Staying Safe When Outdoor Air Quality Is Poor

Posted on by Family Danz

woman looks out of window at wildfire hazeWith the recent wildfires in Canada and the subsequent effect they’re having on our local environment, you may be wondering what you can do to stay safe when the outdoor air quality is poor. It isn’t as simple as staying indoors until the poor air quality warnings expire, because that outdoor air can find its way into your home and cause issues for you and your family. If you’re worried about the current air quality and want to safeguard yourself and your family, here are a few simple suggestions you can follow.

  1. Wear a mask if you must go outdoors. Masks can help you keep from inhaling pollutants, like pollen or smoggy air. Make sure the mask fits tightly around your nose and mouth.
  2. Keep your windows closed. While it’s always tempting to open windows this time of year, on days when the air quality outside is poor it’s a good idea to keep them shut – and keep the pollutants outside.
  3. Avoid running window fans and window AC units. This can bring polluted air indoors. And while you can’t see the particles in the air caused by fires or pollinating plants and trees, they’re there, and can easily enter your home via your fans or window AC. (Note: running your central air conditioning system is fine, and may actually be beneficial because it provides filtration.)
  4. Check the air quality regularly. As we’ve seen recently, the air quality can change dramatically over the course of just a few hours. The AirNow website has up-to-date information as well as air quality forecasts, so you can plan accordingly.
  5. Consider air purification. An air purifier can help to remove pollutants from the air in your home. You can buy portable air purifiers at most larger department and home improvement stores. If you or a family suffers from respiratory conditions, you may want to talk to an HVAC professional about whole-home air quality solutions.

Of course, you can always count on Family Danz to help you should you have any additional concerns about the quality of the air in your home. Just give us a call at (518) 427-8685 and we will be more than happy to help you.