When it comes to air purification, there are two main methods of cleaning the air: HEPA filters and UV light. While both are effective in their own way, they differ in terms of the type of air pollutants they can remove and the method of cleaning the air. In this article, we'll take a look at the differences between HEPA and UV filters and how they can help improve indoor air quality. HEPA air filters reduce the amount of particles in the air that are 0.3 microns or larger by 99.97%.
As contaminated air passes through the device, HEPA filters capture many of these harmful contaminants and keep them trapped inside. This makes them highly effective at removing up to 99.97% of all air pollutants as small as 0.3 microns. On the other hand, air purifiers with UV light use certain ultraviolet wavelengths to literally destroy pathogens and air pollutants. UV light is specifically designed to eliminate bacteria and 26% of viruses, and it's also an excellent disinfectant.
However, it is ineffective against other types of air pollutants. One of the main differences between HEPA filters and UV lights is the way they clean the air. HEPA filters clean the air with the use of filters, while UV light purifiers use ultraviolet light to destroy pathogens and microorganisms. It's important to note that UV light purifiers generate small amounts of ozone, so you should ventilate the space regularly when using one.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend the use of ultraviolet (UV) light inside a HEPA filtration system. Having UV light in an air purifier with HEPA filtration can have more disadvantages than benefits and, in fact, it can be dangerous. Buyers should ensure that the UV air purifier they choose is carefully designed to prevent insulated wiring or other plastic parts from being exposed to UV light. Outside of this specific use, air purifiers with UV light are not effective against other types of indoor air pollutants.
Microbes must be directly exposed to UV light in order to kill them, and something as dense as a HEPA filter makes it impossible to guarantee full visibility. Pretty much every UV air purifier I've found uses UV-C light, which has the fastest wavelength. While some manufacturers say otherwise, UV light just doesn't work fast enough to do what it's designed to do. To eliminate most pathogens and bacteria, a dose of UV light high enough for the air purifier to emit is needed.
On the contrary, HEPA filtration systems work very well on their own without introducing UV light into the mixture. As air passes through the purifier, it passes under the bulb, exposing any microorganism to UV light. At best, irradiation with UV light could deactivate harmful pollutants if air traveled much slower through air purifiers. In conclusion, both HEPA filters and UV lights are effective in their own way when it comes to improving indoor air quality.
However, they differ depending on the method of cleaning the air and the type of air pollutants they can remove. HEPA filters are effective at removing up to 99.97% of all air pollutants as small as 0.3 microns while UV light is specifically designed to eliminate bacteria and 26% of viruses.