How to Eliminate Smoke Odor from a House
Wildfire smoke contains a wide spectrum of microbes and contaminants. In order to remove the smell of smoke in a home, a multipronged approach is generally required. But fear-not, it’s not a complicated as you may think and we can help.
Carbon Filtration + HEPA Filtration + Bipolar Ionization are considered the triple threat of in home air purification. Indoor contaminants like smoke particulate and VOCs are eradicated by ionization and particles are clumped together in the air. When the particles clump, they have a larger mass and fall from the air and get pulled pulled out of the air more effectively with filters. This clumping acts as an amplifier to the effectiveness of the HEPA and carbon filters. It’s among the most effective combinations of home air purification against smoke pollution.
Read below to learn how bipolar ionization with carbon filtration and HEPA can work to improve your family’s health and protect your home during the wildfires.
California Wildfire Maps
Use the maps below to locate where the wildfires in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington are.
Past Wildfire News and Announcements
- CDC guidance for wildfire Smoke
- As of Tuesday September 15th, 2020, 35 active wildfires had burned more than 838,000 acres throughout the state of Oregon and there have been 10 confirmed deaths.
- In Idaho, the Woodhead Fire has burned about 80,000 acres and fire officials say containment is up to 38 percent. Full evacuations are in effect for residents above Upper Dale, including Paradise Flat, North Hornet, and West Mill Creek in Adams County.
- Officials from the Payette National Forest, Idaho announced that they will fine anyone who enters restricted areas that are closed to the public due to the fire. The community of Cambridge, Idaho is now on alert as fire threatens the small town.
Wildfire Smoke Claims
California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho wildfire smoke is contaminating homes, causing significant damage. Test your home for the presence and levels of smoke particulate to have recorded documentation for insurance claims.
Wildfire Smoke Insurance Claims
If your home was exposed to wildfire smoke and ash, you want to make sure it and its contents get properly inspected, tested, cleaned/treated and restored to pre-exposure condition.
First, Identify and document smoke damage to support your homeowners insurance claim.
- Document everything
- Use the Smoke Test Kit to document the presence of wildfire smoke.
- Take pictures of all visible damage.
- If you or a household member are experiencing health problems, report that to your doctor.
- Damage to your home and possessions by wildfire smoke and ash is covered in your home policy.
- Payment for smoke damage to the structure of your home (walls, studs, wall-to-wall carpeting etc.) comes out of your dwelling coverage.
- Payment for smoke damage to area rugs, clothing, curtains, furniture, etc. comes out of your contents coverage.
- No special dollar limit cap (such as you may find for mold) should apply, other than your overall dwelling and contents insurance limits.
Get the Smoke Test Kit today and begin documenting the damage to support your homeowners insurance claim and restore your home to pre-loss condition.
Wildfire Smoke Map
Click the NOAA map below for up-to-date smoke data.
Please note that NOAA may be retiring this service in the near future. There will be a link to a different page with a substitute map as soon as it becomes available.
The wildfires in Oregon, Washington, and California continue to produce large quantities of smoke affecting air quality in those states and portions of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, and Arizona. As can seen in image below, the smoke is blanketing much of the United States and Canada as wind patterns continue to stretch the coverage toward New York.
What are Activated Carbon Air Filters?
Carbon air filters are the type of filters most commonly used to remove odors and gases from the air. Carbon filters are designed to filter gases through a bed of activated carbon, which may also be referred to as activated charcoal. This makes them highly effective in combating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from common household products and smoke generated by wildfires and other combustion, like the smell of tobacco smoke. They cannot remove fine particles like mold, dust, or pollen from the air. But that’s where HEPA filters excel.
Carbon Filtration + HEPA Filtration + Bipolar Ionization: The 3 Pillars of High Performance Air Purification
Many have asked how to eliminate smoke odor from their houses. And with the wildfires continuing to rage, it makes it tough. But it’s up to us to do the best we can to protect ourselves against the dangers associated with long term smoke exposure. Read below to learn how bipolar ionization with carbon filtration and HEPA can work to improve your family’s health and protect your home during the wildfires.
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Get Smoke Out of Your House
The above image illustrates an effective smoke filtration process .
- Pre-filter – Extends filtration effectiveness and filter life by removing large particles from the air so they don’t clog up the following specialized filters
- Carbon filter – Particularly useful in removing gases, odors and organic compounds associated with wildfire smoke.
- True HEPA filter removed up to 99.97% of particles in the air
- Finally, bipolar ions are released to revitalize your air and amplify the effectiveness of the filters.
The 3 pillars of indoor air smoke removal are Carbon Filtration + HEPA Filtration + Bipolar Ionization. This combination is it’s among the most effective solutions for air purification against smoke pollution and most other frequently occurring indoor air contaminants. Please be safe out there and follow local government guidance.
Bipolar Ionization
Indoor contaminants like viruses, bacteria, pollen, smoke particulate and VOCs are eradicated by ionization and then clumped to other particles in the air. When the particles clump, it acts as an amplifier to the effectiveness of the HEPA and carbon filters. It makes it easier for those filters to do their jobs by pulling more of the contaminants out of the air.
Carbon Filtration
When it comes to removing smoke from a house. Carbon filters a particularly useful to help remove gases, odors and organic compounds. Carbon filters generally have a shorter lifespan than HEPA filters but that’s because they are are providing a different area of coverage, they do not filter particulate from the air, their job is focused on gases and odors.
HEPA filters
HEPA filters filter out the particles in the air, but smoke is more than just particles. It is also made up of harmful gases (that’s where carbon filtration excels). Air purifiers that are solely designed to filter gases and odors generally use carbon filters. So then, what is the best air purifier for smoke? Ultimately, a multi-pronged approach is necessary.
Homes Like Yours
Safety is a foundational layer to a healthy life for you and your loved ones. And since over 95% of home HVAC systems do not use HEPA filtration, a secondary air purifier is needed to effectively clean the indoor air. When combined with carbon filtration and bipolar ionization, this makes a highly effective solution for destroying wildfire smoke and much more.
Remember
Remember that no matter how good an air purifier is at removing smoke it always best to reduce or eliminate the source of the smoke whenever possible. In the case of wildfires, keep doors and windows closed when advised by the authorities. Minimize time outdoors when smoke is present .
Air Purification and Filtration Solutions that Exceed the 3 Pillars of Smoke Filtration
AERAMAX PRO AM IV
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AERAMAX PRO AM IV
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AERAMAX PRO AM II
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AERAMAX PRO AM III
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AERAMAX PRO AM IV
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AERAMAX PRO AM III
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AERAMAX PRO AM III
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AERAMAX PRO AM III
AeraMax PRO AM 3S PC Air Purifier with Stand (w/stand & PURE-View)
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Turn Your Home into a Self-healing Home
Prepare Your Insurance Claim
Document the Presence of Wildfire Smoke in Your Home.