Are you looking for a way to keep the air in your home clean and free of smoke? An HVAC air filter is a great option for removing smoke particles from the environment. Modern air filters are incredibly effective and can remove microscopic particles, such as mold, mildew, pollen, plant fibers, fiberglass, chemical fumes, pet dander, dust mites, and even cigarette smoke. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency tested a box fan filter with air monitors and found that it drastically reduced particles in the air. This method involves connecting a MERV 13 oven filter to a box fan.
You can also get cleaner air from your central air conditioner, heat pump, or gas oven by turning on the thermostat fan to circulate air through the filter. There are even HVAC oven air filters that were specifically designed to trap odors such as cigarettes and wildfire smoke. Medium MERV filters provide much more filtration than basic MERV 1-4 filters with central air systems. These filters capture only visible to the naked eye contaminants, such as pet hair and dust rabbits, but not fine particles such as smoke.
If you don't have central cooling, you can still clean the air quickly by passing the entire volume of room air through the filter four to six times. An air filter such as those mentioned above is the best way to protect your home from harmful smoke residues and other people's smoke. It's important to use an appropriate high-efficiency air filter and shut off the fresh air intake if the central air conditioning system or room air conditioner has one. You should also make sure that your portable air purifier has a high-efficiency HEPA filter and is the right size for the room.
If you live in an area with wildfire smoke, then you should definitely try an activated carbon HVAC furnace air filter. This hospital-grade filter removes viruses and ultra-fine particles down to 0.3 microns from your home's air. To get the best possible air quality in your home, consider installing a whole-house electrostatic air filter. By default, these systems recirculate air in the home, so they filter the air without removing additional particles from the outside.
Most ovens and HVAC systems can accommodate a MERV 13 filter without creating problems for the equipment, provided that the filter is replaced frequently.
