In 1903, Niels Finsen won the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his use of ultraviolet light in the treatment of tuberculosis. Since then, ultraviolet lights have been widely adapted for all kinds of uses: sterilizing hospitals, sterilizing water, germicidal lamps in food establishments, and even curing nail polish faster. If UV light is so effective, how can it be applied to improving indoor air quality for residential HVAC systems? Will it kill mold and bacteria in HVAC systems? Yes, but you need to understand the priorities of indoor air quality and the types of UV lights available for residential HVAC systems. About 2 years ago, we installed a 19 SEER Lennox XC 21 air conditioner. During our most recent AC service, the technician also installed a TopTech HVAC UV light inside the air handler, which remains turned on 24/7. According to the technician from Engineered Air, HVAC UV lights are very effective at controlling mold inside the air handler. All mold in line-of-sight of the UV bulb will be killed, keeping the coil mold-free.

He also mentioned that several clients with respiratory problems are even able to tell if the UV bulb has burned-out due to reduced air quality. ac unit for side opening windowsI’ll let you know if I am able to tell.best brand of ac unit There are two types of UV lights for HAVC systems.small home ac units Two studies point to the effectiveness of UV light in killing mold and bacteria, one in hospitals and the other in a commercial HVAC system. The TopTech UV stick light bulb is estimated to last 9000 hours, just over 1 year. Replacement bulbs cost about $70. Replace the bulb during each annual HVAC service and maintenance is nearly effortless. The TopTech UV light we installed is rated at 1.1 amps. To calculate annual energy costs, I used these handy calculators

For just under $100 per year ($24 electricity + $70 replacement bulb), my family has peace-of-mind knowing that we are breathing the highest-quality indoor air. It seems like a small price to pay. But it doesn’t make sense to install an HVAC UV light unless you’ve followed the indoor air quality priorities. While HVAC UV lights are effective for killing mold, bacteria, germs and odors, make sure you have completed the indoor air quality basics: HVAC UV lights are an effective means for improving indoor air quality, but only after following the indoor air quality priorities. Install an HVAC UV light and experience healthier indoor air quality.You are here » Central Air ConditioningWill The Best Central Air Conditioning Brands of 2014 Top The Ratings This Year? When it’s time to install a new central air conditioning unit some people will get themselves twisted up into knots trying to figure out which brand is ‘the best.’ That’s because most people start their research with the wrong definition of what the ‘best air conditioner brand' actually means.

Despite what the marketing fluff on the websites of every air conditioning manufacturer says, there is no life-altering difference in the way a new air conditioning unit from one of the top brands will cool your home versus a unit made by one of the other top ac brands. As far as cooling performance goes, the differences in the units produced by the top rated air conditioning manufacturers are so subtle that any objective person would consider them insignificant. So how can you tell which is the best air conditioner brand if they will all cool your home the same? By paying attention to the one thing that really matters when it comes to central air conditioning units… reliability! Reliability is the main issue that separates a merely good air conditioner brand from the top rated central air conditioners. Think 5-6 years down the road… how annoying (and expensive) would it be if that new air conditioner you spent over $4,000 to install quit working when the temperature was 95 degrees outside?

Let me tell you, it would be very annoying, and very expensive. That’s why Consumer Reports’ annual ratings of the best central air conditioner brands are based on how reliable each brand proves to be over a 7-year period. So the 2014 ratings were based on findings from 2007 - 2013, and the 2015 ratings will be based on findings from 2008 - 2014. Here’s a look at the top 3 highest rated air conditioner brands in terms of reliability in Consumer Reports most recent survey... It’s important to note two things that Consumer Reports points out before putting too much emphasis on the ratings. First, differences of fewer than 5 points between the brands aren’t very meaningful. So a new unit from any of the Top 5 air conditioner brands is going to be a good choice as fewer than 5 points separates the top rated ac brand from the 5th best rated brand. Second, as the editors at Consumer Reports have stated in the past, the most important factor to consider when choosing new heating and air conditioning equipment is finding a company you can trust.

Hiring a company you can trust is more important than the brand you choose, the price you pay, or the type of air conditioner you install. None of that stuff matters if you can’t trust the company that installed your air conditioner to take care of you if there is ever a problem.We are a website that is committed to providing you the most in-depth portable air conditioner reviews of the most popular brands in the United States and around the World. This page is dedicated to portable AC’s mainly because that is where we have most of our experience. Our goal is to educate while helping you purchase the most suitable machine for your home. That way you can stay cool and comfortable all summer long. If you’ve taken a look at the manufacturers available at Amazon, Sylvayne, Air & Water etc. you will quickly notice that there are a lot of different brands and styles to choose from. If this is your first time searching for a portable unit, then terms like “BTU” and “R410a refrigerant” may be a little confusing at the moment.

However, don’t worry because we cover as much as we can about these machines in our buyers guide and reviews which can be viewed below. *(for direct access to our reviews, see the menu above, or see below.) Before you can embark on your search, you need to understand a little bit about your room. How big is it? Where is the sun located? How many people are regularly in the room? Are you in a kitchen? Are there a lot of electronics in the room that produce heat? Knowing these things in advance is crucial for making sure you purchase the right machine for your environment. Portable AC’s are fairly heavy and some don’t have handles to make it easy to relocate. So be sure to do enough research because it’s not an item you really want to have to return. Once you understand a little more about your room and you know how many BTU’s you’re looking for, you can then start narrowing down your selection. Top brands to keep an eye out for include; Whynter, Honeywell, Sharp, LG, Frigidaire & Toyotomi.

Whynter is a well known appliance company in the United States who is regarded as one of the best and most reliable AC manufacturers. They have a wide range of options to choose from, although depending on when you purchase they can be a bit pricey. Click here for a full breakdown and review of the Whynter ARC-14SH. Honeywell is another well known American manufacturer who’s portable AC selection is starting to grow. They have excellent “low noise” single hose units, as well as dual hoses that work even more efficient, but a little bit louder. (*Honeywell’s dual hose machines have yet to hit the US market.) Read a detailed and informative review of the Honeywell MN12CES. Toyotomi is a brand that’s manufactured in Japan and is probably a name you wouldn’t pay much attention to. Especially if you were basing part of your decision on visual appearance. This brand outperforms many in it’s class and is actually one on the most durable units we’ve ever used.

Get an in depth review on the Toyotomi TAD-T40LW. If you’re a business looking to find a cooling solution for your office or server room, then you might want to move your focus away from consumer units and towards the industrial brands. Commercial sized units are the best portable air conditioner machines for cooling a large space where noise level isn’t much of an issue. Your average home based machine will normally reach up to 14,000 BTU, although when using an industrial machine you can expect your BTU’s to reach as high as 100,000 or more (roughly 3,500 sq ft. of space). A few major differences between commercial portable air conditioner units and consumer units include overall noise, size, power consumption and coverage area. Industrial machines generally run much louder, are much bigger in size, use more overall power and can cool much larger rooms. Reputable commercial AC brands to look out for include; Movincool, OceanAire & Ideal-Air. For more info on deals or price drops, be sure to follow us on or .