Do Air Purifiers Help With Wildfire Smoke?
Wildfires have been increasing in frequency as climate change continues, with the number of wildfires to increase by 50% by 2100. Even by 2030, extreme fires are predicted to increase by 14%, and 30% by the end of 2050 according to a report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID-Arendal. This expected increase will be a significant issue since wildfires contribute to air pollution. Air pollution is a serious matter, being responsible for around 7 million premature deaths annually, which is about 10% of all fatalities.
Wildfires are very dangerous to human health, releasing harmful fine particulates known as PM2.5. These particles can make their way into the lungs and the bloodstream, causing a wide range of health problems. For example, premature death, heart attacks, asthma, and loss of lung function are just a few health complications to worry about with PM2.5 exposure.
It’s not just the immediate area surrounding a wildfire that is exposed to its smoke. Cities can experience the smoke from wildfires happening hundreds to thousands of miles away. So far in the United States this summer of 2023, the winds have carried Canadian wildfire smoke to various places of the US, causing some of the worst air quality seen yet. Many cities have had to issue air quality warnings to keep people indoors away from the smoke. At the end of June, Chicago, a hub of the Midwest, had air rated the worst in the world due to wildfire smoke that had spread to its area from Canada. According to Dr. Ravi Kalhan, a pulmonologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital featured in the Chicago Tribune, spending several hours outside with air quality like what Chicago was experiencing would equate to smoking a quarter to a half pack of cigarettes.
Although citizens have been warned to stay indoors away from the wildfire smoke, it does still get inside. According to the EPA, smoke can still enter through the opening of doors and windows, as well as through the HVAC system and AC unit, which will pull air from outside to circulate throughout the home or building. Because it is summer and hot, people who do not have air conditioning often rely on having windows open. All in all, this leaves smoke inhalation to still be a common occurrence indoors. This leaves the question- how can you eliminate wildfire smoke inside?
HEPA Air Purifiers Help with Wildfire Smoke
As a scientifically-backed strategy touted by the EPA to eliminate smoke and the dangerous PM2.5 from indoor spaces, HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) air purifiers are perfectly equipped to deal with PM2.5 and other particulate matter in smoke, while also improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in other ways by removing germs, allergens, and mold from the airstream.
HEPA air purifiers get their name from the HEPA filter that resides within them. HEPA filters are made up of multiple medium layers that help capture particles.
HEPA filters are, at minimum, 99.97% effective at capturing particles that are 0.3 microns in size. This particulate size is their most difficult size to catch, with a HEPA filter even more effective for particles bigger or smaller than 0.3 microns. PM2.5 includes particles 2.5 microns or smaller, making these types of particles easy to catch by a HEPA air purifier.
Some HEPA air purifiers can come equipped with additional technologies like ozone-free bipolar ionization and/or carbon filters, both of which can help with the smoke smell.
ISO-Aire HEPA Air Purifiers Help with Wildfire Smoke
Watch how an ISO-Aire HEPA air purifier removes smoke faster than a comptetitor model.
At ISO-Aire, our commercial-grade, long-life HEPA air purifiers are designed to keep you safe from wildfire smoke, other sources of PM2.5, airborne germs like viruses and bacteria, mold, allergens like pet dander and pollen, and VOCs.
All of our ISO-Aire purifier models are equipped with a 99.99% effective, 12 in.-thick HEPA filter that lasts 5-6 years, significantly reducing maintenance costs. Optional additional clean air technologies include UL 2998 certified ozone-free bipolar ionization and germicidal UVC.
Equipped with a high-efficiency fan that pulls contaminated air down away from the airstream, and throws clean air high, ISO-Aire air purifiers are designed to last over 20 years, running 24/7, 365 days a year.
Interested in getting indoor relief from wildfire smoke? Learn more about ISO-Aire HEPA air purifiers, and which model might be best for your space by contacting our team at 651-265-0605 or at info@iso-aire.com
