How Wildfire Season Impacts Indoor Air Quality (and How to Protect It)
Wildfire season brings outdoor hazards and visible flames, but it can also impact the air you breathe inside your California home. The smoke impacts of some fires can be felt downwind of the actual blaze. With fires growing in both intensity and frequency, smoke and particulate matter are increasingly infiltrating living spaces. Knowing these risks and understanding how to protect your home’s indoor air quality is crucial to maintaining a healthy household environment.
Why Wildfire Season Impacts Indoor Air
A burning wildfire releases ash, smoke and PM2.5 particles, which are particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns. These are small enough to get into homes through cracks, ventilation systems and open doors and windows. Staying indoors helps you avoid outdoor exposure, but poor indoor air quality in wildfire season might linger for hours to days without any intervention. Wildfire smoke has harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds.
Health Risks of Poor Indoor Air During Wildfires
Exposure to wildfire smoke inside your home can result in health issues, both immediate and long term. The short-term effects include sore throat, coughing, watery eyes and headaches. Long-term exposure increases the risks of diminished lung function, cardiovascular disease and chronic respiratory problems. Sensitive groups, including older adults, young children and individuals with pre-existing heart and lung conditions, might experience more severe reactions.
How Wildfire Smoke Enters Homes
Even when you keep your home’s windows and doors closed, smoke particles still have the power to enter. Crawlspaces, attics and chimneys without proper sealing are common entry points, as are ventilation systems that bring outdoor air into your home. Cracks and gaps around ductwork, doors and windows are also possibilities. Once inside, smoke particulates can settle into upholstery, furniture and carpets, and they can be difficult to remove without proper filtration or cleaning. This persistence might leave a home smelling smoky, even after outdoor air quality improves.
5 Ways To Protect Indoor Air Quality During Wildfire Season
The good news is that you can take proactive steps to reduce indoor smoke exposure and to safeguard your interior air quality.
1. Upgrade Air Filtration
Aim for high-efficiency HVAC filters with Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values of 13 or greater. Anything with that level of MERV can capture small particulates, including wildfire smoke. A portable air purifier with a HEPA filter can be an effective solution for living rooms and bedrooms.
2. Seal Leaks and Openings
Weatherstripping around windows and doors can help keep polluted air out. Sealing cracks in ductwork and walls also helps. A well-sealed home should enjoy improved energy efficiency.
3. Limit Indoor Pollutants
When it’s wildfire season, avoid using fireplaces, burning candles or using your gas stove for long periods. These are activities that contribute to indoor air pollution, and you should curtail these when your home’s air is already compromised.
4. Create a Clean Room
Designate a single room, preferably a bedroom, as a clean air zone. Establish this by sealing openings and installing an air purifier. This creates a safe retreat your household can use when outdoor air quality is at its lowest level.
5. Monitor Air Quality Levels
Track local conditions through government monitoring websites or reliable air-quality apps. When outdoor air quality is unhealthy, keep your residence closed. Turn on your filtration systems consistently until the air quality improves.
When To Call a Professional
If your home keeps smelling smoky, you notice persistent health symptoms, or your HVAC system is struggling to keep your air clean, it might be time to consult industry professionals. HVAC specialists can inspect your filtration systems and make effective upgrades. They can also improve ventilation and seal ductwork in your home without compromising safety.
Safeguarding Your Home’s Air
Wildfire season is a significant concern, but you can keep your indoor air safe and healthy with the proper precautions. Alps Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. provides HVAC repair, installation and maintenance services to Orange County and the surrounding areas, including ductless cooling and heat pumps.
Upgrading filtration, creating clean spaces and sealing your home reduce the risks that smoke presents to household comfort and health. We also offer attic insulation, smart thermostats, water heater service, zoning systems and energy efficiency upgrades. Protect your home and safeguard your indoor air to breathe easier.
Contact Alps Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. for all your indoor air-quality needs and professional solutions that provide enduring home improvements.