WA Lic. INFINHA841B8 400+ Google reviews
Quick answer
- Run the system fan ON (not AUTO) during smoke events so air keeps passing through the filter.
- Upgrade the filter before smoke season — high-MERV or media filters catch fine smoke particles that cheap panels miss.
- Heat pumps and ACs let you stay cool with windows closed — the reason smoke readiness and cooling go together here.
- Whole-home air cleaners and HEPA-grade filtration add serious capacity if someone in the house has asthma or heart/lung conditions.
Why smoke is a special problem
Wildfire smoke is dominated by PM2.5 — particles small enough to slip deep into lungs and past basic filters. Indoor levels track outdoor levels surprisingly fast in leaky homes. Filtration works, but only if air actually moves through the filter and the filter is rated to catch fine particles.
Your HVAC system is the main tool
A central system with an upgraded filter, fan running continuously, is a whole-home air cleaner. Check that your blower can handle the filter's pressure drop (we can verify this — some systems need a media cabinet rather than a thicker one-inch filter). Mini-split owners: clean the filters and consider a standalone HEPA unit for bedrooms, since mini-split filters are designed for dust, not fine smoke.
Seal, recirculate, cool
Close windows and doors, set HRVs/ERVs or fresh-air dampers to recirculate, and avoid anything that depressurizes the house (big exhaust fans) during the worst hours. This is also where air conditioning stops being a luxury: staying cool with the windows shut is the difference between riding out a smoke week and suffering through it.
Upgrades that actually help
In rough order of impact: a properly rated high-MERV or 4–5 inch media filter; continuous-fan setup verified for your blower; a whole-home air cleaner or HEPA bypass unit; portable HEPA units for bedrooms. We'll be straight with you about what your system supports — not everything on the market earns its price.
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Family owned · WA Lic. INFINHA841B8 · 400+ Google reviews
Common questions
What filter rating should I use for smoke?
The highest rating your blower can handle without choking airflow — often MERV 11–13 for standard systems, or a deep media filter that achieves high capture with lower pressure drop. We check static pressure before recommending, because an over-restrictive filter causes its own problems.
Do UV lights help with smoke?
No — UV addresses biological growth, not particles. For smoke you want mechanical filtration. UV has its place (coil hygiene), but it's the wrong tool for PM2.5.
Should I run the AC or heat pump during smoke?
Yes. Cooling with windows closed is exactly what it's for, and the airflow keeps pulling air through your filter. Just clean or check the filter after an extended smoke event.
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Infinity Heating & Air — licensed WA HVAC contractor (Lic. INFINHA841B8), family-owned in Graham. Last updated July 2026.