Air Filters for Wildfire Smoke

How to Protect Your Business from Wildfire Smoke

Year after year, wildfire smoke impacts millions of people around the country, and because our climate is getting hotter and drier, the wildfire season is getting longer. With wildfire seasons ramping up each year, so is the amount of smoke that is produced. Wildfire smoke doesn’t just settle in the areas where the fires occur, the smoke travels for miles, as the winds shift and can ultimately end up in your business or home. All smoke is hazardous to your health, but the smoke from burning homes and vehicles is exceptionally dangerous. While forest smoke primarily contains harmful particles from burning natural materials like wood, the smoke from a structural fire contains a more complex and toxic mixture of chemicals released from burning plastics, foams, and other synthetic materials, posing a more severe health risk. The biggest threat to your health is the fine particulates that are found in wildfire smoke (called “PM 2.5”). These microscopic particles are too small to see with the naked eye but can get into your eyes and upper respiratory system and can cause major health problems. The best way to protect your loved ones, employees and customers is to invest in a good wildfire smoke air filter. This will help keep your facility safe, especially for those who are at a higher risk of health problems caused by smoke. 

People Most Affected by Wildfire Smoke:

• Babies and children

• Adults over 65 years old

• Pregnant women

• People with chronic health conditions

• People who work outside

• People who live near wildfire areas

Minimizing Smoke and Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Wildfire smoke can enter your building through air intake vents, windows, doors, bathroom and kitchen fans that vent to the outdoors, HVAC systems, and small cracks and openings.

To help reduce the amount of smoke that enters your facility:

• Keep windows and doors closed as often as possible

• Minimize the use of exhaust fans

• Seal cracks around windows and doors

• Avoid using anything that can worsen the indoor air quality (IAQ) like burning candles or incense, frying foods, vacuuming, and smoking.

You can improve your indoor air quality by:

1. Running your air conditioner and HVAC recirculating fans consistently and keeping your fresh air intakes closed.

2. Turning your HVAC system to “Recirculation” mode. Recirculation mode recycles the air already in your building or home and prevents outdoor air from being pulled in. As doors continue to open and close, smoke will continue to enter the building air and need to be recirculated through a good filtration system.

3. Upgrade your air filters. Air Filters Inc. offers options such as high-efficiency MERV 13 filters or activated carbon air filter products. High-efficiency MERV 13 pleated filters are a good option for trapping fire smoke, fine particulates, and harmful pollutants but aren’t able to remove toxic odors, fumes or gases. Activated carbon filters make it possible to keep those odors and gases out of your facility. 

Find the Best Air Filter for Wildfire Smoke 

Smoke from massive fires can travel thousands of miles—putting your business and people at risk even if the wildfire is happening in a different state or country. Successful filtration requires more than just eliminating odors from smoke. Those tiny smoke particles can have an impact on health and HVAC usage. Airborne pollutants are released by wildfire smoke, including VOCs and NOx (nitrogen oxides), which our carbon filters can help remove. 

Activated carbon air filters offer the best and most effective methods for keeping wildfire smoke outside of homes and buildings. Air Filters Inc.™ carries an extensive line of carbon air filters and impregnated carbon products including Pleated Activated Carbon Filters, Bonded Carbon Panels, V-Cell Carbon Air Filters, Carbon Refillable Trays and Honeycomb Carbon Filters. Carbon filters are designed to remove harmful gases, odors, smoke, cooking fumes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more. Looking for a long-term solution to more severe wildfire seasons? Contact our team today for more information.