What actually clears smoke indoors
MERV 13 filtration + fan ON
Smoke particles are tiny (PM2.5). A MERV 13 filter with the system fan running continuously scrubs the whole house — the single biggest upgrade.
A sealed-up house
Windows shut, fresh-air intakes closed, fireplace dampers closed. Every leak is a smoke pipe during an event.
HEPA where it matters most
Bedrooms of kids, elderly, or anyone with asthma or COPD get a portable HEPA as the second layer of defense.
Skip the gimmicks
Ionizers and ozone "purifiers" are somewhere between useless and actively harmful for smoke. Filtration is the physics that works.
Ready before the next smoke week.
A whole-house filtration upgrade runs $400–$4,000 installed depending on the system — exact quote upfront.
Book My Same-Day Visit60 seconds online · or call (206) 486-6373
Do this when smoke rolls in (10 minutes)
- 1
Close everything: windows, doors, fireplace damper, and any fresh-air intake.
- 2
Thermostat fan: ON, not AUTO — continuous filtering beats occasional.
- 3
Upgrade the filter to MERV 13 if your system takes it — and check it weekly during smoke; they load fast.
- 4
Run the AC or heat pump normally — recirculating indoor air is exactly what you want right now.
Filter rack only takes a flimsy 1-inch filter? That’s the upgrade that changes everything — a media cabinet filters hard without choking airflow. Book the visit →
Worth a professional visit if…
- Your system can’t take better than a basic fiberglass filter — a media cabinet install fixes that permanently.
- Smoke smell shows up indoors even with everything closed — duct leaks are pulling attic or crawlspace air.
- Someone in the house has asthma, COPD or heart conditions — whole-house HEPA is the gold standard.
- Every smoke season is a scramble — one filtration install makes the house permanently ready.
Why homeowners hand it to us
- You approve the price first. Upfront quote before a single screw turns.
- Same-day service. Book in a minute, hear from a tech within 1 business hour.
- 500+ jobs done by 4.9★ rated, professional technicians.
- Fixed right, guaranteed. If it’s not right, we make it right.
Quick answers
What filter stops wildfire smoke?
MERV 13 captures the bulk of PM2.5 smoke particles; HEPA captures nearly all of it. A 4–5 inch media cabinet running MERV 13 continuously is the honest whole-house answer for most homes.
Will a better filter hurt my system?
A dense 1-inch filter in an old rack can strain airflow. That’s exactly why the media-cabinet upgrade exists — more surface area, better filtering, no choking.
Does AC bring in outside smoke?
Standard residential AC recirculates indoor air — running it is good. The exceptions are systems with fresh-air intakes, which should be closed during smoke events; we can show you yours.
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