Alberta Indoor Comfort – May 2020

Stay inside as much as possible. Keep windows and doors closed
Set your heating/system to recirculate. Keep it running to help filter the air and keep your family cool
Close fresh air intakes from furnaces, fireplaces, or stoves. If you have air conditioning, use it
If you have HEPA air cleaners, turn them on; don’t use ones that may produce ozone
Humidifiers will help remove some of the smoke. The humid air will also help keep your nose and mouth moist.
It’s a good idea to drink lots of water, which also helps keep your nose/mouth moist
Don’t use wood stoves, gas stoves, or candles because they make the indoor air quality worse
Prepare foods that you don’t have to cook. Cooking can increase pollutants in the air in your home
Don’t use spray air fresheners or electric fragrance dispensers because they can affect air quality
Don’t vacuum because it stirs up particles that are already inside your home
Don’t smoke in your home and stay away from people who smoke. Don’t use vapor cigarettes
Most masks you can buy at stores don’t help. The harmful particles are so small that they can go around or through the mask. It’s best to stay inside with the windows and doors closed
If you or a family member is sensitive to smoke, you might need to leave the area which is hard now with travel directives in place. But it’s often hard to know how long the situation will last. As an alternative, install HEPA filters

Keep your blinds closed
Close off unused rooms including HVAC system vents in them
Direct a portable fan’s air flow towards a bowl filled with ice
Set your ceiling fans to rotate counter- clockwise
Sleep on lower levels of your house – heat rises, hence safe basements are great
Ditch the incandescent lights as they primarily work as heaters
Shower throughout the day in cool water to reduce your body temperate

by Carla Berezowski,
Home Comfort Expert and Aging at Home Specialist