Here are some tips for improving the air quality in your house that may be affected by smoke from California’s wildfires.
Over 17,000 acres have been burned by the Palisades Fire, and an estimated 1,000 buildings have been destroyed. Residents who are able to stay in their houses during the crisis are concerned about the quality of the air as the destructive wildfires continue to burn through Los Angeles and other surrounding locations. The Environmental Protection Agency claims that contaminants and tiny particles found in wildfire smoke might irritate the respiratory system. Breathing difficulties, coughing, phlegm, and wheezing can all be symptoms of high exposure levels.
It could be useful to think about the local causes of air pollution if you’re worried about the quality of the air in your house. Air quality is lowered by smog, particle pollution, and smoke from wildfires, all of which can be harmful to your health. There are a number of things you can do to enhance the air quality in your house and place of business, even while you can’t immediately alter the outdoor air quality.
Why is the air quality so bad?
Large-scale inhalation of carbon monoxide can be dangerous since it lowers the quantity of oxygen that can pass through your bloodstream. Automobiles, lorries, fossil fuel-powered machinery, unvented gas heaters, and gas stoves are common producers of carbon monoxide. High carbon monoxide concentrations are more likely to happen indoors than outside, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Particulate matter These are a combination of liquid and solid particles that float in the atmosphere. Dust, soot, smoke, and soil are examples of common particulate matter kinds. It is possible for certain kinds of particulate matter to enter your bloodstream or lungs. Particulate matter is particularly prevalent in places with farms, power plants, and unpaved roads.
Smoke from wildfires: In many parts of the United States, wildfires are becoming more frequent. Smoke from wildfires is a mixture of gas and particulates from burning structures and trees, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even when flames happen outside, the smoke usually enters neighboring residences. Wildfire smoke can have an instant negative effect on your health by making you cough, wheeze, and get a runny nose.
Can the quality of the air cause illness?
There are several health hazards associated with poor indoor air quality. Some people will experience these effects right away, while others may not experience any noticeable changes in their health for years. Irritated eyes, a sore throat, lightheadedness, and exhaustion are some of the immediate consequences of poor air quality. Asthma sufferers will probably observe an increase in their symptoms. Furthermore, cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders can result from prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution.
How to determine whether the air quality inside your home is inadequate
It might be challenging to detect indoor air pollution. Assessing if you feel better outside of your home is one clear clue. You probably have poor indoor air quality if you have headaches, cough, or have watery eyes when you’re at home. You may also test the quality of the air in your house by installing one of the many available air quality monitors.
How can the quality of your air be improved?
Determine the issue: It’s critical to identify the cause of your poor indoor air quality. Verify the filters on your indoor vents to make sure they aren’t covered in dust and debris. Think about cleaning them or purchasing new ones if they’re filthy. To make sure mold isn’t forming in your house, check often wet locations like closets, behind sinks, and bathroom ceilings. Carbon monoxide is frequently produced by gas stoves and unvented space heaters; if you use one of these, make sure you have a mechanism to evacuate the fumes from your house.
Make an air purifier purchase: Air purifiers are quite good at removing particles from the air, however they are unable to filter out gas-based contaminants. The EPA says that when choosing an air purifier, you should look at how well it removes particles and how much air it draws through its filtering element.
Enhance the ventilation in your house: The EPA advises boosting the ventilation in your home to improve interior air quality even when there is air pollution outdoors. If the weather isn’t too chilly or rainy, think about leaving part of your windows open. Turn on your bathroom and kitchen fans periodically during the day if they are pushing your interior air outside your house. It’s especially crucial to have adequate ventilation in your house when using kerosene heaters, cooking, or painting. On the other hand, you should do everything you can to keep outside air out of your house if there are wildfires in the area.
Top products for air quality
AirDoctor 4-in-1 Air Purifier
This air purifier features a sleek design and doesn’t require any assembly. It features a built-in air-quality monitor and runs silently when your air is clean. During testing, it became slightly louder when our air quality dropped and the fan sped up. We noticed significant changes in our room’s air quality and it even helped clean the air of smoke and pollutants from nearby wildfires.
Levoit Air Purifier
While testing, we noticed air quality improvements that reduced allergies and the smell from our fireplace. The highest setting is relatively loud, but the sleep fan setting is nearly silent. Assembling this was easy, and it worked great in rooms up to 219 square feet.
The iAdapt 2.0 Air Oasis
This is a fantastic choice if you’re searching for a quiet, professional-grade air purifier that isn’t noticeable. The medical-grade True HEPA (H13) filters in this air purifier, according to the manufacturer, may filter out tiny particles for up to two years before needing to be replaced.
Blueair Blue Pure 211
We tested this and found it to be one of the most user-friendly. To change the settings, simply press the same button several times. This made the air feel fresher and eliminated odors from our room. When we tested this during fire season, we discovered that it lessened the chronic headaches and cough that often last during fire season.
