Portland Air Quality Guide

Portland regularly posts updates about the air quality outside, but what about the air inside your home? A "code red" day outside can quickly become a "code red" day inside, depending on the pollution that's causing the problem.

Since air quality and health outcomes are tightly linked, it's important to know what you can do to keep the air you breathe as clean as possible. In this guide, we'll explain:

• Why is the air quality in Portland so bad?
• When will Portland's air quality improve?
• How often you should replace your air filter
• How to improve your home's overall air quality
• The best air purifiers for wildfire smoke

While Portland's air quality is showing signs of improvement, various factors such as seasonal wildfires, industrial emissions, and vehicle pollution can still lead to poor air quality days. Learn what you can do to protect your indoor air quality, breathe easily, and discover local initiatives aimed at improving air quality for the community.

Take the first step towards cleaner, healthier air today. Call Four Seasons for trusted air quality services!

From retrofitting your HVAC system to accommodate a high-MERV air filter to installing air purifiers for your entire home, our fair and honest services ensure we can help you find an effective and affordable solution. Contact us for comprehensive air quality services, and we’ll help you breathe easy, no matter the outside weather.

In Oregon, everyday activities are responsible for 90% of air pollution. These include:

• Chemicals found in household cleaners
• Grilling with lighter fluid
• Driving
• Mowing the lawn
• Painting
• Using wood-burning stoves

All of these activities leave particles floating in the air. Some emit liquid droplets, while others push ash and solids into the air you breathe. Portland, with its busy roads and frequent calm weather, experiences high levels of particle pollution.

Driving is particularly harsh on Portland's air quality and is the leading source of air pollution statewide. Emissions from cars and trucks, especially larger diesel engines such as those commonly found on shipping vehicles, release greenhouse gasses and carbon monoxide. The rest of Portland's air pollution tends to come from one of two sources: wildfires and dust storms.

Oregon's dry forests, high winds, and low humidity make it prone to wildfires during spring and summer. Portland doesn't have as many issues with ash, but wildfires produce smoke that can travel for miles. Every inhale of smoke can lead to wheezing and other respiratory conditions. Smoke can also settle in homes, making everything stink.

That same dry weather can also cause dust storms. Agricultural and construction work contribute to these storms, dumping chemicals and dust into the air where high winds move it from rural areas to Portland's high-density centers. During high winds, dust and soil can stay suspended in the air inside your home for days.

Your HVAC system has a built-in air filter. To maximize effectiveness, the general rule of thumb is to replace or clean your filter every 1-3 months, although residents of Portland may need more frequent air filter replacements.

Clogged filters slow down airflow and leave gunk in your system that you don't want to breathe. The last thing you want is for allergens and other particles to blast through your home whenever the air or heat kicks in.

The MERV rating of your air filter tells you how effective it is at reducing air pollution. Higher ratings mean better filtration. On the flip side, better filtration often means faster fill-ups. If your filter traps virtually all particles, expect it to need more frequent replacements.

If your filter is rated MERV 1-4, expect to replace it every 2-3 months. For MERV 4-8 filters, replacements are typically recommended every 1-2 months, while anything higher is on a monthly replacement schedule. Most HVAC systems are only equipped to handle up to a MERV 8 filter that is less than 2 inches thick. If your unit is modified to take a thicker filter, you might only need to replace it once a year. However, Portland's wildfire and dust storm season might mean you need to replace these filters at least two times per year.

There are lots of ways to keep your indoor air cleaner. Opening the windows regularly and letting your house air out for at least 15 minutes is a great first step. Putting in HEPA filters can also give you a big boost. HEPA filters are the type used in hospitals and other clean environments to minimize the spread of disease. They also help reduce odors — a double benefit.

Installing exhaust fans in bathrooms and above the stove can help move polluted air outside more quickly, while air exchangers improve circulation through your home. Controlling humidity levels is another major component of high-quality indoor air. If your indoor humidity exceeds 50%, it can lead to mold growth and provide a welcoming environment for dust mites, both common allergens. Aim to keep indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% by installing whole-home humidity control systems that add or subtract moisture as needed.

Other personal environmental factors that may impact your home air quality include pets, cleaning frequency, and habits such as smoking or burning scented candles or incense. Improve your indoor air quality by using a vacuum that has a built-in HEPA filter that traps particles more effectively, eliminating as much dust as possible, and washing fabrics and furnishings frequently. The household cleaners you choose can also be a source of air pollution. Many contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Look for labels that say "low VOC" or "VOC-free." Natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda are great alternatives.

Get an indoor air quality consultation from the knowledgeable techs at Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning. Our indoor air quality services include everything from testing to installing whole-home air filters and purifiers. With our fast and convenient scheduling, you can be smoke-free in just a day or two.