Caution! Don’t Underestimate The Risks of UV Lamp Tube Breakage And Water Ingress

In critical fields such as water treatment, air purification, and food processing, UV equipment acts as an invisible guardian that blocks microbial contamination and safeguards environmental safety. However, it also has a weakness—fear of water. Once a UV lamp tube breaks and water seeps in, it may cause circuit short circuits, electric shock hazards, or even complete disinfection failure, leaving a window for contamination risks. With deep insight into industry pain points and years of technical expertise, UMEK has long built a strong “protective wall” for users in UV equipment safety operation and quality assurance.

Figure 1: UV Equipment Structure Diagram

As shown in the diagram, the UV lamp is encased in a quartz sleeve. Once the sleeve is damaged, water can enter and flood the lamp. Below are the potential hazards of such water ingress.

1. Electrical Short Circuits and Safety Hazards
When a UV lamp tube breaks and water enters, it may cause electrical short circuits and even electric shock. Most parts in UV equipment are insulated to prevent current leakage. But since water conducts electricity, once it enters, insulated sections can become conductive pathways. Current bypasses the normal load, flowing directly through the water toward lower resistance areas, causing short circuits. If the power is not cut off immediately, water carrying current may spread to the equipment housing, triggering tripping, component damage, or even electric shock accidents. This accelerates equipment aging and shortens service life.

2. Loss of Disinfection Function and Contamination Spread
Water ingress into a broken UV lamp tube destroys the disinfection chain. The short circuit can burn out the ballast, which is essential for ionizing and lighting the UV lamp. Once the ballast fails, the UV lamp can no longer illuminate, completely losing its ability to generate UV light. As a result, microorganisms in the water remain unaffected, retaining their ability to reproduce. This leads to ineffective disinfection and contamination spread.

3. Maintenance and Prevention
During routine operation and maintenance, clean the unit every 1–2 weeks, check the UV lamp daily for black spots or cracks, and monitor the ballast temperature monthly (not exceeding 60℃). If water ingress occurs, immediately disconnect the main power supply and external circuits, and contact a professional for repair. With 28 years of experience in water treatment, UMEK implements strict procurement standards to reduce issues at the source. Our engineers, each with more than 20 years of experience, provide expert guidance to ensure a smooth purchasing and usage experience.

The safe operation and stable disinfection of UV equipment are crucial to maintaining environmental safety in both production and daily life. From preventing water ingress accidents to ensuring uninterrupted disinfection performance, every step requires professional quality and meticulous operation management. Guided by user needs, UMEK delivers reliable product quality, customized solutions, and attentive service to ensure the efficient operation of UV equipment. With us, you can stay free from “water-related” risks and focus on your core business with peace of mind.

Contact Information:
Tel: +86 19331305749
Email: sales@cnumek.com / sales@amandawatertech.com
Website: www.amandawatertech.com / www.cnumek.com