San Diego Wildfires Affect Indoor Air Quality

San Diego HVAC Maintenance
08/29/2016

Why Clean Air Matters

Here at Airmaxx, we’re air people. We care deeply about making sure that the air around us is not only comfortably cooled and heated as the seasons wax and wane, but more importantly – that our air is safe and comfortable to breathe.

We care about air quality because we are people, with families and friends. We personally know and serve asthmatics and emphysema sufferers, people with COPD, people with compromised lungs and lung cancer AND thousands of people who don’t have any of these issues, and would like to stay that way. We use filters to be sure that dust particles and common allergens don’t harm your health but there’s something bigger to focus on here.

Clean air is more of a luxury now than ever before on planet Earth. City smog and car emissions have been an enemy of indoor air quality experts like us for years, but here in San Diego, there’s another nemesis nobody ever talks about: smoke.

Southern California Has An Air Quality Problem

Air quality is affected by the outdoor landscape in any region of our world. Cities get smog, open areas get dust storms and blowing sand, greener areas produce more pollen and here, where it is beautiful year-round and often dry, we get wildfires. It isn’t every year, and it isn’t always really bad. This year, we’ve been ravaged and the results are unfortunate. Even with the best case scenario in mind – fires that have been put out and kept away from homes and people – smoke is still inevitable and it lasts.

According to our government’s AirNow air quality website, the biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles. Fine particles can irritate your eyes and make you cough, cause bronchitis, and exacerbate the symptoms for those who have chronic heart or lung diseases. For these individuals, smoke inhalation can be fatal.

Airmaxx Has Indoor Air Quality Solutions

Keep your air filters replaced.  One of the ways that your heating & cooling system protects the indoor air quality in your home is by actively filtering out dust and allergens. Especially advanced HEPA filters can reduce your intake of fine particles from smoke inside your home. Your filter cannot work to keep your home healthy if it is not replaced regularly. Homeowners in areas with poor air quality outdoors are encouraged to support their own indoor air quality by changing more often than usual.

Buy an air purifier. Air purifiers sit inside your home, not unlike a humidifier or dehumidifier, and they recirculate the air, filtering it for use. This is especially effective in taking the air that comes in from your open windows or doors and turning it into safer, more breathable air.

Keep your home tightly sealed. Cracks in door casings and window frames, as well as at the roof-level can cause unclean air to seep into your home, making your HVAC filters and your air purifier work harder and putting your family at risk. Have your home inspected for air leaks regularly to avoid this.

Pay attention to the AQI. You can check the air quality index for the San Diego area at the Air Pollution Control District website. This will tell you what to expect. If air quality is particularly bad, it is best to stay indoors as much as possible and to keep your windows closed. Note: If it is excessively hot outside when air quality is poor, and your home does not have air conditioning, you may want to seek alternate shelter to stay safe.

Contact us. At Airmaxx, we are especially passionate about clean air initiatives for our beautiful city. We will be happy to inspect your home and HVAC system and offer air quality solutions to keep you safe and comfortable no matter what happens outdoors.  Contact us to schedule a visit from our air quality experts today!

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