Top 10 Uses for UV Lighting
Ultraviolet (UV) lighting is a versatile, useful light source. If you think UV lighting is only for tanning beds, think again.
Applications of UV Lighting
The development of LED UV light bulbs has led to many practical applications of UV lighting in residential, commercial and industrial settings. Here are the top 10.
1. Disinfection and Purification
UV light is a powerful disinfectant. Studies have found that hanging clothes to dry in the sun kills harmful bacteria and mold on the fabric. Before you place items in the sun, make sure they are colorfast because UV light can also fade them.
In commercial and industrial settings, UV lights serve to disinfect and purify laboratories, tools, and areas where people are working with sensitive equipment. Some municipalities use LED UV lights to sterilize their water systems. They have proven successful in a wide variety of settings include water reclamation, wastewater, drinking water, industrial and commercial water processes, pools and aquaculture.
2. Medical and Health Uses
Doctors frequently recommend the use of tanning beds or facial tanners to ease the symptoms of psoriasis, eczema and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). These beds and facial tanners typically use LED UV lights.
UV light is critical to helping our bodies produce vitamin D, which is essential for keeping calcium in our bones. Exposure to natural sunlight or LED UV rays is the best way to produce vitamin D.
3. Spotting Fluids
There are certain things we can’t see with our naked eyes. These include certain types of paint or dye, bodily fluids, and some nocturnal animals. These objects have fluorescence, which means you can only see them when you shine a UV light on them.
The best-known application of this is in forensic settings where detectives use UV light to find bloodstains and other bodily fluids. You can also use it in an industrial or commercial setting to spot oil leaks, brake fluid leaks, refrigerant leaks and other problems that you might have missed.
5. Growing Plants
If you’re growing plants indoors, you need UV lights. They stimulate the natural warmth and light of sunshine to help seedlings and other plants grow strong. They’re a must in greenhouses and other indoor growing rooms.
6. Cosmetic Uses
One of the things UV light is known for is its ability to “cure” substances. This means it changes their composition, for instance, turning a liquid into a hard substance.
In commercial nail salons, technicians have long used UV lights to cure gel-based nail polish. They now use LED UV lights for the same reason.
7. In Your HVAC System
UV lighting will make your HVAC filter work better. The UV light destroys contaminants and keeps them out of the air in your home. In addition, the light will kill mold, mildew, and bacteria before it can enter your home.
8. In a Flashlight
Yes, you can buy a UV flashlight. The light won’t be strong enough to actually cure anything, but you can use it to help you observe items and animals that have fluorescence. You can use it to:
- Tell if money is counterfeit.
- Spot insects and reptiles.
- Identify gemstones.
9. In a Table Lamp
A table lamp with a LED UV bulb is an excellent sanitizer and cleaner. Use the UV light to disinfect small items, kitchen countertops, shoe interiors and items that you can’t wash.
10. Processing Food
Commercial food processors increasingly use irradiation from UV lights to remove bacteria and preserve food. The UV light increases the food’s shelf life.
Contact SESCOS for All Your Lighting Needs
If you’ve decided you need more sunlight in your life, get it with LED UV lighting. At SESCOS, we can help you determine how to use the power of UV lighting in your home or business. Contact us today for a safe, fast installation of all your lighting.