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Especially now, poor indoor air quality is becoming a growing concern for families in the Los Angeles area. This is due in part to how well-sealed and insulated homes are, trapping pollutants inside with no chance of escape. With the Environmental Protection Agency estimating that people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, ensuring optimal indoor air quality is a must for homeowners.
Oftentimes, natural disasters, weather events, and seasons can bring with them increased levels of poor air quality that can make its way inside your home. In particular for the wildfires in the Los Angeles area, specifically the Eaton fire and Palisades fire, soot, smoke, ash, and toxic gases affect outdoor air. These contaminants have the ability to travel, affecting neighboring areas, though the closer the fire is to your home, the greater chance there is that smoke and other airborne pollutants can enter your dwelling and affect your health.
Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric has been providing expert home services, including indoor air quality and HVAC services, to the Los Angeles area for decades. During this time in our community, we want to share necessary facts about protecting your home’s indoor air quality from wildfire smoke.
What Is Indoor Air Quality And Why Is It Important?
First, let’s address indoor air quality in general. Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of air and the level of pollutants and allergens within the air in a building. These allergens and airborne contaminants or particulates can include dust, dander, pollen, airborne viruses, and more. IAQ is especially important for those in your household who are predisposed to asthma or allergies and the immunocompromised, such as the very old or very young.
What are the Short and Long-Term Effects of Poor IAQ?
Your home’s IAQ can be influenced by several factors, particularly where you live, whom you live with, and how insulated your home is. For example, a family with a dog and a cat might experience more pet dander and pet hair that could negatively affect indoor air quality. A home that is tightly sealed where members of the home smoke or vape will experience a lower level of air quality. Other sources of poor air quality can be linked to paints, chemical-based cleaners, furniture, and more.
Poor IAQ can have several short and long-term effects if it is ignored. For instance, short-term exposure to poor indoor air quality will likely result in sneezing, itching eyes, sore throats, and other allergy-related symptoms. You might experience headaches or dizziness as well. Long-term effects can include different respiratory diseases, heart conditions, or cancers.
How Do Wildfires Contribute To Poor Air Quality?
For areas that constantly deal with wildfires and poor outdoor air quality from wildfire smoke, knowing how wildfires can contribute to poor indoor air quality is essential. First, what types of pollutants and irritants become concerning during a wildfire? Generally, wildfire smoke is composed of gaseous pollutants, particulate pollutants, hazardous air pollutants, and water vapor, according to the EPA. While particle pollution is something that we’re always faced with, during a wildfire event, the amount of particle pollution in the area increases dramatically to where it is visible. Limiting exposure to this level of particulate matter is crucial.
How might smoke, soot, and toxic particles get inside after a wildfire?
Eventually, particulate pollution from wildfire smoke will find its way into area homes through a variety of ways. Most obviously, pollution can get inside through open windows and doors, as well as cracks or gaps where weather sealing has worn away or is non-existent. Additionally, smoke particles can enter a home through mechanical ventilation. This can include bathroom and kitchen exhaust vents or HVAC systems with a fresh air intake.
- Natural ventilation: open windows and doors
- Infiltration: cracks and gaps from poor weather sealing
- Mechanical ventilation: HVAC fresh air intake or bathroom and kitchen vents
What To Do If Wildfire Smoke Is Affecting Your IAQ
Because wildfire smoke has a sneaky way of entering your home, it’s vital that you keep it sealed against these pollutants as best as you can. Additionally, you can opt to purchase and keep handy N95 respirator masks, and you can also get familiar with your home and HVAC system to keep it better sealed.
How to adjust heating and cooling systems to keep wildfire smoke out
According to the EPA, if you have a central HVAC system, you should find out if it has a fresh air intake. If so, find out how to close it and set the system to recirculate. If you’re having trouble finding out this information, reach out to the technicians at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric for immediate help with your HVAC system.
Homes with an evaporator cooler may need to completely cover the intake if they can safely access it. Homes with window ACs and portable ACs should determine the best cooling solutions to use during smoky times as venting through a window may invite smoky conditions inside.
How to protect your family from poor IAQ during a wildfire smoke event
Assuming your home is not in immediate danger of the wildfire and you don’t need to evacuate, there are key items to remember when keeping your home’s IAQ in a good place. Overall, during a wildfire smoke event, the EPA recommends that homeowners keep windows and doors closed.
To stay cool, use fans and limit physical activity. Become familiar with your HVAC system to know how air is entering your home. Consider using air purification systems to reduce the amount of particulate matter in the air. Also, avoid indoor activities that would further deteriorate your indoor air quality, such as smoking, vaping, frying food, and burning candles or incense.
How To Monitor IAQ After A Wildfire: What Signs To Look For
Vigilance is key when it comes to keeping your home’s indoor air quality in peak condition, especially when the air outside is full of smoke and particulate pollution. Be on the lookout for strong smoky odors indoors or even a visible haze in the air. If your air is stale, heavy, and musty, you need to take measures to purify it. Additionally, watch out for physical, short-term symptoms that your home’s IAQ is in a bad place. This can include asthma attacks, shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, scratchy or sore throats, and irritated sinuses.
What Can Be Done To Fix IAQ After A Wildfire?
There are a variety of tools, tips, and tricks you can use to improve your home’s indoor air quality, especially after a wildfire smoke event. Overall, getting more familiar with your home’s insulation and HVAC is a great starting point. You should also be familiar with local outdoor air quality monitors to help you gauge the level of pollution in the air.
Speak with an HVAC technician from Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric to find out about IAQ solutions. You may even consider having your home’s ductwork cleaned in the future. An HVAC system with built-up dust and debris may trap smoke particles.
- Whole-home air scrubbers
- HVAC air filtration systems
- Whole-home air purifiers
- Duct cleaning
- HVAC UV lights
Do You Have Questions About IAQ?
Because every home is different, the levels of indoor air quality interventions will vary. At Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, we’re here to help you navigate what IAQ solutions will fit your home. Since 2007, we’ve been providing super home services to Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, and we’re not stopping now. We know the value of providing excellent plumbing, HVAC, and electrical services to our customers, breaking the status quo that technicians, plumbers, and electricians are gruff and unapproachable. We provide fast service with a friendly smile that gets the job done in a timely manner.
Want to learn more about how our indoor air quality services can benefit your home after a wildfire? Contact Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today!
