How to protect your ventilation system during “bad air quality days” and smog created by forest fires
Controling inside air quality with a few simple tricks
As the smoke from the 2023 Canadian forest fires wafted over cities and towns, even reaching as far as Montréal, the impact on air quality has become a significant concern. One system that plays a crucial role in maintaining the indoor air quality of our homes and offices is the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. This vital structure, often likened to the lungs of a building, can inadvertently draw in harmful smoke and particulates during poor air quality days and forest fires smog, posing a threat to our health and comfort. In our insightful blog post titled “How to Protect Your Ventilation System from “bad air quality days” and smog created by Forest Fires,” we will explore practical strategies to safeguard your HVAC system from the adverse effects of forest fires and other air degrading contaminants. We aim to guide you in ensuring your system continues to provide clean, healthy air, even in the face of such environmental challenges. Join us as we delve into this pressing issue.
Why is forest fire smoke exposure dangerous
Forest fire smoke is a complex mix of gases and fine particles produced by burning trees and other plant materials. Exposure can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, affect the immune system, and increase susceptibility to lung infections, including COVID-19. Particularly harmful are microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lung tissue, causing respiratory issues like bronchitis, worsening asthma or heart conditions. Chronic exposure may also lead to long-term health problems. Vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions, are especially at risk.
Preventive measures related to “bad air quality days” and smog for HVAC systems
During periods of poor air quality due to smog, it’s essential to take proactive steps to protect your HVAC system and maintain indoor air quality.
Here are 3 easy preventive measures
- Closing Outdoor Air Intakes: Your home’s air exchanger usually manages outdoor air intakes. During bad air quality days due to smog or forest fires, it’s crucial to close these intakes. This measure prevents harmful particles from entering your HVAC system and circulating in your indoor air. It helps maintain the functionality of your HVAC system and the quality of your indoor air. *It would be a good ideal to set a reminder to turn back on the air intake when the air quality is better*.
- Keeping Windows and Doors Closed: Keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible during bad air days or forest fire events can prevent harmful contaminants from entering your home. While this might seem simple, it’s an effective way to protect both your HVAC system and the overall indoor air quality. Consider alternative cooling methods if required, such as portable air conditioners or fans, to keep your home comfortable while maintaining indoor air quality.
- Upgrading to High-Efficiency Filters or HEPA filters: Standard filters are not sufficient to block the fine particulates found in smog or forest fire smoke. Upgrading to high-efficiency filters or HEPA filters can help. These types of filters are designed to capture a higher percentage of particles, including those as small as 0.3 microns, effectively reducing the number of harmful contaminants that enter your HVAC system and circulate within your home.
- Visit https://www.cleancomfort.com/ for air product solutions that Click-air can help you with.
- Click here to see the Brochure about the line of filtration product.
Why is forest fire smoke exposure dangerous
Forest fire smoke is a complex mix of gases and fine particles produced by burning trees and other plant materials. Exposure can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, affect the immune system, and increase susceptibility to lung infections, including COVID-19. Particularly harmful are microscopic particles that penetrate deep into the lung tissue, causing respiratory issues like bronchitis, worsening asthma or heart conditions. Chronic exposure may also lead to long-term health problems. Vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing conditions, are especially at risk.
Preventive measures related to “bad air quality days” and smog for HVAC systems
During periods of poor air quality due to smog, it’s essential to take proactive steps to protect your HVAC system and maintain indoor air quality.
Here are 3 easy preventive measures
- Closing Outdoor Air Intakes: Your home’s air exchanger usually manages outdoor air intakes. During bad air quality days due to smog or forest fires, it’s crucial to close these intakes. This measure prevents harmful particles from entering your HVAC system and circulating in your indoor air. It helps maintain the functionality of your HVAC system and the quality of your indoor air. *It would be a good ideal to set a reminder to turn back on the air intake when the air quality is better*.
- Keeping Windows and Doors Closed: Keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible during bad air days or forest fire events can prevent harmful contaminants from entering your home. While this might seem simple, it’s an effective way to protect both your HVAC system and the overall indoor air quality. Consider alternative cooling methods if required, such as portable air conditioners or fans, to keep your home comfortable while maintaining indoor air quality.
- Upgrading to High-Efficiency Filters or HEPA filters: Standard filters are not sufficient to block the fine particulates found in smog or forest fire smoke. Upgrading to high-efficiency filters or HEPA filters can help. These types of filters are designed to capture a higher percentage of particles, including those as small as 0.3 microns, effectively reducing the number of harmful contaminants that enter your HVAC system and circulate within your home.
Maintenance and cleaning of HVAC systems
When everything runs smoothly inside our houses or offices, we often forget that there are HVAC systems functioning in the background. Only when something breaks and suddenly it’s 35°C inside that we think of our Click-Air refrigeration specialist! We can help you maintain your HVAC systems in order. The best way is to sign up for a yearly service contract. 2 or 3 visits a year is often more than enough to ensure your system is in the best working conditions.
To start, the filters should be changes 3 or 4 times a year and we recommend switching to high-efficiency or HEPA versions. Maintaining in order a ventilation system is more than just changing filters, let our experts help you with that!
Duct cleaning maybe? Our team can inspect and clean your entire system, including ducts, cooling coils, and heat exchangers if needed. Remember, proper maintenance will prolong your system’s lifespan and improve indoor air quality.
LINK TO MAINTENANCE CLICK HERE
LINK TO DUCT CLEANING CLICK HERE
Faq: protecting your home from poor air quality… with HVAC system from poor air quality
1. How does poor air quality and forest fire contaminants affect my HVAC system?
Forest fires can introduce smoke, ash, and particulate matter into your HVAC system, reducing its efficiency to provide clean and fresh air to your home and therefore negatively impacting indoor air quality.
2. What preventive measures can I take to protect my HVAC system during « bad quality air days due to forest fire ?
Some steps include :
- Closing outdoor air intakes (usually down with the house air exchanger)
- Upgrading to high-efficiency filters / or HEPA filters
- Keeping windows and doors closed to prevent the contaminants from entering your home.
3. Is it necessary to clean my HVAC system after a forest fire?
It depends if your home was in a forest fire zone and that your HVAC system was not stopped during: Yes, cleaning your HVAC system after a forest fire is crucial to remove any accumulated soot or ash that could impair the system’s functionality and affect indoor air quality. You would smell the smoke for months if filters were not changed.
If your home is far away, but air quality is low due to smog generated by the forest fire, cleaning your HVAC system won’t do much. Standard efficiency filters won’t be able to filter properly outside air because particles will probably be too small. That said, clean filters never hurt. They should be replaced every season.
Upgrading to a by-pass heap filtration system could help. Ask our experts.
4. Can air purifiers and humidifiers help during a forest fire?
Yes, air purifiers and HEPA filters can help remove smoke particles.
For central heating and cooling systems, HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters can help to improve indoor air quality by filtering out small particles from the air, including those found in smog.
HEPA filters are designed to capture 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 micrometers in diameter. Smog typically contains particles of various sizes, including some that are smaller or larger than 0.3 micrometers. Larger particles will be effectively captured by the HEPA filter, while smaller particles may not be captured as efficiently.
In addition to particulate matter, smog can also contain gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. HEPA filters are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants. For this, an activated carbon filter can be used in conjunction with a HEPA filter. The activated carbon filter can adsorb some types of gaseous pollutants.
For homes without central heating/cooling, the air purifiers can be used.
It’s important to note that while HEPA filters or air purifiers with HEPA filters can improve indoor air quality, they’re not a complete solution for air pollution. They should be used in conjunction with other measures, such as reducing indoor sources of pollution, improving ventilation, and, when outdoor air quality is poor, reducing the amount of outdoor air that comes into the home.
Keep in mind that not all air purifiers are equally effective, and their effectiveness can depend on factors such as their size, the size of the room in which they’re used, and how well they’re maintained. Always make sure to choose an air purifier that’s appropriate for your specific needs and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use and maintenance.
As for humidifiers, they could counteract the dryness caused by smoke, enhancing indoor air quality during a forest fire, but realistically, a humidifier is never used in summer. Spaces are often too humid. We will keep that info for another blog.
5. How can I incorporate preventive measures into my HVAC system for air quality?
Commercial building, sometimes have air monitoring sensors to monitor air quality: temperature, humidity, CO², smoke to name a few. You could consider installing a system with smart technology that can automatically shut off the outside air intake during poor air quality periods…. But the most important is to regularly maintain your system to ensure it’s in good working order and use common sense when or not to use the air exchanger.