How Can You Improve the Air Quality in Your Home?
By Chris Petry
Remember that time the skies were full of smoke, carried Southbound from raging wildfires and the sun appeared red as a result of ultraviolet rays passing through ashy particles in the upper atmosphere? Oh wait, that was yesterday… and today. Sadly, it seems this has become an annual occurrence.
What causes the fires and why are they occurring more frequently? Research seems to indicate that the fires are a mixture of human activity and ignition via lightning strike. Since it’s warmer and drier than it’s ever been, more fires are started (usually in remote areas) and burn much longer than they should. So far, there hasn’t been overwhelming consensus on how to move forward and address the root cause, to prevent further disasters. Maybe it’s not 100% preventable. Who knows? However, there ARE measures you can take to protect yourself as well as your loved ones from the effects of the polluted air.
Avoid going outdoors- Yeah, I know. Easier said than done if you need to be outside for work. However, reducing the amount of time you spend in direct contact with and breathing the smoke, the better. Inside, your HVAC system will help to circulate the air and filter out the harmful particulate. Get ready to swap that filter soon!
Invest in an air purifier- Air purifiers are great to have, even for the everyday. Why? They help filter the air you’re breathing and remove harmful particles of dust, pet dander, cleaner fumes and even airborne viruses. If you’ve ever lived with or visited a smoker who can’t be bothered to step outside, you know just how quick the smoke can find your lungs or affect your eyes. An air purifier or two can help to mitigate those effects.
If you need to be outside for a prolonged period of time, wear and N95- Wearing an N95 when using spray paint, bleach, ammonia and other industrial chemicals as well as in environments full of sawdust, dirt or smoke, is just good practice. A well-fitted N95 can go a long way in blocking the most toxic particles from the current wildfires from entering your lungs.
Keep the place tidy- While this won’t help with current air conditions outside, it will greatly improve the air conditions inside.
Attach an air filter to the back of a box fan- Believe it or not, this low-rent homemade solution can be highly effective at cleaning the air you’re breathing. You’ll want a filter with a MERV rating of 13, so that you can trap the smokey particulate.
Right now, the wildfire smoke is even more hazardous because of the extreme external temperatures. High temperatures make your heart work faster and you’re more prone to dehydration. In short, we’re experiencing the worst possible scenario right now. Nearly 100-degree temperatures AND ultra-contaminated air. Hopefully the suggestion above can provide some level of relief while we wait on the wind and rain to come in and lend us a hand. Smokey the Bear is NOT happy right now.
