When Canadian wildfires send massive plumes of smoke drifting across our skies, the immediate reaction is to head indoors, close the windows, and wait it out. But simply shutting your doors doesn’t mean you’ve shut out the danger. Wildfire smoke contains highly microscopic, dangerous particles that can easily bypass standard fiberglass air filters and migrate straight into your living areas through tiny gaps in windows, doors, and your home’s structure. Once inside, they settle into your carpets, furniture, and—worst of all—your lungs. Fortunately, you don’t have to just live with smoky, stale air. We install 3 different upgrades to your HVAC system that turn it into an advanced, whole-home air purification plant. Here’s how to protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke:
1. Trane Comfort Systems & CleanEffects™
Firstly, if your air conditioner or heat pump is struggling to keep up with the summer heat and the smoke, it might be time to look at the system driving the airflow.
A reliable, high-efficiency Trane HVAC system provides the consistent airflow and pressure needed to cycle indoor air continuously through advanced filtration. Pairing your Trane system with the Trane CleanEffects™ Whole-Home Air Cleaner takes your air quality to a medical-grade level.
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How it works: CleanEffects™ uses patented technology to trap up to 99.98% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns—easily capturing microscopic smoke, soot, and ash.
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The Advantage: It is certified asthma & allergy friendly® by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and has no replacement filters to buy; you simply vacuum the reusable filter every few months to keep it running like new.
Click here for more info from Trane about the CleanEffects.
2. The Aerus Air Scrubber
Most standard air filters are “passive”—they only clean the air that happens to pass directly through them. The Aerus Air Scrubber takes an active approach.
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How it works: Installed directly into your existing ductwork, the Air Scrubber uses proprietary ActivePure® Technology. It sends out scrubbers—specialized, child-and-pet-safe molecules—into your living space to actively neutralize contaminants in the air and on surfaces.
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The Advantage: During a wildfire smoke event, the Air Scrubber doesn’t just wait for smoke to reach your HVAC unit. It goes to work in your living room, family room, and bedrooms to reduce smoke odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and lingering outdoor smells.
Click here fore more info about the Air Scrubber by Aerus.
3. The iWave Air Purifier
If you want to dramatically boost the efficiency of your current air filter, the iWave Air Purifier is a brilliant addition.
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How it works: The iWave uses needlepoint bi-polar ionization. It injects equal amounts of positive and negative ions into the airstream. When these ions come into contact with microscopic smoke particles, they naturally bind to them.
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The Advantage: As these tiny particles clump together, they become much larger and heavier. This process (called agglomeration) makes it incredibly easy for your standard Trane system filter to trap them, preventing them from recirculating back into your home. Best of all, the iWave is completely maintenance-free and requires no replacement parts.
Click here for more info about the iWave-R.
Poormans Heating and Air is Northeast Indiana’s locally-owned HVAC dealer and has been for almost 50 years. Now that you know how to protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke, you can consider which air purifier is best for you. Look no further than Poormans Heating and Air. We install all 3 of these cleaners, and can discuss with each individual customer on what would work best for them.