Wildfire Smoke and Your Home's Air
Some years, wildfire smoke drifts into Sonoma County for days at a time. Your heating and cooling system can help keep the air inside cleaner if it's set up and used the right way.
Request an HVAC technicianKeep smoke out
Close windows and doors, and close any fresh-air intake or economizer on your system. Bathroom and kitchen fans pull outside air in, so use them only briefly.
Recirculate through a filter
Set the system to recirculate and run the fan so indoor air passes through the filter repeatedly. A clean, higher-rated filter traps more fine particles.
Check filter fit
Gaps around the filter let smoky air bypass it. Make sure it's the right size and seated properly.
Portable air cleaners
A portable air cleaner in the room where you sleep gives you one cleaner space on the worst days.
Swamp coolers
Evaporative coolers pull in outside air and shouldn't be used during heavy smoke.
Replace filters after
Smoke and ash load filters quickly. Replace them once the air clears.
Outdoor unit
Ash can coat the outdoor coil. Rinse it gently with the power off after smoke season.
Plan ahead
Before summer, buy spare filters and ask a technician what rating your system can handle.
More help
Masks and sensitive people
People with asthma, heart conditions, older adults and children are most affected by smoke. Keep them in the cleanest room and follow local health guidance.
Air quality readings
Check local air quality readings before opening windows after a smoke event. Clear skies don't always mean clean air.
Seal small gaps
Weatherstripping doors and sealing gaps around windows and pipes keeps more smoke out, and it also helps comfort and bills all year.
Cooking and candles
Frying, broiling and candles add particles indoors. On smoky days, keep them to a minimum so the filter can work on the smoke that does get in.
More heating and cooling guides
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