Wildfire smoke: filtration and cleaner indoor air

Prepare envelope, filtration, recirculation, cooling and spare filters before smoke events.

VERT / GREEN

Know the highest filter quality the system can handle and plan a certified room-sized air cleaner if needed.

JAUNE / YELLOW

Closing the home against smoke can increase heat, CO2 or combustion issues; filtration, temperature and ventilation must be managed together.

ROUGE / RED

Unable to maintain cleaner air and safe temperature, CO alarm or unstable combustion appliance: move to an appropriate space and correct the system.

Interactive triage

Helps choose the next step; it does not replace design, permits or professional diagnosis.

No spare filters
Stock compatible filters before smoke season. Portable cleaner not sized
Check CADR/room size and placement. CO alarm or combustion spillage
Do not prioritize smoke sealing over combustion safety. Smoke plan documented
Record HVAC mode, filters, cleaner room and AQHI/InfoSmog.

Useful tools and data

Filter/CADR data
Indicative PM2.5 monitor
HVAC/recirculation plan

What the professional checks

Check filter pressure drop
Configure safe recirculation
Coordinate cooling/combustion

Official sources

Checked 2026-08-22.

Santé Canada — préparation à la fumée

Related path

Continue with the right tools

These links connect this page to the next useful checks and decisions without repeating the full content.

Screen hazardous materialsKnow when to stop and assess asbestos, lead, vermiculite, mould, silica or radon.Open →Track indoor air qualityLog CO₂, radon, PM2.5, humidity and temperature without turning readings into diagnoses.Open →Prepare the emergency sheetDocument controls, equipment, contacts and critical locations in a printable format.Open →Score home resiliencePrioritize water, outages, fire, climate, health and essential records.Open →Sort observed symptomsConnect a visible sign to plausible causes, urgency and the right professional.Open →

Tools related to this issue

Whole-home action plan

Open →

Weather resilience

Open →

Manage the project through closeout

Insurance and loss record

Open →

Explore: Systems to check before closing the work

Systems to check before closing the work

This section connects envelope, air, fire, structure, water and code instead of treating each project in isolation.

Renovation dependenciesFire safetyLoad-bearing walls and openingsCode versions

Explore: Advanced diagnostics to cross-check

Advanced diagnostics to cross-check

This section connects water, soil, climate, safety, materials and seasonal use to existing projects.

Drinking-water quality and treatment

Explore: Specialized systems to cross-check

Specialized systems to cross-check

This section completes gas, soil, water, fire, climate and structural interfaces.

Residential sprinklersWildfire and embers

Explore: Post-disaster and legacy systems

Post-disaster and legacy systems

This section connects contamination, storm damage, legacy materials and recommissioning before rebuilding.

Post-fire smoke, soot and wet materials