When the Bay Area experiences smoke drifting from Northern California wildfires, you can experience poor indoor air quality and impact to your HVAC system. Wildfires produce smoke, ash, and debris that, without proper precautions, can get into your HVAC system and cause issues. Below, we’ll give you some practical tips for how to prepare your HVAC system before wildfire season arrives to greatly minimize your risk of experiencing a problem.
Why Wildfire Season Is Tough on HVAC Systems
There are various ways that wildfires can impact your HVAC system. One of the most prevalent is ash and debris clogging the filter for your system. This restricts airflow in your HVAC unit and leads to decreased system performance and reduced household comfort. When your HVAC system isn’t keeping you cool, you’re more likely to turn down the temperature on your thermostat. This will lead to excessive strain on your air conditioning system and increase its risk of experiencing malfunction.
When debris can reach internal HVAC components like fans, coils, and motors, it can cause damage and shorten the lifespan of these components. Airborne pollutants from the wildfires’ particulate matter can circulate throughout your home. This can worsen asthma and allergies, or cause other respiratory symptoms.
Steps to Protect Your HVAC System During Wildfires
There are various precautions you can take to reduce your risk of experiencing any negative side effects of wildfire on your HVAC system. We recommend investing in a high-quality air filter. Choose a filter with a MERV rating of 13 or higher, as it will be able to pick up small particulate matter that lower-rated filters simply cannot. Make sure your HVAC system can handle the restricted airflow these high-rated filters cause.
Another great strategy is to run your HVAC system in recirculation mode. During normal AC functioning, your system will naturally pull in outdoor air through its air intake to freshen the air in your home. Unfortunately, when wildfires contaminate the outdoor air supply, it’s no longer a good idea to allow fresh air in. Instead, recirculation mode closes off that air intake damper and simply reuses the air already inside your home.
Another useful tip is to invest in duct sealing services. This is where a professional will use a specialized resin to seal up any leaks or pinholes in your ducting. This increases HVAC efficiency and minimizes contamination from wall and floor cavities. Additionally, getting an annual HVAC inspection before wildfire season will help ensure your system is ready to take on adverse air quality conditions.
How to Keep Indoor Air Clean
There are a few different practices you’ll want to put in place throughout wildfire season to maintain good indoor air quality. One of the most important things is to routinely check your HVAC filter. Under normal conditions, your filter will only need to be changed about once every one to three months. However, during wildfire season, we recommend checking your filter at least once a week. Replace it whenever it gets dirty.
Using portable air purifiers is a great way to help address air quality throughout the different spaces in your home. Be sure to size your air purifier for the specific room that you’re using. Additionally, it’s best to keep doors and windows closed during this time of year to minimize the impact that outdoor air quality can have on the quality of air inside your home.
When to Call AIS for Professional Help
Unfortunately, you may experience some issues with your home’s air quality and HVAC system that will require professional intervention during wildfire season. If you notice a smoke odor that won’t go away, it’s best to consult us for a permanent fix. If your system continues to run less efficiently, it’s a key sign that it may need professional service. Additionally, if your indoor air continues to be dusty or uncomfortable, you can benefit from our professional assistance.
Protect Your Health and Comfort with AIS HVAC Services
AIS Heating & Air Conditioning is here for all your HVAC service needs. We gladly offer emergency response and provide comprehensive maintenance plans for all our valued customers. We encourage all homeowners to call us before the start of wildfire season so we can properly set up your HVAC system to operate efficiently and safely.
