07/16/2026
That's not fog, Jersey. That's smoke — and it's inside your house too.
If you stepped outside this morning and the sky looked wrong, you weren't imagining it. Smoke from more than 800 wildfires burning across Canada has settled over New Jersey, and the DEP has us under a Code Red air quality alert. The metro AQI hit 156 at 6 a.m. — that's "unhealthy" for everyone, not just sensitive groups.
Today is expected to be the worst day of this stretch. It sticks around through Friday, and we're likely looking at Saturday's storms to finally scrub it out.
We're an HVAC company, so here's the part we actually know something about — and it's the part people miss:
Closing your windows helps, but your house isn't sealed. Fine smoke particles find their way in. What matters is what you do with the air once it's inside.
Three things. All free. All take five minutes:
🪟 1. Close your windows. Yes, even overnight when it feels cooler. Run the AC instead.
🌡️ 2. Set your thermostat fan to "ON" — not "AUTO." This is the big one. On AUTO, your blower only runs while it's actively heating or cooling, so your air just sits there. Flip it to ON and your system keeps cycling every bit of air in your house through the filter all day long. The EPA says continuous fan + a decent filter can cut indoor smoke particles by roughly half. It costs you a few bucks in electricity. It's the best move you've got.
🔲 3. Look at your filter. Right now. Smoke loads a filter up shockingly fast. If it's dark, swap it — never mind what the box says about 90 days. And if you're due for a change anyway, a MERV 13 will catch a lot more of the fine stuff than the cheap fiberglass ones. Most systems handle a MERV 13 fine as long as you change it on time — but if you're not sure yours can, ask somebody before you jam one in. Too restrictive a filter on the wrong system can choke your airflow.
Also worth knowing: pick one room, keep the door shut, and put a portable HEPA in it. The EPA calls it a "clean room." If somebody in your house has asthma or a heart condition, that's where they should be today.
We're not selling anything with this post. Genuinely — go change your filter and flip your fan to ON. That's it. That's the post.
If you get stuck or your system's acting up in this heat, you know where we are. Otherwise, look out for your neighbors — especially the older ones and the folks with little kids.
Comfort has a hero. Today it's just good information. 💙
— Brian & the Delco team, Sayreville
⚠️ Not medical advice — if you have a heart or lung condition and you're having trouble breathing, call your doctor or 911.
