Home Furnace Accessories - Magic Virus Killer

[Ghost]

I'd like to leave a few notes on an accessory item that is pushed during the sales and installation of new residential furnaces.  For about $500.00 you can have a bacteria and virus killer installed into the supply side of your furnace.  It has what amounts to a UV bulb surrounded by several rods of magic virus killing material.  The unit is powered from a plug-in 12volt wall transformer.  Life span of the magic stick is about 3 years and a replacement costs about $300.00 (ebay).

 

There is such a thing as an ion machine that will precipitate dirt and dust from your room air.  But the precipitate is black greasy soot that clings to everything near the generator and is nearly impossible to clean up.  If this type of device is placed in the furnace air supply, the soot has to go somewhere and that will be onto the counter tops and floors of your home.  Your choice as to what and where you want to clean.  But, there are no claims that this device is a simple ozone ion generator.

 

I would not recommend the virus killing product to anyone.  I've done extensive research into the company and its methods and found nothing to suggest that this device is anything but smoke and mirrors.  There are a number of "educational" videos on the company's web site, but they are devoid of content.  I called to ask if they had an MSDS, and told that it was being considered.  I asked if they had a lab make an independent evaluation of the product and received a flaming response.   When I asked if the virus killing ingredients were safe for pets, nobody knew. 

 

After searching the web for information, I finally found an insurance company in Texas that had installed this product into its multi-story main headquarters - 15 years ago.  The architectural firm that designed the building had moved to Mexico and the building manager was long gone.  Nobody there knew anything about the device.  There is just absolutely no scientific information available to support the manufacturer's claims, and nothing but dead ends found when searching for technical information.

 

Regular replacement of media filters is still the best way to keep the system clean.  I've removed my mystery unit - I think I'll make a lamp stand out of it.  Hope the info is of some use!

 

Ghost

[applianceman18007260692]

UV light pdf from Invensys

[Ghost]

Yes, thank you! That product is wonderful for zapping standing water around air conditioning equipment.  A stronger version of the same product is often used to treat well water.  These are great products to be sure.  The questionable virus killer device I was referring to is something entirely different.  If anyone wants to check it out themselves, send me a pm.

 

Ghost