A few weeks ago, my family was woken by a horrible smell. A skunk had taken up residence under our air conditioner, and decided to spray in the early morning hours. It was a disaster. We had to evacuate for several days because the odor was so overpowering. We had the skunk professionally removed, and blocked all access to the HVAC unit. But the smell lingered for days. We tried everything we could think of to eliminate odors – opening windows, using an ozone machine, running an air purifier. Nothing worked.
I decided to try a product that Griffin Mechanical offers, but does not promote often – an ultraviolet (UV) light that is installed in the heating and cooling system. I’ll admit, I’ve been skeptical in the past, thinking that they were unnecessary at least, and a scam at worst. But I was desperate to get this situation resolved. Griffin Mechanical technicians installed UV lights on both of my HVAC systems at noon on a Tuesday. By the time my wife got home from work at 1:30, the skunk smell was completely gone. We were amazed, and I was converted.
UV Lights For Odor Control
UV lights have been used in HVAC systems, and elsewhere, for many years. In 1903, Niels Finsen won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his use of ultraviolet light (UV) to treat tuberculosis. Since that time, UV lights have been used in many applications to sterilize tools and equipment in hospitals, restaurants, and production facilities. In 2012, Duke University Medical Center researchers tested UV lights in 50 hosipital rooms, reducing bacteria by 97%.
UV lights are proven to:
- Kill certain types of bacteria
- Control mold
- Control fungus
- Reduce smells and odors
- Prevent algae growth in condensation lines, reducing blockages
- Keep the air conditioning coil cleaner, improving efficiency
- Reduce allergens
- Improve the home’s overall air quality
Since the story of my skunk escapade has spread, Griffin Mechanical has installed several dozen UV lights on existing air conditioning units all over Middle Tennessee. The feedback we have gotten from customers has been overwhelmingly positive.
Who would have thought that it would take a skunk to make me ‘see the light?’