How do you keep wildfire smoke out of your house and car? Here are some tips
Hundreds of wildfires across California are creating poor air quality conditions throughout most of the state. And wildfires are burning in Washington and Idaho.
If you can smell smoke or it makes your eyes sting, you should limit your outdoor time as much as possible because it can be harmful to your respiratory health.
If you’re in your home and still can smell smoke, you may want to take some preventive steps to prevent even more of that smokey air from getting in.
Amid wildfire smoke, “if you are advised to stay indoors, take steps to keep indoor air as clean as possible,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises.
How exactly do you do that? Here’s some advice compiled from the EPA, the American Lung Association, Sacramento region’s Spare the Air and other organizations, including the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
▪ Keep your home’s doors and windows closed.
▪ Run your home air conditioner, but use the “recirculate” setting. Make sure the air conditioner filter is clean. If the filter is dirty or old, you should replace it.
▪ Use an air purifier, but make sure it is one that does not produce ozone.
▪ Check your home’s walls, windows and doors for potential openings. Repair or replace any doors or windows with major air leak issues; use caulk on walls or weather-proofing tape or sealants on window to cover up smaller openings. Older homes may be more susceptible to these types of problems, while newer homes are generally built a little bit tighter.
▪ A ceiling fan won’t change the quality of the air within your home; it just recirculates it. But if you are choosing to use a ceiling fan in an effort to keep cool rather than air conditioning because you have concerns about your AC system’s filtration, be sure to clean the fan, especially if you don’t use it frequently, to rid it of any dust particles that may have built up.
▪ While driving, also use your air conditioner’s recirculate setting. Do not roll down the windows.
▪ Close air conditioning vents in your vehicle while driving through a particularly smokey area.
This story was originally published August 20, 2020 at 11:27 AM with the headline "How do you keep wildfire smoke out of your house and car? Here are some tips."
