How to Keep Your Indoor Air Clean During Wildfire Season

May 20, 2025

Wildfires are becoming more common in our region. Even if a fire is far away, the smoke can travel through the air and reach your home. When that happens, the air inside your house can become just as unhealthy as the air outside.

Breathing in smoke is not safe. It can make your eyes and throat feel sore and may cause coughing or trouble breathing. It is especially hard for kids, older adults, and anyone with asthma or allergies. The good news is there are ways to keep your air clean and safe.

Why Wildfire Smoke Is a Problem Indoors

Wildfire smoke is made up of tiny particles and gases that can get into your home. These particles are so small that you cannot see them, but they can still get into your lungs when you breathe. Once they are inside, they can cause health problems. Most regular air filters are not strong enough to catch these small particles.

How to Protect Your Home’s Air

To keep your indoor air clean during wildfire season, you need a strong air filtration system. Lennox offers two great options for whole-home air cleaning.

1. Lennox PureAir™ System

The PureAir system removes many harmful things from your indoor air, such as:

  • Smoke and tiny particles
  • Mold, bacteria, and viruses
  • Odors and chemical gases from paint and cleaning supplies

It also turns ozone into oxygen, which helps make your air healthier to breathe. The system uses a MERV 16 filter, UV light, and a special PCO cartridge to clean the air without producing ozone.

2. Healthy Climate® Carbon Clean 16® Filter

This filter is one of the highest-rated in the industry. It removes over 95 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns and more than 90 percent of bacteria and viruses as small as 0.01 microns. It also helps reduce ground-level ozone and unwanted odors from your home.

Even better, it works with most home heating and cooling systems and has very low airflow restriction. That means it keeps your air clean without slowing down your furnace or air conditioner.

Other Tips to Help Keep Smoke Out

Here are a few more things you can do during wildfire season:

  • Keep windows and doors closed
  • Do not block or restrict your fresh air intakes (blocking can create a negative pressure inside your home, this will result in positive air from outside seeping into the negative space and increasing indoor air pollution).
  • Use a high-quality filter in your HVAC system
  • Run your system’s fan to keep air moving through the filter
  • Avoid using candles or cooking on high heat, which can add to indoor air pollution
  • Check your air filter often and replace it when it gets dirty

Breathe Easier This Wildfire Season

You cannot always control the air outside, but you can make sure your home is a safe place to breathe. Upgrading your air filtration system with Lennox PureAir or Carbon Clean 16 can help protect your health and comfort when air quality drops.

If you are ready to improve your indoor air, call us at 780-532-4418. Our team can help you choose the best solution for your home.