Does Wildfire Smoke Get Into Your House?

A few years ago, my husband, my son, and I left our home in California and moved to Colorado. While I really miss the variety of fresh organic fruits and vegetables in California, I definitely don’t miss wildfires. Indeed, wildfire smoke has become an increasingly concerning issue, especially for those living in regions prone to wildfires. This smoke can travel hundreds of miles, affecting areas far removed from the actual fires. For those living in wildfire-prone areas, the sight of smoke on the horizon is a signal to take immediate precaution.

While public health officials often advise residents to stay indoors during wildfire smoke events, does staying inside really protect you? Can wildfire smoke get into your house? Today, we are diving into these questions and exploring how you can safeguard your indoor air quality during wildfire season.

Does Wildfire Smoke Get Into Your House?

To begin with, the answer to this question is yes, wildfire smoke can and often does get into homes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirms that wildfire smoke can infiltrate your home through a variety of entry points, including:

• cracks
• windows
• doors
• bathroom fans venting to the outdoors
• kitchen fans venting to the outdoors, and
• heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with a fresh air intake.

Note that aside from active wildfires, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air may contain more pollutants than outdoor air. Hence, people could be exposed to greater levels of pollution when they stay indoors. In some cases, the levels of indoor pollutants can exceed outdoor levels by more than 100 times.

Accordingly, when we moved to our new home in Colorado, we installed an HVAC system with a fresh air intake. Because outdoor air is cleaner than indoor air, bringing in fresh air from outside is essential for maintaining good indoor air quality. The great thing about our HVAC system is that during periods of poor air quality, such as wildfire smoke events, we can simply close off the fresh air intake to keep the polluted air out.

How Dangerous Is Wildfire Smoke?

Undoubtedly, wildfire smoke is more than just a nuisance—it poses significant risks to your health. In fact, the smoke contains a complex mixture of gases and particulate matter that can aggravate respiratory conditions and lead to serious health issues.

According to the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), inhaling wildfire smoke can trigger lots of issues, including asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. Additionally, people with pre-existing heart or lung conditions, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are especially at risk. Even healthy individuals may experience coughing, sore throats, and shortness of breath during prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke. In addition, smoke contains carcinogenic substances.

In my blog post Protect Your Health from Smoke in the Air, among other things, you will learn how food, water, and supplements can help you protect your health during air pollution caused by wildfires.

What Is In Wildfire Smoke?

To start with, wildfire smoke is a complex blend of gases, particles, and water vapor, comprised of thousands of different compounds. When natural biomass burns, the resulting smoke consists of the following individual compounds whose number reaches into the thousands:

• particulate matter
• carbon dioxide
• carbon monoxide
• water vapor
• hydrocarbons (PAHS)
• various organic chemicals (VOCs, formaldehyde)
• nitrogen oxides, and
• trace minerals (source).

For instance, particulate matter are tiny particles smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Next, carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.

In addition, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful chemicals that contribute to air pollution and health problems. Moreover, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are carcinogenic, and formaldehyde in products and wildfire smoke can also increase the risk of cancer and irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

How To Prevent Wildfire Smoke From Entering Your House

While it’s impossible to completely prevent wildfire smoke from entering your home, there are steps you can take to minimize its impact. Here are some practical tips:

• Use portable air cleaners.
• Fix obvious gaps and cracks.
• Upgrade your HVAC system.
• Make a DIY air filter out of a box fan.

Let’s talk more about each of these tips.

Use Portable Air Cleaners.

First, portable air cleaners equipped with HEPA filters can be very effective in removing particulate matter from the air inside your home. In addition to particulate matter, they effectively remove gases, VOCs, and formaldehyde.

Importantly, a high-efficiency filter, commonly known as a HEPA filter, is capable of capturing at least 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. These particles include dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, pet dander, smoke, and dust mites. Constructed from tightly woven glass and synthetic fibers, high-efficiency filters force air through a fine mesh to trap the particles. They are rigorously regulated and certified to meet standards established by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Place your portable air cleaners in the rooms where you spend the most time, such as bedrooms and living rooms, to improve indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events. (Learn more about air cleaners in my Comprehensive Guide to Mobile Air Purifiers.)

Fix Obvious Gaps And Cracks.

Second, if there are noticeable gaps around doors and windows, use weatherstripping to seal them. This easy fix can greatly decrease the amount of outdoor air, including smoke, entering your home. However, keep in mind that achieving complete airtightness is not advisable.

Upgrade Your HVAC System.

Next, your HVAC system plays a critical role in maintaining indoor air quality. Consider upgrading to a system with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. These filters are designed to trap tiny particles, including those found in wildfire smoke, keeping your indoor air cleaner. Note, though, that even the best HVAC systems deal with particles, not gases, such as VOCs, PAHs, and formaldehyde.

In our house, we had an HVAC system installed with a fresh air intake and multiple air filters.  Specifically, we have two MERV filters (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values) and one heat recovery ventilation filter (HRV). 

To clarify, Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERVs) report a filter’s ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles. The ratings range from 1 to 16, and our two MERV filters’ ratings are 14. This means that they are 75% effective at capturing particles equal to or greater than 0.30-1.0 microns; 90% effective at capturing particles equal to or greater than 1.0-3.0 microns; and 95% effective at capturing particles equal to or greater than 3.0-10.0 microns.

As for the HRV filter (FARR 30/30), it is a pleated panel air filter with a standard size of 10 inches wide by 20 inches long and 1 inch deep. In HVAC systems, it functions as a pre-filter due to its high dust holding capacity. “FARR 30/30” signifies the specific filter type with a high MERV rating, designed to last longer than most other medium-efficiency filters.

Make A DIY Air Filter Out Of A Box Fan.

Lastly, you can consider making a DIY air filter with a box fan, a square floor fan that creates a strong airflow in a single direction. Box fans are generally powerful, durable, and energy efficient. They are used for many purposes, but for air filtering purposes, you can attach a furnace filter to the back of a box fan to filter the air in your home. Also, box fans can be used to move medium to high volume flows against high resistances in ventilation systems.

Best Products For Wildfire Smoke

When it comes to keeping your indoor air clean during a wildfire, investing in high-quality products is key. Here are some of the best products to consider:

• Air Doctor air purifier
• Austin Air Healthmate Plus air purifier
• high-efficiency air filters
• masks for wildfire smoke, and
• indoor air quality monitor.

Air Doctor Air Purifier

To begin, one of the best air purifiers for wildfire smoke is an Air Doctor air purifier. The unit features a high-efficiency filter (Ultra HEPA) that captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.003 microns, including smoke, dust, and pollen. It’s designed to handle large spaces and comes with an air quality monitor that adjusts the filtration level automatically based on the air quality index.

Air Doctor air purifiers come in several sizes for different spaces. In our house, we use an Air Doctor Air Purifier 5000 in our open-floor living room and kitchen. Check out other Air Doctor units in the IRLFY shop.

Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier

Another excellent option is the Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier. This air cleaner is specifically designed to handle heavy smoke and chemical odors, making it perfect for wildfire smoke events. It is also very effective in removing formaldehyde and VOCs present in the smoke and also during new construction. Hence, if you live in wildfire-prone area and/or are building or remodeling your house, an Austin Air Healthmate Plus air purifier is a must.

It uses a combination of HEPA filters and activated carbon (15 lbs!) to remove a wide range of indoor pollutants, including particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Its high efficiency particulate air filtration ensures that your indoor air quality remains safe even during the worst outdoor air conditions. The filters remove 95% of all particles 0.1 microns and larger as well as the gases of wildfire smoke.

I own both an Austin Air Healthmate Plus unit and an Air Doctor 5000 unit mentioned above.

High-Efficiency Air Filters

Next, upgrading your HVAC system with high-efficiency air filters is another excellent way to combat wildfire smoke. Look for filters labeled with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating of 13 or higher, as they are effective at trapping smaller particles.

Best Masks For Wildfire Smoke

Further, face masks are a great addition to the measures aimed at maintaining public health during wildfire smoke events. When you need to step outside, wearing a high-quality mask is essential. N95 respirators are among the best masks for filtering out harmful particulate matter. They are designed to fit snugly and filter out at least 95% of airborne particles. If you are looking for an approved particulate respirator, check out this Amazon page.

Air Quality Monitor

Monitoring the air quality inside your home is crucial during wildfire season. An air quality monitor can provide real-time data on particulate matter levels, allowing you to take action when needed. Look for a monitor that can detect PM2.5 levels and provides alerts when air quality drops. Also, you can frequent the airnow.gov website for information on the air quality in your area or download an App.

Conclusion: What To Do About Wildfire Smoke Getting Into Your House?

Fixing Gaps And Cracks In Your House, Upgrading Your HVAC System, And Using Portable Air Cleaners Can Help You Minimize The Impact Of Wildfire Smoke On Your Health.

In conclusion, wildfire smoke can indeed get into your house, but by taking proactive steps, you can significantly reduce its impact on your indoor air quality. Thus, fixing leaks, upgrading your HVAC system, and investing in the right products can make a big difference in keeping your home safe during wildfire season. Consider investing in:

• Air Doctor Air Purifier 5000
• Austin Air Healthmate Plus Air Purifier
• Approved Masks for Wildfire Smoke
• Inside Air Quality Monitor.

Remember to visit the I Read Labels For You blog for other useful information on healthy living. Browse my non-toxic products shop and unique e-books that will help you find safer products. Additionally, you are welcome to use our services to get a deeper look into your personal needs.

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