What to Do About Wildfire Smoke Indoors

During the event

• Keep windows and doors closed
• Run the system fan so indoor air keeps passing through filtration rather than sitting still
• Make sure the filter is clean before smoke season, not during it
• Avoid whole-house fans and window fans, which pull outdoor air straight in
• Do not add indoor sources — no candles, no wood fires, minimal frying

What filtration can and cannot do

Better filtration captures more fine particulate as air passes through it, which helps meaningfully during a smoke event. It does not make a leaky house airtight, and it does not remove gases. A well-sealed house with good filtration does much better than a leaky house with an excellent filter.

After the smoke clears

• Replace the filter — it has been working hard and may be loaded
• Air the house out once outdoor air quality has genuinely recovered
• Have the system checked if airflow felt reduced during the event, since a loaded filter can push a system into a safety limit

Health guidance is not ours to give

We can tell you how to run your equipment. For health decisions during a smoke event — particularly for anyone with asthma, heart or lung conditions, and for children and older adults — follow your local air quality authority and your doctor.