In this episode of the Ask Derrick Cole Show, host Derek Cole answers two homeowner questions. First, a caller asks whether UV lights installed in an HVAC system will reduce dust. Cole explains that UV lights only target bacterial growth on the coil (contamination level 2) and have no effect on dust particles (level 1). Dust control relies on proper filtration, air cleaners, and sealing of the ductwork, which can reduce but not eliminate dust. Second, a caller worries about needing to add refrigerant to their unit each year. Cole clarifies that refrigerant is a closed‑system fluid; regular loss indicates a leak, not normal consumption. He advises locating and repairing the leak rather than repeatedly topping off refrigerant, likening the system to a human body that should not lose blood. The episode ends with a call for more questions via #AskDerrickCole.
Questions this video answers
UV lights only take care of bacteria growth on the coil; they do not help with dust. Dust is handled by the filter, air cleaners, and sealing the duct system.
No, it is not normal. Refrigerant should not be lost unless there is a leak. The leak must be located and repaired rather than repeatedly adding refrigerant.
Chapters
Hey, on this episode we talk about dust and refrigerant. You ask your comfort and energy questions and they get answered. This is the Ask Derrick Cole Show. Hey, this is Derrick Cole. Welcome to episode 76 of the Ask Derrick Cole Show, answering your home and energy questions. It's been a few weeks since we filmed. Been in Orlando doing all that. We're actually in a different setting, not my office. We're in the call center, or as we're going to call it, the relationship center. So almost done with this. Have some people here next week and we'll get rolling before summer, so it's going to be fun. But that is not why you came here. You came here to hear the questions and answers. So here we go.
"You talked a few weeks ago about UV lights in your system. Will that help my dust problem?" Good question.
UV lights actually take care of bacteria growth, anything on that coil on the unit. It's not going to help your dust problem. When you look at these contamination levels, you're looking at dust particles, germs, bacteria, and then you're looking at odors. So it's going to handle germs, bacteria, which is a level 2, we call it. But level 1 dust and particles is really handled by the filter. There are some better filters you can get, also air cleaners you can get to help that problem. And also, when we look at a duct system, a lot of the dirt and dust come because that duct system is not sealed. So you can actually seal your duct system. To stop that from causing some dust problems. Now, you're not going to totally eliminate dust. It's not going to happen. But you can improve the chances of not having so much dust. But to answer the question, UV lights will not get rid of dust.
I need refrigerant added to my unit every year. Is that normal?
It is not normal for your unit to take refrigerant every single year. The unit is not using up refrigerant. It uses refrigerant. I like to kind of reference this as your body. If your body starts spewing blood out of your arm, okay, we shouldn't be spewing blood. I shouldn't need more blood unless I'm losing blood, right? So I shouldn't need more refrigerant unless I'm losing refrigerant. So you need to see what the cause is. We go to quite a bit of customers who get 1 or 2 pounds. They say they get it every single year, but the problem is You shouldn't be leaking that refrigerant out. So obviously there's a leak somewhere that needs to be controlled, needs to be handled. It is just like your body. It is a closed system. Just like you shouldn't be spewing blood all of a sudden, your unit shouldn't be leaking refrigerant. So no, that is not normal. And adding 1 or 2 pounds every year, you're not helping anything. You're just adding cost to it. And obviously if it's running low on refrigerant, kind of like your body running low on blood, You're going to have a problem, right? So if you don't have enough blood, you'll have a problem. If your system doesn't have enough refrigerant, you will also have problems. So, uh, get the leak fixed, see what the cause is instead of putting Band-Aids on it, which is adding more refrigerant. Actually go to the cause and stop it. So no, it's not normal. Makes sense. Makes sense, don't it? Yeah, you shouldn't be leaking refrigerant. Anyway, it's episode 76 of the Ask Derrick Cole Show. Be sure to submit your questions, uh, hashtag #AskDerrickCole, Twitter or Facebook, and we'll get them on the show.
