Improve Indoor Air Quality During Wildfire Season

Posted On: May 5, 2021

Wildfire Season in WA State

Summer is one of the best seasons here in Washington State. Some may even argue it’s the best weather in the country during the months of July through September. Not too hot, and not too cold!

Even though we are lucky enough to receive such amazing weather in the summer months, it comes with the unfortunate risk of wildfires. We’re all aware of the dreaded impact wildfires may pose on us and the environment, so it never hurts to take precautions to make sure you and your home is set up if your area is impacted by a wildfire.

The effects of smoke and poor indoor air quality

Wildfires create a large amount of smoke, which create unsafe living conditions. The effects of smoke can be harmful to your health and cause great discomfort. That’s why it’s important to have a safe place to escape the smoke, but you’ll want to make sure your home’s air quality is clear from pollutants as well. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been known to cause all sorts of different symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, irritated eyes, nose, throat and lungs.

That’s why we recommend installing a cooling system or air purifier to help keep the air in your home safe and clear of airborne contaminants– not just during wildfire season, but all year round.

Why is air quality important?

We spend a good chunk of our time indoors, whether that be at work, at home or in a public setting– the quality of our air can impact our comfort levels and overall productivity. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that indoor air pollution levels can be 100 times higher than the air outdoors in certain cases.

What can you do to keep a healthy home?

Natural Ventilation

When the outdoor air is clear, be sure to open your windows and doors often to increase ventilation. This can help balance temperature and reduce humidity in your home. A great example of this is to open a window in your bathroom after taking a shower, this can help clear out the steam and prevent the build up of mold.

Cooling System

Having a cooling system, such as an AC, can help improve the indoor air quality of your home. AC is a great way to help cleanse the air within your home, plus it provides the comfort of cooling when it’s hot out! Having an air conditioning system allows for consistent and adequate ventilation and can clean the air by removing allergens and pollutants. This can really help circulate and filter the air within your home.

Air Purification System

You might also consider an air purification system for your home. Air purifiers are also a great way to improve your IAQ and can help to remove airborne contaminants including, TVOC’s, smoke, odors, CO, CO2 and dissolved gases.

Washington Energy is here to help you prepare for wildfire season

Summer is such a great season and we want to make sure you enjoy every minute of it. We’ll take care of the heavy lifting and everything in between to make sure your home is equipped to have a safe and healthy summer. Whether you need an AC installed, an air purifier or just a tune-up– we do it all!

Back To All Posts