U.S. Agencies Urge AC Recirculation as Canada Wildfire Smoke Hits 115 Million
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 17
U.S. Agencies Urge AC Recirculation as Canada Wildfire Smoke Hits 115 Million
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jul 17
Summary
115 million people from the Midwest to the East Coast are under hazardous smoke, prompting U.S. agencies to tell residents to keep cooling systems from pulling outdoor air indoors.
EPA guidance says central HVAC systems should run on recirculate, not fresh-air intake, while window-unit users should close the outdoor air damper and seal gaps tightly.
MERV 13 or higher filters are recommended by the CDC, and single-hose portable air conditioners should be used sparingly because they can worsen smoke intrusion.
858 wildfires are burning across Canada, including 200 in Ontario, and extreme heat is pushing smoke closer to the ground, raising risks of coughing, breathing trouble and asthma attacks.