Last week’s second air quality emergency, due to continuing wildfires in Canada has prompted health officials to remind residents not only to stay indoors, but take some precautions to make sure the air inside their homes is not as problematic as outside.
The air quality alerts were the second issued by health officials as fires in Quebec continue to rage unabated. West Haven was hit with smog-like conditions as was much of the East, and officials fear there will be similar instances while the fires continue.
In order to be safe indoors, with air quality that will aid those with pre-existing conditions, officials are asking the public to take the following steps:
Batten Down the Hatches – Close your windows, turn on the air conditioning and avoid using bathroom and kitchen fans as well as clothing dryer units that bring in outside air. This is also a good time to check on your home’s air filters, which should be replaced every 1-3 months. Consider using high efficiency air filters (HEPA) for maximum effectiveness.
Air purifiers – Portable air purifiers are designed to clean the air in a single room. The best purifiers have a HEPA filter and a large fan that can push air through a fine mesh to trap particles. Check the filter’s MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value), which ranges from 1 to 16. The higher the value, the better the performance of the filter.
Vacuum…later – Avoid vacuuming during periods of poor outdoor air quality, which can stir up particles in the air inside. Dust areas around the home with a damp rag and wear a mask if needed.
Monitor the Humidity – In addition to preventing outdoor air from entering the house, this time of year can lead to increased moisture, humidity, and eventually mold in the home. An indoor digital humidity monitor can give a quick and accurate measurement of a home’s humidity. For greatest comfort and to best reduce the bacteria and odors, humidity levels in the home should be kept between 40 and 55 percent. A humidity monitor can be purchased for less than $15.
Beware of your Air – Run air conditioning systems from May through the end of October and keep the fan setting on “Auto”. Leaving the fan setting on “On” runs the system continuously and can cause moisture condensed on the air conditioner coil to be blown back into the home.
With the wildfire season sometimes stretching into October, and the fact the more than 500 fires so far counted seem to have no end in sight, officials are telling residents to keep these tips in mind, should other emergencies be determined.
So far burned acreage in Canada has reached about 750,000 acres, more than any previous wildfire on record.