This summer has been a smoky one for Edmontonians, due to the many wildfires in B.C. With day after day of hazy smoke in the air not ending soon, how can you keep it from entering your home?

At Parkwood, we’ve compiled our top tips for mitigating wildfire smoke from effecting your home’s indoor air quality:

  • Keep windows and doors tightly closed and sealed to help keep the smoke out. Replace any worn weather seals, which will also help throughout the winter, per homeowner maintenance.
  • Ensure your furnace and HRV filters are clean and replace them if needed (in addition to your regular seasonal home maintenance). This will help to cat any airborne pollutants and circulate cleaner air throughout your home.
  • When running an air conditioner, close the fresh air intake to help limit the amount of smoke coming in and turn fan on to circulate the indoor air. Be sure to re-open the fresh air intake on days without smoke.
  • If smoke has permeated your home, remove the smell from furniture, carpet, walls and drapes, place containers filled with baking soda around your home.
  • To eliminate the smoke smell from clothing, try adding a cup of vinegar with your regular detergent when washing your laundry.
  • Green your home with houseplants to help purify the air by producing more oxygen and remove the carbon dioxide.

Wishing you a happy and healthy rest of the summer! For more information on the Air Quality Health Index for the city of Edmonton, please visit the Government of Canada’s website.