Smoke season: get the house ready
The homes that ride out smoke events comfortably prepared before the AQI map turned red. Work the interactive guide below — then make the upgrade decisions in the calm season.
What's in your air?
When the Puget Sound sky turns orange
Step 1
Upgrade the filter your system runs on
EPA guidance for smoke events: the highest-efficiency filter your system can handle — MERV 13 where compatible — captures far more fine smoke particles (PM2.5) than a basic fiberglass filter. We confirm what your blower can actually support before upsizing.
Step 2
Add whole-home air cleaning at the duct level
EPA guidance for smoke events calls for capturing fine particles wherever your air circulates. We install whole-home air purification systems (Honeywell, Lennox, and REME Halo) right at your ductwork, so every room gets cleaner air without extra units to manage.
Step 3
Keep the smoke outside
During events, limit outdoor-air intake and keep windows closed — then let the system recirculate through good filtration. We can set your system up for a smoke-season mode.
Guidance source: U.S. EPA — Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality
Air filtration & purification servicesThe full smoke playbook
PM2.5, filtration physics, and the smoke-day settings — the complete guide.
Pick the right MERV level
The capture-vs-airflow decision, without choking your blower.
IAQ services
Media cabinets, filtration upgrades, and honest air-quality assessments.
Smoke-season questions
What should I do the day smoke rolls in?
Close the house up, set any fresh-air ventilation to minimum or recirculate, run the HVAC fan (ON or circulate schedule) so air keeps passing the filter, use AC rather than windows for heat, and let a whole-home air purification system handle every room from the ductwork. Skip long exhaust-fan runs — they pull smoky air in through every crack.
Which filter upgrade actually helps with smoke?
The best media your blower tolerates: MERV 11–13 captures meaningfully more PM2.5 than builder-grade filters, but density costs airflow — the durable answer is a 4–5-inch media cabinet (high capture, low restriction). We measure what your system can take instead of guessing.
When should I prepare — and what does it cost?
Off-season, always: media cabinets and IAQ add-ons install calmly in spring and fall, and filters are in stock. During an event, everything is backordered — including patience. The assessment is part of any IAQ visit; upgrades are quoted upfront.
Get smoke-ready in the calm season
A filtration assessment tells you what your system can take — measured, not guessed.
Ready for comfort you can count on?
Whether it's a furnace that quit on a cold morning or a whole new system, the Glendale team is ready. Honest pricing, expert work, and 87+ years behind every visit.
Hours & Emergency
- Mon–Sat: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Sun: Emergency On-Call Only
- Emergency line: (206) 243-7700