How to Protect Your Home, Health When Air Quality Is Bad

Wearing a mask when outdoors, adding weatherstripping to windows and doors, and using HEPA filters are ways to minimize the impact of poor air quality.

Climate change continues to exacerbate hot and dry weather conditions across the country, creating the ideal conditions for wildfires.

While 2023 has been called Canada’s most severe wildfire season of the century, the federal government predicts that the amount of forest lost to wildfires could double by 2050.

This means Canadians are in for more summers filled with extreme heat and poor-quality air.

Of course, you don’t have to live near a wildfire to experience its deleterious effects of polluted air — or to take action to protect your home and health.

6 things to do during times of poor air quality

1. Monitor indoor and outdoor risk levels

Knowledge is the best defense when it comes to air quality. Stay on top of air quality information for your province via the Government of Canada’s Air Quality Health Index website or sites like IQAir.com.

To see if excessive outdoor pollution is creeping into your home, consider investing in an indoor air quality meter that can monitor things like the levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2), volatile organic compounds and airborne particulates.

2. Check your carbon monoxide alarms

Experts suggest that you install a COmonitor in each bedroom and on each floor of your home, and test that they’re functioning at least once a month.

Nerdy Tip: Fire alarms and carbon monoxide monitors have expirations dates! You can often find the date printed on the outside of the device. Be sure to note the expiration date on your calendar and replace the monitor when necessary.

3. Wear a mask if you must go out

If you have to go outside during times of poor air quality, wear a mask. The best type to use is a respirator mask, like a NIOSH-certified N95. These masks can filter out even fine particles, which can be the most harmful.

4. Check for and repair leaks

To ensure polluted outdoor air doesn’t get inside your home easily, check for and repair air leaks around windows and doors. Weather stripping is an affordable way to block any leaks while helping with energy efficiency in general.

If you’re a homeowner, it may be worth looking into Canada’s Greener Home Grant, a program that can help you pay for repairs that make your home more energy efficient. Air sealing is one of the retrofits that may qualify for up to $1,000 in grant funds.

5. Use HEPA-certified air filters

If possible, use or switch to high efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-certified filters in your furnace and air conditioner, and change those filters regularly to maintain high air quality.

Change the filters more often if you have allergies or asthma, or have someone at home whose health is at risk, change the filters more often. You might also want to add additional indoor air purifiers in rooms where they spend the most time, such as bedrooms and living rooms.

Also, consider investing in a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter that effectively traps small particles other vacuum cleaners would miss.

6. Seek out safe spaces

If you’re finding it difficult to maintain good air quality at home during times of poor air quality, contact your municipality to see if there is a clean air shelter nearby. Alternatively, libraries, shopping malls or community centers may be good places to spend time if there’s a wildfire smoke event.