When wildfire season arrives, air quality can plummet based on the direction of the wind. As a homeowner in Portland, you can protect your family’s respiratory health by knowing when and how to run your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. At Central Air Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, our expert technicians can help by evaluating your indoor air quality (IAQ) and recommending the best IAQ solutions for your home.
Should you run your AC during wildfire smoke? And what’s the best way to protect your air quality? To learn more, read on.
The Short Answer
In most cases, the best option is to run your AC during wildfire smoke in Portland. You should close your windows and doors so that the AC can recirculate your indoor air. For the best results, it’s important to consider your HVAC system’s settings and setup.
What Wildfire Smoke Does to Indoor Air and HVAC Systems
Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles that can get into your home’s ductwork and HVAC system. These particles can end up clogging the system if they aren’t filtered properly, reducing your energy efficiency and leading to premature repairs. Good filters help to prevent major damage, but these filters must be changed regularly as they become clogged with smoke particles.
Why Smoke Still Gets Indoors
Smoke gets into your home through door gaps, leaky ducts, and frequent door openings. If you have a dirty filter or the filter has a low MERV rating, your HVAC system will be unable to filter those particles out.
Why AC Settings Matter During Smoke Events
Your AC settings also play a role in determining your air quality. If you recirculate indoor air, the conditioned air can be filtered repeatedly as it goes through your system. This is preferable to whole-house fans and leaving windows open, which allows smoke-filled air to enter your home.
In most cases, the best option is to recirculate your AC during periods of wildfire smoke.
Best AC and Thermostat Settings During a Smoke Event
During wildfire smoke, your HVAC settings will impact your family’s comfort and air quality. Remember to follow the basic steps below.
- Keep your doors and windows closed.
- Run your cooling system as often as necessary to stay comfortable.
- Do not open windows to ventilate your home. If you have a whole-house fan, leave it off. Only use your system in its normal cooling mode.
- Do not run the fan-only mode excessively because this can end up just moving air around.
- Note whether your filtration and purifier setup seems to be helping. If not, it’s time to schedule an IAQ evaluation.
When Running the AC Helps, and When It Is Not Enough
By running your AC during wildfire smoke in Portland, you can boost your comfort and air quality. However, circulating air through an AC filter isn’t the same as medical-grade smoke protection. Depending on your home’s setup, running an AC may not always be enough.
Homes With Good Filtration and Tight Ductwork
Often, running an AC during smoke in Portland works best when your home has good filtration and tight ductwork. In a typical home, around 20% to 30% of conditioned air is lost to duct leaks. Unfortunately, the same leaks can end up pulling in smoke, dust, and other contaminants from your attic or crawlspace.
If your home has excellent filtration and tight ductwork, the AC will be able to recirculate and filter previously conditioned air. As a result, you might not need to install any extra IAQ systems.
Homes With Dirty Filters, Leaky Ducts, or Weak IAQ Protection
Many homes struggle with dirty filters, poor IAQ systems, and leaky ducts. You can often tell if your home has these issues during wildfire season because you’ll smell smoke. Home occupants who have respiratory illnesses or allergies will also notice the difference. If you’re dealing with any of these issues, an IAQ evaluation can help you determine the extent of the problem and the right solution.
Filters, Air Purifiers, and Other IAQ Upgrades That Matter
To achieve better IAQ, you may need to upgrade your filter, install a whole-home air purifier, or make other changes. However, these changes should only be made with the help of an experienced HVAC technician.
MERV ratings demonstrate how effective an air filter is at removing particulates from the air. A MERV 11 or higher filter tends to be better at removing allergens, although a MERV 13 or higher is recommended for smoke. You can only install a higher MERV rating if your HVAC system can handle it. If your HVAC system isn’t designed for higher ratings, switching to a MERV 13 can overtax the system and result in costly repairs.
For consistent smoke problems, you can also consider a whole-home air purifier. These units are installed as part of your HVAC system, so they can clean air circulating through your HVAC system. At Central Air, we can evaluate which Portland smoke air filter or air purifier you need and install your upgrades.
Signs Smoke Exposure Is Revealing an HVAC Problem
Your indoor air quality during wildfire smoke can quickly plummet. Running an AC during wildfire smoke in Portland should help. If you notice the following signs, you may need HVAC repairs or an upgrade.
- There are smoke odors coming from your vents.
- Your filter gets loaded unusually fast, necessitating frequent changes.
- Although your system is running constantly, your indoor air still feels stale.
- There is weak airflow coming from your vents.
- Some of the rooms smell significantly worse than others.
Schedule AC or IAQ Help in Portland
So, should I run my AC during wildfire smoke? In most cases, this is the best option for homeowners. However, there are cases where running your AC won’t be enough. If you smell smoke or your comfort level has declined, our team can help. We can evaluate your filter type, determine if you need an air purifier, and ensure your family’s comfort this wildfire season.
Book your IAQ evaluation today.