1: many drain pans are rated for UV exposure now.
2: UV doesn't "clean" anything. it can sometimes inactivate simple organisms.
3: many home grade UV systems are worthless. not enough power, bulbs lose UV output fast and are not replaced, bulbs burn out and are not replaced, etc.
4: even hospitals now don't do a lot of UV in the air system like they used to, they use multi-stage filtration. office areas will have two stage filtration (cheap merv 8ish before the fan, followed by merv11+ after), and the ICU areas will get additional HEPA filters after the heating/cooling equipment.
hospitals seem to focus more on using UV to blast rooms.
We had mold actually on our coils and on the blower fan blades and a little on the surface of the handler. We generally use merv11 or 13 filters, but 1" thick. The 4" filters cost 3 times what we pay for our 1" filters through discount places.
so far I have not been able to find one that will seat in a 14x25x1 return register.
I have friends and there whole families that were sick all the time with allergies, they put in a UV light and stopped going to the doctor. I have added an old pic of my coil... and one of my neighbors. they used a see through filter. Which does not contradict what you said.
I am OK with changing bulbs... I just want it as a line of defense and am hoping they will wire it to only come on when the system is running.
Do you know brands that dont lose effectiveness quickly?
Some put the UV in the supply, some under the coil. some in the return (not keen on the latter.)
From what I understand, UV-C band is the one to get.
I have heard that the plasma or ionics are good too. we are unsure about the ozone it may create and potential lung issues. My lungs are not great to begin with... but it is supposed to almost eliminate odors from cooking and such. I really want the air scrubbed as good as possible on a budget. At least until I can get a better job.
Oasis seems to have an interesting one that sticks to the blower fan.
My end goal is a system that pulls the humidity out of the air really well, and scrubs the air well, and eliminates potential spores or bio particles. The air here is not great. But hope to make it as good as possible in my condo.