The Jennings Creek wildfire continues to impact our communities, and our hearts are with everyone affected. At Nebrasky Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we’re dedicated to supporting our neighbors during this difficult time and helping them protect their homes and health.
Wildfire smoke carries harmful pollutants that can affect your health and damage your HVAC system. Here are some essential steps you can take to protect your loved ones and maintain clean indoor air:
- Turn off your fresh air exchanger.
While typically beneficial, Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERVs) can inadvertently bring wildfire smoke into your home. These systems exchange indoor and outdoor air to improve ventilation, but during a wildfire, it’s best to turn them off to prevent smoke infiltration.
- Check and replace your air filter frequently.
Your air filter is your first line of defense against smoke particles. Most filters should be changed on a monthly basis, but we recommend changing them on a weekly basis during a wildfire. A dirty or old filter won’t effectively capture these pollutants.
- Inspect your filter: If it looks gray or clogged, replace it immediately.
- Upgrade your filter: Nebrasky recommends using filters with a MERV rating of 13 or higher for superior smoke and particle removal.
- Stock up: Keep extra filters on hand, as they may be in high demand during wildfire season.
Need help changing your filter? If you’ve been directly impacted by the wildfires and need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
- Minimize indoor pollutant sources.
Certain activities can worsen indoor air quality, especially during wildfire events. Try to avoid:
- Smoking: Cigarettes and vaping release harmful particles into the air.
- Gas Appliances: Limit the use of gas stoves, fireplaces, and furnaces.
- Exhaust Fans: Reduce the use of bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans: they expel air from indoors to outdoors, and while drawing in fresh air from outside is usually a good thing, the air outside is currently polluted with smoke and hazards (P.S. These fans may also use air filters that need replacements!).
- Vacuuming: Only vacuum if your vacuum has a HEPA filter to avoid stirring up dust.
Nebrasky is here to help.
We understand this is a challenging time for our community. If you have any questions or concerns about your home’s air quality or HVAC system, please reach out to us. We’re here to provide guidance, assistance, and support to ensure your home is safe and healthy. Nebrasky is offering FREE consultations and assistance with air filter changes for anyone affected by these fires.
Stay safe and breathe easy!
