I recently had a routine AC tune-up and the technician noticed some bacterial growth, specifically black patches, in my system. He suggested I install a UV light to keep the air clean and safe. Living in humid Texas, I know mold and bacteria can be a problem, especially since this growth was found near the evaporator coil inside the ductwork. I have a few questions: 1) Was the UV light recommendation a good idea? 2) Is it enough on its own to ensure clean air? 3) Should I consider additional measures like duct cleaning or adding a dehumidifier? I would really appreciate insights from anyone familiar with this or HVAC professionals!
3 Answers
The UV light isn’t going to solve your problem on its own. You might need to check for duct leaks, upgrade your filtration system to something thicker, and consider a whole home dehumidifier. If your AC system is oversized, that could be why it’s not dehumidifying properly. Just make sure to ventilate your home well too!
It sounds like the tech might have just sold you a bit of a gimmick. UV lights can help, but mainly with the evaporator coil, not really for cleaning the air itself. You should still check those coils yearly to keep everything in good shape.
Honestly, I used to live in a house with dead mold behind the walls, and my HVAC tech told me those UV sterilizers don’t do much. Regularly changing filters and running the AC to control humidity seems way more effective.
Thanks for the tips! I actually found some leaks in the ductwork, and the tech did repairs, so hopefully that helps!