Install a UV-C Air/Coil Sterilization Light

Install an IAQ UV-C lamp to irradiate the evaporator coil/drain pan (coil-sterilization) or the airstream. UV-C is an eye/skin hazard — NEVER look at it lit and install the kit's door interlock/safety. Mount to hit the target, tap power safely, keep UV off nearby flex/wiring/plastics, and note the annual bulb replacement.

Approx. 60 min

Before you start

•Lamp type/intent chosen: coil-sterilization (continuous, aimed at the coil + drain pan to control biofilm) vs airstream/air-sterilization (higher-output, in the airflow). They mount differently and have different output.
•UV-C SAFETY understood: UV-C burns eyes and skin — never view a lit lamp, and the kit's door switch / interlock must kill the lamp when the access panel opens.
•A suitable mounting location with line-of-sight to the coil/pan or airstream, and a power source available (dedicated tap or unit-switched per the kit).

Tools & materials

Drill + step bit, sheet-metal screws, grommets · Wire connectors / power-tap per the kit, multimeter · UV-protective glasses for any aiming/test with the lamp lit · UV-C lamp kit (ballast, lamp, door-interlock switch)

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Plan & safety

Choose the mounting point to hit the target
For a coil lamp, mount so the UV-C falls on the leaving (downstream) coil face and the drain pan where biofilm forms; for an airstream lamp, mount it in the duct/plenum airflow per the kit. Keep the required clearance to the coil so you don't crowd airflow.
Target: Lamp aimed at the coil face + drain pan (coil type) or in the airstream (air type), per the kit
Plan the door interlock / safety per the kit
Plan the safety interlock so opening the access panel kills the lamp — UV-C exposure is a real eye/skin hazard. If the kit provides a door switch or viewport, install it; do not bypass it.
Tools: UV-protective glasses
⚠ UV-C burns eyes and skin and is invisible — never look at a lit lamp; install the door interlock and wear UV glasses if you must view it lit.

Mount & power

Mount the lamp/ballast and protect nearby materials
Drill and mount the lamp and ballast to the cabinet/plenum, sealing the penetration. Keep UV-C off nearby flexible duct, wiring insulation, and plastics — prolonged UV degrades and embrittles them; shield or reroute anything in the beam.
Tools: Drill + step bit, Grommets, Sheet-metal screws
Target: Lamp/ballast mounted + penetration sealed; no flex duct/wiring/plastic exposed to the beam
Tap power safely
Power the ballast from the source the kit specifies (a dedicated tap or unit-switched line, often through the door interlock), with verified power off while wiring. Use the kit's connectors and confirm voltage at the ballast.
Tools: Multimeter, Wire connectors
Target: Powered per the kit (often through the door interlock); correct voltage at the ballast
⚠ Verify power off before wiring the ballast.

Verify & document

Confirm the lamp lights and the interlock works
With the panel that will be closed in place, energize and confirm the lamp lights (use a viewport/indicator or UV glasses — do not stare at it). Then confirm the door interlock kills the lamp when the access panel is opened.
Tools: UV-protective glasses
Target: Lamp lights with the cabinet closed; door interlock cuts the lamp when the panel opens
Note the annual bulb replacement
UV-C output fades long before the lamp visibly dies — most lamps are replaced about once a year to keep effective output. Label the install date on the unit and tell the customer the replacement interval.
Target: Install date labeled; ~annual bulb replacement communicated to the customer