Wildfire smoke may very well be a problem in your home, even with wildfires burning hundreds of miles away. The wind can carry wildfire pollution so that it impacts homes in a wide radius around the original source. If you’ve noticed changes in your indoor air quality, recent wildfires may very well be to blame.
The good news is there is something you can do about it. Schedule an appointment with our team for air filter services in Lake Oswego, OR. We can talk to you about the air filter you’re using in your HVAC system as well as other options like whole house air purifiers. You can keep reading to learn more about the impact of wildfire smoke and how whole house filtration can improve your indoor air quality now and in the future.
Dangers of Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire pollution is also dangerous because it doesn’t just affect the immediate area where a wildfire happens. Wildfire smoke, ash, and particulate matter can spread hundreds of miles away from where the wildfires began. According to the EPA, fine, inhalable particulate matter (PM2.5) is the air pollutant of greatest concern to public health from wildfire smoke because it can travel deep into the lungs and may even enter the bloodstream.
You may notice a difference in your indoor air quality, but you very well may not. If you are in an area that has been recently affected by wildfires, it’s a good idea to conduct some indoor air quality tests and see if you need to take steps to improve the air inside your home.
Benefits of an Air Purifier
The best way to eliminate pollution from the air inside your home is to invest in an air purifier. Sure, you can purchase a portable air filter for your home, but these have their limitations. You’d need to purchase several units to clean the air in your entire home and replacing the filters frequently can be costly.
But a whole house air purifier was designed specifically to purify the air. Air purifiers either have very strong HEPA filters to capture particles, or UV lights to destroy harmful particles in the air. A whole house air purifier gets installed directly inside of the ductwork of your HVAC system where all air needs to pass by before entering your home. More than 99% of all the harmful particles in your air, including those that come from wildfire smoke, will be eliminated as they pass through the system.
What to Expect
It can take several hours for an air purifier to completely filter all of the air in your home. By the end of the first day, you should feel a difference in the air when you take a deep breath. The air should feel lighter and cleaner and be completely odor-free from that day forward. Air purifiers use very little energy to operate, so you won’t see an uptick in your energy costs. They are also very low maintenance and only require replacing the filter or UV light once per year.
For HVAC, indoor air quality, and water heater services, look no further than the team who is “Connecting People to Comfort” – Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!