Air-Quality Alert at Home: A 2026 Wildfire-Smoke Checklist
Before the smoke arrives
When an alert is forecast, get ahead of it. Confirm you have a MERV 13 filter on hand if your HVAC can run one, and know where your system's recirculation setting is. Close windows and doors, and locate any whole-house fan or ERV so you can switch it off. If you have a portable HEPA air cleaner, place it in the room you use most. A few minutes of prep before the plume arrives is worth far more than reacting once the house already smells like smoke.
While the air is unhealthy
Keep windows and doors closed and run your HVAC on recirculation with a good filter — this turns central air into a whole-home air cleaner. Turn off anything that pulls in outdoor air (whole-house fans, ERVs, and 'fresh air' HVAC settings). Avoid adding indoor particles: skip frying, candles, and vacuuming without a HEPA filter. Check the filter periodically; heavy smoke can load it in weeks, and a clogged filter just recirculates odor while straining the blower.
Watch the envelope and the outdoor unit
Smoke finds gaps — around windows and doors, through recessed lights, and via leaky attic ducts that can pull smoky air into living spaces. If you notice smoke smell despite closed windows and recirculation, envelope and duct leaks are the usual culprits. Outside, your AC condenser is breathing the same air; keep the area around it clear and plan to clean the coil after the event so ash doesn't bake onto the fins.
After the alert lifts
Replace the HVAC filter, run recirculation with the fresh filter to scrub lingering particles, wipe hard surfaces, and HEPA-vacuum soft ones. If odor persists, consider a duct inspection. Then think ahead: sealing envelope leaks and keeping filters stocked makes the next alert easier. A free maintenance report helps you plan the HVAC, ducts, and other smoke-exposed systems for your specific home and state, so each season is less of a scramble.
Frequently asked questions
- What should I do at home during a wildfire-smoke air-quality alert?
- Close windows and doors, run your HVAC on recirculation with a MERV 13 filter, turn off whole-house fans and ERVs that pull in outdoor air, avoid indoor sources of particles, and use a portable HEPA cleaner in occupied rooms. Check the filter often during heavy smoke.
- Why does my house smell smoky even with the windows closed?
- Smoke infiltrates through envelope gaps — around windows and doors, recessed lights, and especially leaky attic ducts that can draw smoky air into living spaces. Sealing those leaks reduces infiltration and also lowers energy bills year-round.
- What should I do after a smoke alert ends?
- Replace the HVAC filter, run recirculation to scrub lingering particles, wipe hard surfaces, HEPA-vacuum soft ones, and get ducts inspected if odor persists. Restock filters and seal envelope leaks so the next alert is easier to handle.
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