Effects of Forest Fire Smoke in Your Home | ServiceMaster Restore® (2024)

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Effects of Forest Fire Smoke in Your Home | ServiceMaster Restore®? ›

Effects of Forest Fire Smoke on Homes

Avoid stirring up or sifting through ash as much as you can. Avoid actions that kick ash particles up into the air, such as dry sweeping. Before sweeping indoor and outdoor hard surfaces, mist them with water to keep dust down. Follow with wet mopping.

The best way to prevent breathing harmful particles in wildfire smoke is to stay indoors. When air quality reaches dangerous levels due to wildfire smoke, the most effective way to reduce exposure and avoid health effects of smoke is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed.

Invest in an air purifier

And true-HEPA air filters are exceptionally good at removing particles of that size from the air. Our top picks, the Coway AP-1512HH and nearly identical Coway Airmega 200M, are well-priced, superb performers, and reliable.

It can take a while for lungs to heal. Some people deal with shortness of breath for the rest of their lives. Being around cigarette smoke or other polluted air can make things worse. If you have lingering hoarseness, you might need more treatment.

The post-fire smell is from VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). Some (but not all) are bound to particles and can be trapped by a particle filter. Those VOCs can deposit on walls and other surfaces, and will likely keep off-gassing for a long time (weeks to months).

For many people, the symptoms of inhaling particulate matter are similar to what someone with allergies experiences: stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, coughing, sinus irritation, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Breathing in smoke can also cause headaches, fatigue, and a fast heartbeat.

Simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality include: Reduce dust by vacuuming regularly and using a microfiber or damp cloth for dusting. Reduce humidity to avoid mold and mildew buildup and change appliance filters regularly. And make sure to test your home for dangerous gases like radon.

Does a humidifier help with wildfire smoke? ›

A humidifier can help lessen some symptoms of wildfire smoke. Dry eyes, dry coughs, and irritated sinuses can all benefit from added moisture to your indoor air. A whole-home humidifier is the most comprehensive solution. These units add water vapor to your indoor air as it passes through your central AC.

Did you know that smoke is poisonous and kills more people in home fires than flames do? The most common poison in smoke is carbon monoxide (CO). CO can make you feel disoriented, unable to remember where you are or how to get out of your home.

Honeywell air purifiers with certified HEPA filters can capture up to 99.97% of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns, from the air that passes through the filters. Wildfire smoke particles are typically 2.5 microns or smaller, often 0.4–0.7 microns in diameter.

Best Clean Air Plants For Your Home

The NASA studies on indoor pollution that were done in 1989 recommend that you have 15 to 18 plants to clean the air in an average 1,800-square-foot house. That's roughly one air-purifying plant per 100 square feet of floor space.

Carbon: Carbon filters are the most commonly used type of filter to remove gases. They are designed to trap the gases as they pass through a bed of activated charcoal, which contains tiny pores to increase its surface area and thus creates more places on the filter to capture smoke VOCs.

Water helps flush these particles from your system. Ten, 8-ounce glasses of water is a good target in general. If you're detoxing, aim to increase this intake to 12 or 14 glasses. Drinking hot liquids can stimulate mucous and saliva, helping to eradicate contaminants.

Drinking plenty of fluids, particularly water, aids in the thinned mucus in your lungs. This allows your body to evacuate the mucus and any trapped dust particles, allowing for cleaner breathing. Hydration also promotes general immune system function, which is vital in preventing diseases caused by dust inhalation.

“Activated charcoal also is an option to help absorb odors. Use it like you would baking soda and place it in bowls around the house for several days. Keep closet doors open, as well as other doors you may typically keep closed.

The smoke odor left untreated may reduce the air quality in your home over time. This is because it doesn't just go away on its own. As a result, its smell can linger for months or even years.

How do you purify air after a house fire? ›

CDPHE recommends air cleaners with HEPA filters for particles and activated carbon filters for volatile organic compounds such as benzene. Keep air cleaners on until the smells go away. Do not use ozone generators in occupied homes.

Use an air purifier. Indoor air quality is affected, so consider using an air purifier for wildfire smoke. Air purifiers with sealed HEPA filters offer additional protection by trapping and sealing in particle pollution and projecting filtered clean air back into the room.

Use your daily asthma and COPD medicines, and any allergy medicine. Use your quick-relief medicine (albuterol) as needed. Try not to panic. Timely treatment at home may help prevent serious breathing problems.

Drink plenty of water to help reduce symptoms of scratchy throat and coughing. Leaving the area of thick smoke may be best for those with health conditions that put them at higher risk for illness from wildfire smoke.

The most effective treatment for headaches can vary from person to person, but over-the-counter medications like Tylenol or Advil can help. Staying hydrated is also critical, Dr. Fadadu said.