Wind-driven smoke and haze from dozens of wildfires across Oregon are expected to bring potentially dangerous air quality to the Portland metro area that could linger for the week, the National Weather Service says.
It’s important to prevent smoke from entering your home. Wildfire smoke is a mixture of gases and fine particles from burning materials and vegetation that can irritate your eyes and impact your respiratory system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Children, people who are pregnant or have chronic conditions have a higher risk of getting sick from breathing wildfire smoke, according to the CDC.
To keep smoke out, experts recommend closing windows and turning off anything that draws in outside air, such as fresh air intake systems, dryers or portable air conditioners with hoses vented through windows.
Rachel Smith, an expert with Pyramid Heating + Cooling in Portland, said the company has been fielding questions about air conditioning safety.
“The biggest question we have been getting is, ‘Should I run my air conditioner?’” Smith said. “Yes, you can run your A/C because it is not pulling air from outside. Just make sure to set the fan to ‘on,’ rather than ‘auto,’ to ensure the fan is constantly circulating and filtering air.”
Check the outdoor air quality in your area at IQair.com or the EPA’s airnow.gov by typing in your city or ZIP code. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality also offers a smartphone app called OregonAir to check air quality.
If the air quality is dangerous, health experts advise all residents and pets to stay in a room with the fewest windows and no fireplace or vents to the outside. Keep a portable air cleaner running constantly in that room as an extra layer of protection.
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An air purifier with a carbon-based filter can be a useful tool in keeping the air clean in your house during wildfire season.Jamie Hale/The Oregonian
The Oregon Health Authority and others recommend these steps to keep indoor air healthy when the outdoor air quality is unsafe:
Seal doors and windows. Make sure all windows, outside doors and chimney flues are closed tight. Place damp towels in gaps and cracks to stop airborne ash and chemicals from entering. Weather stripping helps prevent smoke from drifting into your house through drafty windows and doors.
Don’t create smoke or dust inside. Avoid indoor activities that increase indoor pollution, like smoking, burning candles or using a gas or wood stove. Refrain from doing activities that stir up dust already inside your home. Limit vacuuming unless your vacuum has a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
Have clean filters. Check your heating filters often for dust and debris buildup due to wildfire smoke. Make sure you have the right size filter to ensure particulates are being captured and not bypassing the filter. Have backup filters ready.
You can create an air purifying filter by covering the front of a box fan with a HEPA furnace filter or one rated MERV-13 or higher. For safety, turn the fan off if you leave the house. Here are instructions to make a DIY air filter.
Adjust cooling systems: If you have a central heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, set the fan to “on,” rather than “auto,” to make sure the fan is constantly circulating and filtering air. If you have a fresh air system, turn it off while the wildfire smoke is in and around your area. Turn it back to on after the smoke has subsided.
If you have a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or energy recovery ventilator (ERV), unplug the unit where it is mounted.
Treating Smoky Fabric
If smoke has already entered your home, tiny smoke particles can stick to surfaces and embed in porous carpeting, furniture, books and even paint, according to experts at ServiceMaster, which specializes in restoring buildings after water, smoke or fire damage.
The company offers these tips to reducing smoke odor:
- When the air is fresh again, open doors and windows to draw in outside air. Remove and clean window screens, which can trap smoke particles. Point fans toward doorways, room corners and windows to push smells out of the house.
- Wipe walls, ceilings, floors and other solid surfaces with a solution of dish soap, white vinegar and warm water to remove smoke particles. Smoke residue doesn’t stick to glass, but it does to window frames, sills, screens and blinds.
- Sprinkle baking soda on upholstery and carpet, wait a few hours to allow it to absorb the smoke smell then collect the baking soda using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
- Wash or dry clean curtains, area rugs, furniture covers, decorative cushions, duvets, blankets and any other affected fabrics. Use the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations.
- Don’t keep your clean items in your home until it is completely free of smoke odor.
