Bactericidal Air Recirculator: What It Is and How to Choose One

Indoor air quality remains relevant year-round — seasonal colds, flu, and a high concentration of people in enclosed spaces make air disinfection a practical necessity rather than a luxury. In winter, this is compounded by air being dried out by some types of heaters — read more in the article which types of heaters dry the air. In this article we explain how a recirculator differs from an ordinary quartz lamp, how effective it is, and where it makes sense to install one.

How does a bactericidal recirculator work?

Room air is drawn by a fan into the device's closed housing, passes by ultraviolet lamps (most often with a wavelength of 253.7 nm), and exits already disinfected. Because UV radiation never leaves the housing thanks to protective filters and the chamber's design, the unit can be left running all day with people present.

How does a recirculator differ from an open quartz lamp?

How effective is UV disinfection against viruses?

Fungi and protozoa are the least sensitive to ultraviolet light, while viruses and bacteria in vegetative form are destroyed much more effectively. Depending on the strain, the share of microorganisms that survive passing through the chamber usually doesn't exceed a few percent, and overall air purification efficiency reaches 95-98% with continuous operation.

Where does it make sense to install a recirculator?

• Children's rooms and bedrooms — to reduce the concentration of seasonal viruses, especially combined with safe heating of a child's room;
• Beauty salons, dental and medical offices — spaces with a high flow of visitors;
• Schools and kindergartens;
• Offices and retail spaces with limited ventilation.

How to choose a recirculator: what to look for?

• Capacity (m³/h) — should match the room's area and ceiling height; for a 15-20 m² room aim for 60-80 m³/h or more;
• Number and type of UV lamps — amalgam lamps last longer than ordinary mercury lamps and hold their output more stably;
• Enclosed irradiation chamber — mandatory for use with people present; open emitters aren't suitable for this;
• Noise level — for a bedroom or child's room choose models with noise no higher than 35-40 dB or a reduced-power night mode;
• Mounting method — wall-mounted models save space, floor-standing and portable ones are convenient for moving between rooms;
• Certification — compliance certificates (CE, manufacturer's declaration) confirm the stated disinfection efficiency.

What experience shows in practice

In spaces with a constant flow of people (salons, offices), a recirculator is usually left running throughout the working day — this doesn't inconvenience visitors or staff, unlike quartz treatment, which requires closing the room during treatment and airing it out afterward. For home use, a few hours of operation a day is enough in the room where people spend the most time.

How to operate the device correctly?

The recirculator is switched on for the needed period, often via a built-in timer, and needs no extra supervision while running. It's important to follow the UV lamp replacement schedule stated in the manufacturer's manual — over time, the lamp's radiation intensity decreases, and disinfection efficiency drops with it, even if the unit appears to keep working normally.

Sources and useful links

Requirements for bactericidal air irradiation in indoor spaces are regulated by DSTU B V.2.5-38 (on ventilation systems and air quality), and the efficiency of ultraviolet disinfection is confirmed by microbiologists' laboratory research. You can browse the range of heating and related equipment in the ECOTEPLO catalog.

A bactericidal recirculator is a simple and safe way to keep indoor air cleaner year-round, with no restrictions on people's presence and no need to air out the room after each session. It's a particularly fitting solution for families with children, client-facing offices, and any space with a lot of people and limited ventilation.