How to Keep Your Home Free of Wildfire Smoke

As much of North America faces some of the worst droughts in recent history, and memories of recent wildfire seasons still rage in the minds of those affected, more people are considering the risks of wildfire smoke on their health and their homes. But what steps can be taken? How can you make sure your family isn't breathing smoky, polluted air inside the home — or better yet, stop it getting in in the first place? Let's dive in.

Why is wildfire smoke dangerous to your health?

Studies have shown that wood smoke can remain active in the body for 40 times longer than tobacco smoke, increasing the chances of developing cancer or a respiratory condition (Families for Clean Air). As wildfires and forest fires continue to get worse year on year, the long-term health effects escalate over time — a double-whammy of prolonged exposure during each individual event, and repeated exposure year after year.

Those with asthma are particularly susceptible to the health risks of inhaling Particulate Matter (PM) from sources such as fire smoke — and an estimated 13% of Americans suffer from asthma. Research even suggests that long-term exposure to indoor air pollution can cause asthma. It's clearer than ever that we need to take indoor air quality seriously — whether or not there's an existing health concern at play.

Can wildfire smoke get inside my home?

Though the air in your home may not become visibly smoky, if the levels outside are concentrated and air quality warnings are in place, the chances are that wildfire smoke particles have made it inside. Many factors affect this — from the obvious (doors and windows left open, or damaged sealant allowing infiltration) to the obscure (the tightness of your home's construction, or negative air pressure inside drawing polluted air in).

Once smoke particles are inside, they linger. They settle into soft furnishings, carpeting, and rugs, posing a fresh risk every time those surfaces are disturbed and the particles become airborne again. Vacuuming with a HEPA filter and mopping can help reduce the risk — but ideally, we don't want these unwanted guests in your home in the first place.

How to keep wildfire smoke out of your home

• Stay informed. Follow the Air Quality Index and official guidance during smoke events.
• Set your HVAC system to "recirculate" and turn off outdoor-venting fans. For more thorough tips, check out our wildfire infiltration checklist.
• Use a high-MERV furnace filter (MERV 13 or above) to capture smoke particles — and keep in mind that your filter's lifespan will be much shorter during smoky season.
• Monitor your indoor air, ideally whole-home. Counter-top monitors have their place, but if smoke is infiltrating through a room where no monitor is present, it goes undetected. A monitor installed in the return duct of your central HVAC system assesses airborne pollutants across your whole home.
• In a pinch, a DIY box-fan air purifier is a cost-effective short-term measure.

How HAVEN helps

HAVEN brings professional-grade, whole-home monitoring and control to the fight against wildfire smoke:

1. The duct-mounted Central Air Monitor tracks Particulate Matter levels across the entire home — picking up on wildfire smoke whether it's from one broken window seal or a wider building-envelope issue.
2. The Central Air Controller adds smart capability to existing equipment. Wired to the air handler, its automations can toggle the blower fan when high particle levels are detected — activating airflow so the filter can effectively capture harmful smoke particles before they reach your lungs.
3. HAVEN also calculates filter lifetime based on system runtime and the pollution levels it detects, so it knows when to remind you to replace your filter before smoke creates unsafe conditions in your home.

For HVAC professionals

The majority of wildfire smoke exposure happens while we're inside, even though the visible effects often stay outdoors. Leaky-home syndrome and negative air pressure both contribute to smoke infiltration — which is why HVAC pros are best placed to assess and advise on IAQ issues for their customers. The HAVEN Pro Web Portal logs and displays customer IAQ data so pros can identify spikes and trends over time, and back up equipment recommendations with evidence.

Learn how HAVEN can help level up your IAQ strategy and protect your customers' health.

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Find out more about making your home a safe HAVEN — get started here.