10 Essentials for Homeowners Dealing with Wildfire Smoke – Bob Vila

Wildfire smoke has a special talent: it turns a perfectly normal Tuesday into a “why does my living room smell like a campfire?”
mysterywithout the fun part where you get s’mores. Even if the flames are miles away, smoke can travel far, sneak through tiny gaps,
and fill your home with fine particles that irritate eyes, throats, and lungs. The goal isn’t to build a hermetically sealed bunker
(your house still needs to function as a house). The goal is smarter: reduce what gets in, filter what’s already inside,
and make one room a clean-air refuge so your body gets a break.

This guide breaks down the most practical, homeowner-friendly “smoke season toolkit”the kind of stuff you can actually use when the
sky looks sepia-toned and your weather app starts using words like “unhealthy” with unsettling confidence. We’ll keep it real, we’ll keep
it useful, and we’ll keep the candles unlit (more on that later).

Why Wildfire Smoke Feels So Intense Indoors

Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and tiny particles, and the smallest particles are the biggest troublemakers. These fine particles can
slip deep into the respiratory system, which is why “it smells smoky” isn’t just an aesthetic complaintit’s a health signal. Outdoors,
you can often escape by going inside. But when smoke gets indoors, you need a plan that treats your home like a system: entry points,
airflow, filtration, and habits.

The good news: you don’t have to overhaul your entire house to make a meaningful difference. A few targeted upgrades and a few “smoke
rules” can noticeably improve indoor comfort and help protect sensitive family members (kids, older adults, anyone with asthma or heart/lung
conditions), plus pets who are also wondering why the air tastes crunchy.

The 10 Essentials for Homeowners Dealing with Wildfire Smoke

1) An AQI Habit (Because Your Nose Isn’t a Sensor)

The first essential is knowing what you’re dealing with. Build a simple habit: check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before deciding to jog,
mow, or even do a “quick” dog walk. During smoke events, conditions can change fast with wind shifts, inversions, and new fire activity.

Practical move: pick one reliable AQI source as your baseline, then check it morning and late afternoon. If you use a local
sensor network, treat it like a second opinionhelpful, but not infallible.

2) A True HEPA Air Purifier (Sized for the Room You Actually Use)

A portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter is one of the biggest “bang for your breath” upgrades you can make during smoke season. The key is
matching the purifier to your room size and running it consistentlyespecially in the room where your household spends the most time.

Practical move: prioritize your bedroom and/or living room first. If your budget allows, add one per floor. If not, make one
room your clean-air HQ and rotate the purifier when needed. Replace filters on schedulesmoke loads them faster than normal dust.

3) High-Efficiency HVAC Filters (MERV 13 If Your System Can Handle It)

If you have central heating/cooling, your HVAC system can help filter indoor airif you use a higher-efficiency filter and run the fan more
often. A better filter can capture more fine particles, but it also creates more resistance, so your system needs to be compatible.

Practical move: check what your HVAC manufacturer recommends. If MERV 13 is too restrictive for your setup, choose the
highest MERV rating your system supports without stressing airflow. Keep extra filters on hand so you’re not panic-ordering during a smoke
surge when everyone else is doing the same.

4) “Recirculate” Settings and Smarter Cooling

When it’s smoky, you generally want to keep outdoor air from being pulled insideespecially through systems that can bring in fresh air.
Many air conditioners and HVAC systems have settings that change how much outside air is introduced.

Practical move: set your system to recirculate when possible during smoke events, and avoid running whole-house fans
that pull outdoor air in. If you need cooling, do it in ways that don’t invite smoke to the party.

5) Weather Stripping and Draft Seals (Stop the Sneaky Leaks)

Smoke doesn’t need an open window to get inside. It can seep through tiny gaps around doors, windows, attic hatches, and even fireplace
dampers. Sealing those leaks improves smoke defense and energy efficiencyso it’s a two-for-one that doesn’t taste like smoke.

Practical move: add weather stripping to exterior doors, install a door sweep, and use removable draft blockers. For a quick
fix during a smoke spike, rolled towels at door bottoms are surprisingly effective (and delightfully low-tech).

6) A “Clean Room” Setup (Your Home’s Breathing Break)

A clean room is a designated space where you focus your best filtration and your best sealing. It’s not about perfectionit’s about creating
a refuge that reduces exposure when the rest of the world smells like burnt toast and regret.

Practical move: choose a room that fits your household comfortably (often a bedroom). Keep windows/doors closed, run a HEPA
purifier, and avoid activities that add indoor pollution (burning candles, frying foods, smoking, or vacuuming with a leaky vacuum).

7) A DIY Air Cleaner Option (Budget-Friendly Backup)

If purifiers are sold out or you need extra filtration fast, a DIY air cleaner can help. A common approach uses a box fan and a high-efficiency
filter. Some designs improve performance further by arranging multiple filters in a cube shape for more surface area.

Practical move: prioritize safety: use a modern fan with a stable base, don’t run it unattended if you’re unsure of the fan’s
condition, and make sure airflow direction matches the filter’s arrow. Think of it as “practical engineering,” not “arts and crafts with
electricity.”

8) N95/KN95-Style Respirators for Necessary Outdoor Time

When you have to go outsidetaking out trash, checking mail, helping a neighboruse a well-fitting respirator designed to filter fine particles.
Fit matters: gaps around the nose or cheeks reduce protection.

Practical move: keep a small stash for your household. If you can’t get a good seal, try a different model. And yes, it can
be uncomfortableconsider it the price of admission for “outside” during smoke season.

9) Smoke-Smart Cleaning Supplies (Because Ash Gets Everywhere)

Smoke and ash settle on surfaces and can get tracked indoors. Cleaning the right way matterssome methods stir particles back into the air.
You want to remove residue without launching it into a second career as airborne dust.

Practical move: use damp microfiber cloths for surfaces, add a “shoes-off” zone near entryways, and consider a vacuum with
HEPA filtration for floors if you’re dealing with heavy residue. If outdoor ash is visible on surfaces, clean gently and avoid dry sweeping
that kicks particles up.

10) Power and Visibility Basics (Smoke Events Don’t Always Come Alone)

Smoke events can overlap with heat waves, grid strain, or public safety power shutoffs in some regions. If you lose power, your filtration and
cooling plan can take a hitright when you want it most.

Practical move: keep flashlights, spare batteries, and phone power banks ready. If you use a generator, follow safe operation
practices and never run it indoors or in enclosed spaces. The goal is clean airnot “smoke plus something worse.”

What to Avoid During Wildfire Smoke (A Short List of “Don’t Feed the Problem”)

Skip indoor activities that create particles

Smoke outside is already doing enough. Indoors, avoid candles, incense, smoking, and high-smoke cooking methods when air quality is poor.
If you must cook, use lower-smoke methods and keep it brief.

Be skeptical of “ozone” or “ionizing” miracle gadgets

Some products claim to “purify” air using ozone or related processes. Ozone can irritate the lungs, and it’s not the kind of “fresh scent”
you want during a smoke event. Stick with proven filtrationespecially HEPA.

of Real-World Smoke-Season Experience (What Homeowners Learn Fast)

Homeowners who’ve lived through multiple smoke seasons often say the same thing: the first day is confusion, the second day is improvisation,
and by day three everyone is suddenly an indoor-air scientist. The learning curve is steepbut it doesn’t have to be painful if you borrow
a few lessons from people who’ve done it the hard way.

One common realization is that “the whole house” is a tough goal, but “one great room” is doable. Families often start by trying to seal every
window and run fans everywhereonly to discover that comfort and compliance matter. A clean room works because it’s focused: one door to close,
one purifier to run, one place where kids can play, homework can happen, and everyone can breathe without feeling like they swallowed a campfire.
Homeowners frequently turn the clean room into a mini command center with water bottles, chargers, snacks, and a simple routine: door stays shut,
purifier stays on, and nobody lights a candle “just for vibes.”

Another lesson: filters become gold. During heavy smoke, HVAC filters can darken faster than expected, and purifier filters can start to smell
smoky when they’re loaded. People who feel most in control are the ones who keep sparesbecause smoke season is not the time to discover your
exact filter size is also the exact filter size everyone else needs. A practical trick some homeowners share: write the filter size and model
number inside the HVAC access panel with a marker. When you’re tired, irritated, and scrolling on your phone with watery eyes, that little note
feels like a gift from your past self.

Smoke also changes household norms in funny ways. Shoes that normally wander all over the house suddenly get treated like biohazards. Entry rugs
become “decontamination zones.” Pets get wiped down after outdoor time, and dogs learn that “walks are shorter right now” is not a negotiation.
People who cook a lot often switch to smoke-minimizing mealsslow cookers, microwaves, quick sautéingbecause frying something during a smoke event
is like turning your clean room into a tiny restaurant that only serves “regret.”

Finally, homeowners learn to respect the mental side of smoke events. A weird sky and the smell of smoke can raise stress even if the fire isn’t
nearby. The best setups don’t just filter air; they create calm: a room that feels normal, a plan that’s repeatable, and a household agreement
that makes the day easier. When the air outside improves, the relief is realbut the confidence of knowing you handled it well? That lasts longer
than the smoke smell in your patio cushions.

Conclusion

Wildfire smoke is disruptive, but it’s not unbeatable. The winning strategy is simple: monitor air quality, keep smoke out where you can, filter
the air you live in, and create a clean room that gives your household a reliable refuge. Stock a few essentials before you need themHEPA
filtration, better HVAC filters, basic sealing supplies, and well-fitting respiratorsand you’ll be ready to handle the next smoke event with a
lot less scrambling and a lot more breathing.