This is true. I still haven't figured out how to convince people that having an ozone generator in each room is a bad idea. When all their rubbers and plastics start breaking down I guess they will figure it out.

I forgot to address thpoint about the new air purifiers. My main question is how can it be efficient to 99.98% when true HEPA is 99.97% efficient down to 0.3 microns. Are they saying that it's more efficient that true HEPA? Are true HEPA fulters really reduce the airflow through an aid handling system.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryMiller:
I agree that most folks don't maintain eac's properly. I prefer to use them, however because most duct systems are inadequate and the added resistance can create other problems.
I'm pretty interested in the new air purifiers that Trane and Carrier have introduced.
I use my uv light only in the summer because it is the older type, which as you know, creates ozone.

The only hepa filters I've used were in hospital isolation rooms that had large exhaust fans to maintain a negative pressure in the room. I did notice tremendous static across the filters but the air velocity was pretty high. Probably a combination of small duct, high velocity and restrictive nature of filter added up to this.

I come across true HEPA(and you have to say true because there are lots of wanna be's) in hospitals and police shooting ranges. They are efficient but do increase costs because of the reduces velocity. It takes a larger or "different" type fan to produce say 150cfm than if you used just an extended surface filter. But believe me true HEPA can hold a WHOLE LOT of lead from a police splatter shield... LOL

Not to change the subject; but do you think we answered Kent's question?

I think wegave him some good info so I hope so

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