07/16/2026
đ¨Canadian Wildfire Smoke & Your Air Conditioner: Should You Keep It Running?
Yes â keep your AC running! â
Your air conditioner doesnât pull in smoky outdoor air. It primarily recirculates the air already inside your home, and your HVAC filter helps capture many airborne particles as the air passes through the system.
Here are a few tips while the air quality is poor:
đ Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible.
đ Replace your furnace/AC filter sooner than usual if itâs already been in use. Wildfire smoke can clog filters more quickly.
đ¨ If your thermostat has a fan setting, running the fan can help continuously filter the air in your home.
đ If anyone in your home has asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions, consider talking with an HVAC professional about higher-efficiency filtration thatâs appropriate for your system.
Once the smoke clears, most homeowners wonât need any special cleaningâjust a fresh filter if itâs dirty.
Stay safe, everyone, and if you have questions about your HVAC system or indoor air quality, weâre always happy to help.
â Arctic Air Heating â˘Cooling â˘Electricalđ