How to Install a UV Purifier to a HVAC System

An HVAC system's UV purifier sanitizes the air as it passes through the ductwork. The UV purifiers in an HVAC system use shortwave UV light, called UVC. UVC safely kills germs and bacteria without posing a cancer or glaucoma risk. When possible, a technician installs the UV purifier between the furnace and the supply duct's first louver. This places the UV purifier downstream of the furnace's disposable air filter, which keeps the UV light bulb dust free.

Electric drill
1/8-inch drill bit
2-inch hole saw
Screwdriver set
Cotton gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Turn off the HVAC system's thermostat.
- 2
  Attach the UV purifier's template sticker to the side of the duct above the furnace, keeping the template near the center of the duct. The template identifies the location of the purifier's mounting lugs and the UV bulb access hole.
- 3
  Create pilot holes in the duct with an electric drill equipped with a 1/8-inch drill bit, using the template as a hole placement guide. Drill a pilot hole for each mounting lug and for each UV bulb access hole. Some UV purifiers use one UV bulb. Other purifier models use two UV bulbs.
- 4
  Cut a UV bulb access hole in the side of the duct, using an electric drill equipped with a 2-inch hole saw and the template as a hole placement guide. The hole saw's center bit fits in the pilot hole and its outer bit cuts the 2-inch round hole. If the UV purifier uses two bulbs, drill the second access hole using the same method.
- 5
  Place the threaded end of one of the UV purifier's mounting lugs into one of the template-identified mounting lug pilot holes. The mounting lugs look like small screws with an extended head. Tighten the mounting lug, using the proper screwdriver to turn the lug clockwise. Repeat this procedure for each mounting lug.
- 6
  Put on cotton gloves. Cotton gloves protect the UV bulbs from contaminants, such as sweat and body oils.
- 7
  Grip a UV bulb with a glove-covered hand. Align the bulb's prongs with the UV purifier's bulb socket and press the bulb into place. Repeat this procedure for the second UV bulb, if applicable.
- 8
  Slide the UV bulb through the duct's bulb access hole until the back of the UV purifier's housing rests against the mounting lugs. If the purifier has two bulbs, both bulbs will slide into their respective holes.
- 9
  Adjust the UV purifier's position on the duct until the mounting lugs slip into the purifier housing's mounting holes -- the holes located on the back of the purifier's housing. Once the lugs slip into the mounting holes, the back of the purifier housing will touch the duct's surface and the lugs will lock the purifier in place.
- 10
  Extend the UV purifier's electrical cord to a standard 120-volt electrical outlet. Insert the cord's plug into the electrical outlet.

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