Wildfire Smoke in the Pacific Northwest: How to Protect Your Home's Air Quality

Wildfire smoke from the western U.S. and Canada has increasingly impacted the Pacific Northwest, creating unhealthy air conditions that can extend far beyond the fire's immediate vicinity.

This smoke carries fine particles and harmful gases that can easily infiltrate your home, posing serious health risks, especially for those with asthma, COPD, heart conditions, pregnant women, and children.

When wildfire smoke enters your respiratory system, it can cause a range of symptoms including wheezing, coughing, stinging eyes, and headaches. To protect your loved ones, it's crucial to take proactive measures against smoke and ash, not just during a wildfire but before and after as well.

In this article, we'll explore how wildfire smoke affects your home's air quality and what steps you can take to safeguard your indoor environment.

The Effect Of Wildfire Smoke On Your Air Filtration System

Smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles released when organic materials burn. The most significant health threat comes from these microscopic particles, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing symptoms like burning eyes, a runny nose, and even contributing to chronic heart and lung diseases.

To protect your home, it's crucial to ensure your air filters are new or recently replaced, especially during or right after a wildfire. Properly maintained filters can significantly reduce the amount of harmful particles circulating in your indoor air. Learn more about the importance of using high-quality air filters to safeguard your health.

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is impacted by wildfire smoke in varying degrees. It all depends on the closeness of your home to where the wildfire has taken place. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lists these protocols to follow as per the proximity of your home to the fire:

• If the active wildfire is close enough to cause a lot of smoke and the wind is blowing it your way, keep the windows and doors closed at all costs

• Check out the EPA’s website for precise instructions, keep up to date by checking the news or the state air quality website

• If the smoke is from a wildfire several thousand miles away but reaches your community, it includes the particle pollution already within your locality. It’d be best to monitor the outdoor air quality through gov while managing the IAQ

• If the active fire is close to your home, the best course of action is to evacuate. Wildfires can travel at 14 miles per hour in grasslands and 6 miles per hour in forests, so it’s better to ensure your safety early on. Be sure to follow local emergency alerts and follow their evacuation instructions closely

• Wild fire smoke impacts indoor air quality as well as your homes heating and ac system. Protect yourself and know the options.

Health Risks of Wildfire Smoke Exposure

Exposure to wildfire smoke can trigger a range of serious health issues, especially for those with pre-existing conditions, making it essential to take protective measures.

• Wheezing

• Stinging eyes

• Coughing

• Asthma Attacks

• Troubled breathing

• Headaches

• Runny nose

• Scratchy throat

• Fast heartbeat

• Tiredness

• Irritated sinuses

• Chest pain

That’s why it is vital to protect your household against ash and smoke before, during, and after a wildfire rages close to you.

5 Ways To Protect Your Home And Loved Ones From Wildfire Smoke

To protect yourself from the health risks of wildfire smoke exposure, it's crucial to take steps to prevent inhaling its harmful toxins. Here are some effective ways to keep smoke out of your home and safeguard your loved ones from its dangers:

Install An Air Purifier In The Ducts

The Protector is an air-purifiers equipped with an LED UV-C light, an ion generator, and a quad-metallic catalyst that causes ionization, deodorization, and photocatalysis as it comes into contact with air molecules in the home. Some advantages of The Protector include:

• Kills 99.99% of Listeria, Bird Flu, T.B., E. Coli, Listeria, Strep, and COVID viruses

• Reduces odor by 85%

• Reduces dust, allergens, dust, and smoke within the home

• Reduces mold and bacteria by 97%

• Reduces VOC by over 85%

Purchase High-Efficiency Filters And Change Them Periodically

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) approved filters with high ratings increase filtration and remove more contaminants. Most filters have a MERV rating over ten and can be 1 to 5 inches thick.

Make sure your filter has a deep pleat and that it fits snugly to avoid putting excess strain on your system. The minimum MERV rating of a filter in case of wildfire smoke should be 13.

Additionally, change your filter more often than usual during wildfire season, especially since you already spend more time indoors due to the pandemic.

Tightly Seal The Windows And Doors

It would be best to keep in mind that air can quickly come in through doors and windows, so make sure to keep them shut.

If you suspect that air is seeping through the gaps under your doors and windows and you do not have caulking to seal them, use package or duct tape around the window frame where you feel a draft. Also, put towels in front of your doors to plug the gap under them.

Utilize Your HVAC System’s Settings To Keep Smoke Out

It isn’t easy to maintain indoor temperatures while keeping smoke out without a central cooling system or air conditioner. But running the fan on your HVAC system on low to filter the indoor air may help.

At the thermostat, the “FAN” should be manually set to “ON” or “CIRC”. When set to “ON” the fan will run continuously regardless of whether or not the system is heating or cooling. If set to “CIRC”, the fan will operate intermittently throughout the day to circulate the air at different times. If your HVAC system has a fresh air intake. It would be best to close the damper to prevent outside air from entering the home during smoky conditions.

Keep An Eye On The Air Quality Index (AQI)

EPA’s Air Quality Index communicates the possible risks and health impacts of air pollution using a color-coded system. You can find the AQI of your locale in your weather app or at the AirNow website.

Code Orange points to the air around you and if it can hurt sensitive people such as children, seniors, those with asthma, or other similar conditions. These individuals must stay indoors.

Code Red tells us that these sensitive persons are at high risk, and even people who don’t fall within this category may be affected.

Code Maroon indicates that the air quality is terrible for everyone. When you see this in the news, it’s time to use portable indoor air filters and install particulate air filters in HVAC to keep the smoke outside and maintain indoor quality.

Protecting Your Family and Home from Wildfire Smoke

When wildfires strike, protecting your health and the well-being of your loved ones should be your top priority. Smoke from these fires can be more dangerous than the flames themselves, with smoke inhalation being the leading cause of death in such situations. Beyond immediate risks, prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke can cause lasting damage to your respiratory system and overall health.

To keep your indoor air safe, it’s essential to take proactive measures, including ensuring that your home’s air filters are up to date and your HVAC system is functioning optimally. Proper filtration is key to minimizing the harmful effects of smoke particles that can easily infiltrate your living space.

If you need assistance with servicing your HVAC system or selecting the right air filters to combat wildfire smoke, the experts at Miller’s Heating and Air are here to help. Our team can provide you with the guidance and products necessary to protect your home during wildfire season.

For more information on air filtration or to schedule a service, contact Miller’s Heating and Air. If you are in Vancouver call us at 360- 695-6500 and Portland at 503-972-2434.