Honeywell HomeRUVLAMP1 Ultraviolet Air Treatment System

Great units: Easy install (assuming you have skill to use power tools to drill holes in sheet-metal in existing ductwork near inside HVAC coils/fan-blower). Easy bulb maintenance. . .Relevant Background. I purchased 2 APS units (UVC 36W Air Purifying System) units for installation in my HVAC air ducts--1 above the coils/fan and 1 below the coils/fan. It took me about 90 minutes to complete all tasks and turn on the units. Both units ran fine for about 2 months. Both units then failed—the 2nd unit within 2 weeks of the first failure. Replacement bulb-tests ruled out bulb issues (these units have tiny bulb-indicator lights that are barely visible in a dark room). However, because of the extraordinarily difficult issue of completely removing the housing-boxes just to replace bulbs, I decided to scrap these type of units totally..I replaced them with 2 of these Honeywell RUVLAMP1/C UV Air Treatment Systems..These Honeywell units required slightly smaller holes than were already present from the previous installation. Consequently, all I had to do was drill 4 small pilot holes the new screw locations. A clean install from scratch would have taken me about the same amount of time (@90 mins)..Notes on the Honeywell Units: 1. One of the screws in each unit depresses a safety switch when mounting the unit (so that you cannot power the unit unless mounted—that’s the intent anyway). Kudos. 2. Bulb replacement is a breeze. You simply rotate the bulb holder, cutting the power (so the UV bulb goes off), and pull it out. Then, remove old and insert new bulbs—exceptionally convenient! Kudos. 3. The instructions were clear, precise, and included a nice template for screw location. Kudos. 4. These units have clearly visible “bulb-on” indicator light (See Photos) to determine if the bulb is burned out. Kudos+.. 5 Stars easily. If these Honeywell units hold up, they deserve +++.

So my wife and I had an older UV system and the bulbs for the system were becoming increasingly difficult to find. The old system developed a problem and the issue appeared to be in the bulb. The Honeywell system frankly did not cost a lot more than the bulbs for the old system even if I could have still found them. The Honeywell system came with a 5-minute DVD explaining installation. The install went as advertised. I would say if you have access to an electric screwdriver, it might speed things up a bit. Instead of using the hole-cutter they showed in the DVD, I used a dremel tool with a small metal-cutting disk I had already. Instead of taping the template, I cut the template out and using scissors cut out the hole and mounting hole positions and marked them with a permanent marker. Using the dremel and metal-cutting disk I cut back and forth across the portion to be cut out sort of like cutting pie wedges and then began slicing out the wedges and smoothing the edges. The light tube showing the system was working ( a button on the knob assembly that will illuminate with a blue-white light) took a few seconds to illuminate. I was checking to see if the outlet was working and glanced up and saw it was on. I'd say if yours isn't on, check and make certain the bulb is firmly in the knob-socket assembly, holding the bulb with a soft cloth to avoid fingerprints or the possibility of a broken bulb. The tape around the install probably wasn't necessary. The Honeywell has a rubber gasket on the back to seal to the sheet metal but I'm a belt and suspenders type of guy, I guess.

I installed 2 of these in our HVAC system at home. The first one is before the filter for air treatment. I installed the second above the AC evap coil for surface treatment of the condensate pan and coil. Within a few minutes of the furnace running the air in our house smelled less musty. Now its been a few days and my wife has had a noticeable decrease in allergy symptoms. The install is simple for someone with even a basic mechanical knowledge. As long as you have a 110 volt plugin within a few feet of the install location then all that is required is a 2" hole saw (purchase at hardware store or even on amazon) and a 1/8' drill bit. Then a Drill with a large enough arbor/chuck to drive the hole saw (probably 1/2' arbor/chuck). Then all you need is a #2 Phillips screwdriver to install the provided screws. Just use the paper template provided for the hole layout and its a snap. Probably only took me 10 minutes too install both UV light units. Probably against MFG instructions but if your install one the delivery side of the ductwork then turn you furnace fan on circulate. That way when you drill the holes, the little bit of air pressure in the ductwork will help blow the shaving back out the holes being drilled (not that they will hurt anything). One of these unit would probably do the job. I just went for over kill. One good two better right! If you don't have a 110 volt plugin close then a electrician should be able to add one in cheaply, and easily considering you are probably looking to install it close to the furnace which already has power. Also remember that if your looking for a reduction in allergy symptoms then also look at new furnace filters with the highest MERV rating possible for you application. Anything MERV 11 to MERV 16 are considered hypo allergenic. Also if your system will fit a thicker filter like a 2", 3", or 4" thick filter they are more efficient then the standard 1" filter. 4" being optimum. I have been running a 4" thick MERV 11 filter, but I am switching to a 4" thick MERV 14 filter for further allergen reduction. The combination the a UV light and high MERV rated air filter will give you Hospital quality air purification at home.