Major wildfire events are currently occurring across the United States. Fire warnings, reports of serious events and the resulting poor air quality are dominating news coverage. Smoke from such wildfires arrives with a terrible smell, reduced air quality and health symptoms such as headaches and coughing.
Your Health & Air Quality: A recent wildfire smoke air quality study confirmed a correlation between poor health, worsening indoor air quality and increased mortality rates. Read More →The burning of trees and other plants releases irritant gases that cause health problems for many people. Air quality can remain quite poor for days during and after, and it doesn’t ever seem to improve fast enough. And if you live with pets, wildfire smoke can be even more troubling because animals are sensitive to smoke particles.
But don’t worry! We have tips and solutions to help keep your home fresh and clean so you can breathe easily even during a wildfire event.
Any control strategy is a helpful strategy. In this particular article, we’ll discuss how air purifiers work, what type is best for this situation, what to do if you already own a purifier and it isn’t working as well as you would like it to and how to use them safely in your home during wildfire season! (Or any time of year really, because they’re great all around!) Let’s get into how air purifiers help with smoke.
How To Choose an Air Purifier for Smoke
What you really want to ask about is high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration. HEPA refers to air filter technology capable of capturing 99.97% of particles sized 0.3 micrometers in diameter or larger. A HEPA filter in an air purifier filters the air being drawn in. If a portable unit has this type of filtration, you’re already on your way to choosing a great air purifier for smoke.
There are a lot of standalone units to choose from, and they all make the same amazing claims. So, how to know which is best? First, verify HEPA level filtration with manufacturer data and third-party testing data. Some models claim HEPA filtration, and in reality, use a lower rated air filter.
Portable air purifiers are also limited in their range. If you live in a home larger than 1,000 square feet, then a unit with 600 square feet capacity is missing a lot. This is why comparing purifier clean air delivery rates, or CADR, is crucial. It’s also for this reason that we always look to whole-home solutions. We won’t ever recommend half-measures or give advice that sounds good but doesn’t actually help. There are certain settings in which a portable unit is the better choice, but more often than not, a whole-home unit is a clear winner.
Whole-Home Air Purification: If you’re looking to take your home’s air purification game to the next level, invest in a whole-home active air purifier today →Whole-Home Air Purification With High-Efficency Filtration
For best results, consider an upgrade that balances the best of both worlds. Thus, opt for a whole-home air purifier with a new and upgraded high-efficiency air filter. This advanced air purification technology ensures you’re only breathing clean, irritant-free air. Considering high-efficiency air filters can reduce wildfire smoke exposure indoors, you really can’t beat the combined efforts of whole-home purification and filtration techology.
If people in your home suffer from respiratory conditions, asthma, allergies or other health conditions exacerbated by poor air quality—purification is the ultimate solution. Because air purification is a whole-home air solution, it also provides you and your family with non-stop air filtration and air cleaning, even when you’re not home.
Clean Air Indoors
With the right air purifier unit and high-efficiency filter, your indoor space’s air is cleaned at every stage of its journey—from intake all the way to the return air ducts in your home. You’ll not only be protected from wildfire smoke, but also from dust, mold spores, pet dander, germs and everything in between!
