UV lights are a great HVAC upgrade that will improve the air quality in your home and help to prevent illnesses and allergies. These units work by emitting powerful UV rays that will instantly kill any organic molecules like bacteria, viruses, and mold spores that come into contact with the rays. UV rays work to change the DNA of these organic molecules so that they are rendered completely harmless and can’t reproduce.
If you’re considering UV lights for your home, one of the first things you’ll surely want to know is how much they cost to help you decide whether or not it’s worth it. To make your decision easier, here is a full overview of how much HVAC UV lights typically cost and also the factors that can influence this cost.
Average Cost for UV Light Installation
On average, a new UV light unit will typically cost you somewhere between $200 and $1,000. The reason that the price can vary so much is that it depends on which particular unit you choose and also how much work is required for the installation.
Many of these units are somewhat basic and not all that expensive, but there are also many higher-dollar units that are more effective and have additional useful features. For example, some of the more advanced units include an LED display that lets you know when the lamps need to be replaced or if the unit has any issues or needs any maintenance.
One factor that influences the cost is the wavelength of the UV rays the unit emits. UV lights that have a higher wavelength can penetrate much more deeply and are thus more effective and will kill a higher percentage of bacteria and viruses. As you might expect, the higher the wavelength of light the unit produces, the more it will typically cost.
Air-Sanitizing vs. Coil-Sanitizing UV Lights
The cost you can expect to pay also depends on which type of UV light unit you choose. The two main types of UV lights are air-sanitizing units and coil-sanitizing units.
Air-sanitizing units can usually be installed anywhere inside your ductwork, and these units work to kill any bacteria, viruses, and mold spores in the air as it travels through your ducts. These units are a great choice if you already have mold growing anywhere in your ductwork or for areas that are susceptible to condensation and may start to grow mold. Another advantage of this type of unit is that it will help clean the air that comes from both your air conditioning and heating systems.
Coil-sanitizing lights, on the other hand, are mostly only effective at preventing mold and bacteria from growing on your AC’s evaporator coil. These units are installed within your air handler and emit UV rays directly onto the evaporator coil itself instead of cleaning the air. This isn’t to say that they don’t also eliminate some molecules from the air, just that they aren’t quite as effective at this as air-sanitizing lights.
Coil-sanitizing lights are usually less expensive to install, but they also have higher operating costs. This is because coil-sanitizing units are constantly on throughout the entire cooling season. Air-sanitizing lights are different, as the unit will only come on when your heating or AC does and then automatically shut off as soon as your HVAC system does. As a result, the energy costs are lower with air-sanitizing lights, and you also won’t need to replace the UV lamp bulbs as often as you do with coil-sanitizing units.
Most manufacturers recommend that you replace the lamp bulbs approximately every 9,000 hours or at least once a year, and you can typically expect to pay anywhere between $10 and $100 for replacement bulbs, depending on the size and wavelength. Air-sanitizing lights also typically have a higher wavelength than coil-sanitizing units, which means that replacement lamp bulbs will usually be toward the higher end of this price range.
Omaha’s Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Experts
If you’re considering UV lights or any other indoor air quality unit for your home, Xtreme Heating & Cooling LLC is ready to help. We install and service a wide selection of IAQ equipment, including UV lights, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and whole-home air purifiers. We also specialize in all types of residential and commercial heating and cooling installation, repair, and maintenance services. If you have any questions or want to schedule a consultation to learn whether UV lights are right for your home, give us a call today.
