Santa Barbara County knows smoke season. When it's smoky outside, your heating and cooling system can help keep the air inside cleaner, if it's set up for it.
Before smoke season
- Upgrade the filter. The EPA suggests MERV 13 or higher during smoke events, if your system can handle it. A deeper filter cabinet makes that much easier on the equipment. See which filter, and how often.
- Keep spare filters on hand. Smoke loads a filter fast, and stores run out.
- Seal the obvious gaps around doors and windows.
When it's smoky
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- Close any fresh-air intake or set the system to recirculate, so it isn't pulling outside air in.
- Run the fan on "On" so the air keeps passing through the filter, even when you don't need heating or cooling.
- Use a portable air cleaner with a true HEPA filter in the bedroom.
- Check and change the filter more often than usual.
After the smoke clears
Change the filter again. If you have a whole-home air cleaner, check its media too.
Longer-term options
Whole-home air cleaners and better filtration are part of our indoor air quality work. Call us at 805-965-6326 to see what fits your system.
Related
More tips on air quality.