Whistler Wildfires and Your Home Air Filtration System
Smoke can drift from the recurring wildfires raging in Canada, overwhelming cities in hazy, hazardous smoke. While the people who live closer to where Canadian wildfires burn are at the highest risk of health problems from the smoke, there can be impacts felt by those living farther away as well, depending on how the wind blows.
Smoke negatively impacts air quality and creates breathing hazards for those with respiratory issues as well as healthy people. Seniors, infants, young children, pregnant women, and those with chronic conditions (particularly lung and heart disease) should take steps to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.
Air Filtration Strategies for Your Health and Safety Related to Wildfire Events
Whistler usually boasts clean mountain air with limited pollutants, but at times we may experience poor air quality due to forest fire smoke from nearby or other locations. Since it’s unpredictable if or when this could occur, it’s smart to prepare for a smoky summer before wildfire season starts.
1. Limit the amount of polluted outdoor air that makes its way indoors.
The source of wildfire smoke is outdoors, so the more you can seal up your house to keep it out, the better. Close all windows and doors, and close any noticeable cracks or openings in exterior walls. If your windows are old, consider replacing them to fortify your home’s protection against smoke infiltration.
Proactive solution: Prepare your home by upgrading old, worn-out windows.
2. Clean your indoor air.
It’s important to have a home filtration system to reduce health risks in case of Whistler wildfire smoke. Particle filters (also called furnace filters) are common in most ventilation systems and standalone portable air purifiers. These particle filters come in a variety of sizes and performance levels. The higher the filter rating and snugger the installation—limiting gaps around the filter—the more effective the filter will serve you by removing these fine particles from the air, protecting your health.
Focusing specifically on wildfire events, high performance particle filters are ideal because the small particle size of wildfire smoke is the hardest size to filter.
Proactive solution: Get a proven, reliable home air filtration system to clean indoor air of pollutants.
Reduce Health Risks in Case of Whistler Wildfire Smoke
Use portable air purifiers to address air quality issues.
Air purifiers remove polluting particles like smoke as well as dust, pollen, pet dander, and mold spores. They’ve been tested and effectively filter harmful substances from the air, particularly if they include a HEPA filter. These powerful filters do a significantly better job than standard air filters since they are designed to catch finer particles and purify your air more thoroughly. After wildfires cease, you’ll need to change the filter so your purifier can keep cleaning your air well. Select a portable air cleaner that will work for you.
Lessen wildfire smoke with your HVAC system.
When polluted outdoor air makes its way indoors, you’ve got to deal with it wisely to maintain good health. Wildfire smoke has thousands of dangerous compounds, many of them toxic and small enough to enter the bloodstream. The tiny bits of ash and soot in wildfire smoke can damage the body by triggering an inflammatory reaction. Whether you have central air conditioning or a heat pump, you can get cleaner air by using them. If you have forced air heating, you can use different filters and settings to minimize the amount of wildfire smoke that makes its way into your house.
If you have a vacuum with a HEPA filter, use it regularly.
As simple as it sounds, using a high-performance vacuum that has a HEPA filter can help keep your indoor air clean.
Keep a fresh filter in your HVAC unit, and a spare one ready to go.
Always be ready for emergencies so they won’t take you by surprise. Filters with a MERV rating of 13-16 reduce indoor particles as much as 95%. And MERV 17-20 will do an even better job.
Spend less time outdoors to reduce exposure to wildfire smoke.
Minimizing the amount of time you spend outside when wildfire smoke invades the area is a smart way to bypass trouble with your health that can occur when smoke is inhaled.
Avoid making your indoor air worse.
To keep indoor air cleaner, don’t smoke, burn candles, or use a gas stove.
Keep an eye on the air quality advisories and smoky skies bulletins.
Air quality is monitored in Whistler on a real-time basis. Data is publicly available on the BC Air Quality website and updated hourly.
The Problem with Wildfire Smoke
Smoky air makes it more difficult for your lungs to get oxygen into your blood. It can irritate your respiratory system and cause an immune response.
Eye irritation, runny nose, sore throat, mild cough, phlegm production, wheezy breathing, and headaches are some common mild symptoms that may occur when you’ve been exposed to wildfire smoke.
Severe symptoms can occur in some people, including shortness of breath, a hefty cough, dizziness, chest pain, or heart palpitations. Medical attention is needed promptly if these symptoms occur.
Seniors may be more at risk for pneumonia, and small children may be more prone to ear infections due to smoky air.
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