SEATTLE — Wildfire smoke in western Washington can become so bad at times residents may be told to stay indoors with the windows closed. But what can you do if wildfire smoke gets into your home?
If you have air conditioning or commercial air filters, experts say running those in your home can make all the difference.
For those who do not have AC, having the windows shut can make a difference in having cool air and proper air circulation in your home.
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Dan Jaffe, a University of Washington air quality professor, tested a DIY air filter and said it has been showing great results for filtering air and has made a huge difference in his home.
The "hack" is easy: Experts recommend buying what is called a MERV 13 or FPR 10 furnace filter and tape it to the back of a box fan. These filters sell for about $15 at your local hardware store.
Jaffe said the DIY system is very effective in filtering out millions of tiny particles found in smoke. This comes as good news as scientists and air quality experts predict increasing wildfires and smokey air may become a new “normal” for western Washington.