Cleaning With Light
Towards making UVC light as the ultimate cleaning agent!
Oct 25th
What is ultraviolet light?
Ultraviolet light represents a portion of the sun’s electromagnetic spectrum. It is the wavelength band immediately beyond the violet end of visible light. The UV range of the spectrum is characterized by wavelengths between 100 and 400 nanometers (nm). It includes the long-wave UV-A (315 to 400 nm), which causes suntan (or burn), medium-wave UV-B, (280 to 315 nm) used to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis, and short-wave UV-C (200 to 280 nm).
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What is UVC?
Short-wave ultraviolet radiation, in the “C” band of 200 to 280 nanometers, has been used in a wide range of germicidal applications since the late 1800s to destroy bacteria, mold, yeast, and viruses. UV-C, or UVC, is often referred to as germicidal UV.
What is UVGI?
The commonly used acronym UVGI refers to ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, which is the same as UVC.
What other methods (beside UVC) are used for cleaning inside air handling units?
Coils are cleaned with various combinations of detergents, solvents, biocides, foaming cleaners, and high pressure hot-water sprayers. When cleaning is neglected, the build-up of mold inside the coils becomes very difficult to remove.
Chemical cleaning of HVAC equipment is time consuming. It must be done properly to be effective, and it must be done regularly since contamination returns as the chemicals wear off. The toxic chemicals present health issues for the workers doing the cleaning, as well as for building occupants. And some chemicals cause corrosion to the metallic surfaces, shortening the life of the equipment.
Pressure washing of the coils may force mold and particulate deeper inside, further restricting the air flow. When this happens, it becomes virtually impossible to physically clean the coil.
UVC lights by contrast effectively “zap” mold and other microbes. As the organisms disappear, UVC rays penetrate farther into the coil until all particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been vaporized.
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Where should the lights be installed?
IAQ – Energy Solutions offers a wide variety of UVC devices that can be adapted for virtually any system or application. In general, though, the light is installed on the discharge side of the cooling coil and mounted so as to expose both the coil surface and the drain pan to as much light as possible. The light is normally positioned about a foot from the coil surface.
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Is one light enough?
One is enough for most residential installations. Normally the number of lights can be based on one light for each 5 square feet of coil. The most important consideration is that UVC be installed so that there is a “line of sight” between the UVC lamp and the entire coil surface.
How often do the UVC lamps need to be changed?
The actual life of a UVC light is 10 – 12,000 hours. The useful life is 8-9,000 hours. UV output is measured with a radiometer. Typically the light is changed annually — ideally in spring or early summer to provide optimal output during the peak air-conditioning season.
How much energy does a UVC device use?
Each unit consumes very little energy. Normally the energy cost to power each fixture is under $.12 per day.
A Rather Unfamiliar Face of UV: Sanitizing!
Oct 7th
“Verilux sanitizing appliances use safe and powerful UV-C light to deliver an odorless, chemical-free way to reduce germs, viruses, bacteria, dust mite and flea eggs (biological contaminants) on household surfaces…”
Wait, wait!! UV? As in UltraViolet rays? For cleaning?
Hearing about UV used as an effective way to clean, really surprised me.
After all, when one first hears the term UV, otherwise known as ultraviolet (rays), one would think of “harm” or “danger”! The three people I asked, just to test my theory, all responded in this way.
So I did some research. I was dumbfounded when I realized how really prejudiced many can be without real knowledge. I kind of felt sorry because little did I realize that actually UV has been always part of my life, especially in a quickly modernizing technological word.
Naturally, we get our daily exposure to UV from the sun. In fact, we use UV coming from the sun in a lot of beneficial ways besides tanning or drying up the laundry. Every cleaned your house? Remember taking out the sofas and cushions out in the sun? My mother always told me that besides drying them up, the rays from the sun actually kills the bugs (and maybe even some unwanted microbes) in them. These rays are actually not just hot sun rays, but specifically they are UV rays- rays that can be classified into different groups according to their use or wavelength. It’s all scientific.
Understanding this natural state in which UV reaches us, of course with the increasing demand of today’s hectic lifestyle it is imperative that we find ways to utilize UV while minimizing, if not eradicating, its ill effects.
One such is way is by utilizing the benefit of using UV for sanitization of our surroundings. Specifically speaking, the type of UV known as the UV-C. With the discovery of what already was, and then utilizing ways to harness it, many companies now, especially in developed countries are opting to use UV-C as a quick and efficient ways to sanitize surroundings. UV-C has been made portable through the use of ‘wands’ or light bulbs that kill harmful microbes. In fact, there is a developing technology that harnesses UV (though probably of another type) that is used to sanitize the air. This rising trend is due to not only the effectiveness of UV but for other benefits that are not usually readily achieved when cleansing surroundings using chemicals. A big example of such is the possible radical drop of chemical waste that pollutes the water every time we use bleach or chloride.
The CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Wand
Oct 5th
Today’s trend in ensuring that the surface areas of our house are germ-free is the effective use of UV-C light. We do not anymore use chemicals in cleaning these surface areas. Recent study shows that these chemicals bring more harm than good. The harmful effects of these spray bottles had cause a shift from wanton utilization of chemicals as disinfectants to the use of UV-C light.
The use of UV-C light in sanitizing the various corners and surface areas of our offices and houses is a complete turn-around from our dependence on chemical disinfectants. It revolutionizes our view that one does not have to rely on chemicals to fight viruses and germs.
One technology that makes use of powerful and effective UV-C light is the CleanWave UV-C Sanitizing Wand. As a cleaning agent, its effective use of powerful UV-C light eliminates up to 99.9% of viruses. It has an efficient sanitizing effect which can be used to fight the H1N1 virus, bacteria (including MRSA), molds, and germs. It can also easily rid your home of the dreaded dust mite and flea eggs. Its powerful 21″ UV-C wand is designed to make cleaning activities efficient, almost effortless and a lot cheaper since its reach covers a wide surface area; hence, eliminating germs, bacteria and viruses in a much lesser time. It is cordless, lightweight and can even penetrate the tiniest fabrics of mattresses, sofas as well as toys and computer keyboards. A cursory view of the sanitizing wand will reveal these attractive features:
• Push button operation
• AC adaptor/battery charger
• Rechargeable batteries
• Safety shut off guards against unwanted exposure to eyes and skin
• Easy to read digital display
• Low battery warning light
• Long life UV-C bulb rated for 15,000 hours of use
• Nylon drawstring storage bag
• One year limited warranty
• Dimensions: 20.75″ Height x 2.5″ Width
• Weight: 1.5 lbs
Indeed, you do not have to worry anymore about the harmful effects of chemicals. You can now start disinfecting the different areas of your home without the chilling effect of spraying your home with chemicals.
This technology is not entirely new. It has been used extensively in hospitals and food processing facilities. Needless to say, it has been proven to be effective at making these places free from viruses and bacteria. Its introduction to home use is indeed a good development in making our houses germ-free.
If you would like to , purchase a cleanWave wand click on the link.
Extra-ordinary Facts About UVC Lights
Sep 30th
There are currently various methods of cleaning air handling units. The most effective of these methods, however, is the proper use of UVC lights. What are these UVC lights and how do they become effective cleaning agents?
Ultraviolet light refers to a particular part of the electronic spectrum emitted by the sun. Specifically, it is found between 100 and 400 nanometers (nm), inclusive of the long-wave UV-A, the medium-wave UV-B and the short-wave UV-C. This short-wave UV-C or the UVC, meaning within the C band of 200 to 280 nm, is long considered for its germicidal applications. Its usage dates back to as early as the 1800. Referred to in some literature as the germicidal UV or at times as the “ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), it is known for its capabilities to destroy bacteria and virus.
As cleaning agents, UVC lights eradicate molds and other forms of microbes. UVC lights also vaporize Volatile Organic Compounds or the VOCs and other harmful particles by penetrating into the coils of inside air handling units, something that cannot be done by other methods of cleaning. Even pressure washing could not penetrate the coils of these air handling units and wipe away the molds and the VOCs.
The use of UVC lights as cleaning agents comes as a less expensive alternative to other cleaning methods. For most residential utilization, one UVC light is enough. The functional use of one UVC light is estimated to range from 8,000 to 9,000 hours and since each unit consumes only minimal energy, it is deemed economical. Experts estimate that the cost of powering each fixture is well below $.12 per day.
