When smoke or particle haze makes outdoor air unhealthy, close windows and doors, limit indoor particle sources, and filter the room where people spend the most time. Use a compatible HVAC filter or a portable air cleaner sized by its smoke CADR. If you cannot keep the home cool or safe with openings closed, move to a cleaner-air location instead.
What to do first when smoke or haze is outside
- Check local conditions. Look at AirNow, your state or local air agency, or local alerts. Conditions change, so use current local information rather than a fixed AQI threshold.
- Keep smoky air out where practical. Close windows and exterior doors when it is safe to stay inside. If your HVAC system or room air conditioner has an outdoor-air intake, set it to recirculate or close the intake during smoky periods, following the equipment instructions. Keep the home cool with air conditioning or fans that do not pull in outdoor air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency indoor-air guidance covers these steps.
- Run filtration. Use a compatible high-efficiency HVAC filter, a portable air cleaner sized for the room, or both. Keep the cleaner running continuously in the occupied room when it is safe to do so.
- Stop adding particles indoors. Avoid smoking or vaping, candles and incense, fireplaces and wood stoves, aerosol sprays, and cooking methods that create substantial smoke. Skip vacuuming unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter. EPA lists these exposure-reduction measures in its wildland-fire smoke FAQ and current smoke guidance.
Closing openings helps but is not a seal. EPA summarizes studies indicating that, during wildfire smoke events, indoor PM2.5 is generally about 55% to 60% of outdoor levels when windows and doors are closed and portable air cleaners are not used. Actual results vary considerably by home—EPA describes a range of roughly 30% to 100%—so do not treat that typical figure as a guarantee or as a prediction for your home. See EPA’s indoor exposure strategies.
Choose the filtration option that fits your home
| Option | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Portable air cleaner | One room, a home without forced-air HVAC, or an added layer alongside HVAC filtration | Smoke CADR for the room’s area, ozone emissions or certification, operating noise, and replacement-filter availability and cost. |
| Forced-air HVAC filter | A home with compatible forced-air heating or cooling and a fan that can run | MERV 13 or the highest efficiency your system can accommodate, a correct fit, and adequate airflow. Consult the manufacturer or an HVAC professional if compatibility is uncertain. |
| DIY box-fan filter | A temporary or lower-cost option when a commercial cleaner is unavailable or unaffordable | Construction and assembly affect performance, and DIY units vary. EPA prefers commercial cleaners with known performance when they are available and affordable. |
| Cleaner-air location | A home that cannot be kept cool or adequately protected | Whether you can safely reach and remain at a cleaner-air location; keep exits usable if sheltering at home. |
How to size a portable air cleaner for smoke
Match the cleaner’s smoke clean air delivery rate (CADR) to the room, not just to the size of the home. EPA’s current cleaner-air-room guidance recommends a smoke CADR of at least two-thirds of the room area in square feet. For example, a 300-square-foot room calls for a smoke CADR of at least 200. Use the manufacturer’s smoke CADR rating, and check the room-size guidance and operating conditions for the specific unit.
EPA’s indoor air filtration fact sheet says: “Choose a PAC with a clean air delivery rate (CADR) for smoke that is at least two-thirds of the room area in square feet.” EPA also recommends choosing a cleaner that emits little or no ozone; its cleaner-air-room guidance recommends CARB-certified cleaners. Run the unit continuously in a closed room when safe, and follow the manufacturer’s filter-change and placement instructions.
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- AHAM VERIFIDE, PROVEN PERFORMANCE: AHAM VERIFIDE with a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) rating of 143 CFM for smoke, 153 CFM for dust, and 167 CFM for pollen—refreshing air in a 222 ft² room 4.8 times per hour and a 1,073 ft² room once per hour
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A particle cleaner can reduce airborne particles, but it should not be assumed to remove every gas, haze constituent, or odor. Sizing by CADR addresses particle-cleaning capacity; it is not a guarantee that all smoke-related pollutants will be removed.
Use your HVAC system without overloading it
If your home has forced-air heating or cooling, EPA advises using a MERV 13 filter—or the highest-rated filter the system can handle—and running the fan as often as practical during smoky conditions. The filter must fit correctly, without gaps around its edges. Because a filter that is too restrictive can impair airflow, check the system manual or ask an HVAC professional before moving to a higher rating. EPA’s emergency indoor-air guidance explains the compatibility recommendation.
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A portable cleaner can complement HVAC filtration, especially in the room people use most. If you have no forced-air system, a properly sized portable unit offers a room-level option; it does not require installing or modifying HVAC equipment.
Balance cleaner air with keeping the home cool
Keeping windows shut may trap heat, so indoor-air protection needs a cooling plan. Use air conditioning or fans that do not draw smoky outdoor air indoors. If you must open windows to cool the home, do so during cooler periods where possible; close them once the home is cool, then run filtration. EPA provides this approach in its cleaner-air-room guidance.
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If you cannot keep the home cool with windows and doors closed, seek another location with cleaner air rather than enduring unsafe heat. Keep doors and exits usable, and do not make a room difficult to leave in an emergency. EPA’s smoke-exposure guidance also describes seeking cleaner air when conditions at home cannot be managed.
When outdoor exposure cannot be avoided
Reducing particles inside does not protect you while you are outside. If you must go outdoors in smoky conditions, EPA advises a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 respirator for particle exposure. Follow its fit and use instructions; it is an outdoor exposure measure, not a substitute for reducing smoke indoors.
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When outdoor air improves
Once local air quality improves, air out the home to clear remaining smoky indoor air, consistent with EPA guidance. Check local conditions first, since the timing of improvement varies by location and event.
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