Just looking out your window, you’ll notice a haze surrounding your neighbourhood. This haze is a direct result of smoke from nearby forest fires that has Environment Canada issuing an air quality advisory.
An air quality advisory is a warning that particle pollution is high enough to threaten the overall health of individuals, notably children and the elderly. Many B.C residents living in affected areas have experienced some negative effects of lingering smoke including sore eyes, coughing, and a runny nose.
Even though an air quality advisory seems daunting, there are ways to keep your home safe from smoke. According to CBC.ca and Ryan Allen (associate professor of Environmental Health at Simon Fraser University), three ideal ways to ensure a better air quality in your home is through portable air filters, wearing the right smoke-inhibiting mask, and keeping your doors and windows closed instead of using fans to blow out the smoke.
When it comes to air filtration, a minimum requirement should be a HEPA designation. A HEPA designation stands for High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance. These filters have passed high standards and can achieve a quality level of filtration. This is becoming the norm for many common air filters and purifiers, but there is an even more effective option for those who want to address present and future concerns on air quality.
While a HEPA air purifier can filter down to 0.3 microns, a HyperHEPA filter can filter ultrafine particles as small as 0.003 microns. These HyperHEPA filters can detect particles such as pet dander, dust mites, and tobacco smoke that would otherwise pass undetected through a HEPA filter. If tobacco smoke is known to pass right through a HEPA filter, would you trust one to detect the smoke from forest fires?
The IQAir Air Purification Systems available at Trail Appliances are all equipped with a HyperHEPA filtration system that is tested and certified to properly filter out any particles larger than 0.003 microns. IQAir also has an advanced filter-pleating pattern which allows it to absorb and filter more particulates than common air filters, saving you money on replacements.
Trail Appliances carries both portable and whole home IQAir Air Purification Systems. As an official partner of the American Lung Association, you can have peace of mind knowing that while air quality can change outdoors, it won’t change inside your home.
For more information on IQAir Air Purification Systems click here or Ask An Expert.