Health and wellness, including good indoor air quality, are important elements of a valuable home beyond size and style.
Just halfway through 2026 and even before peak wildfire season in many locations, more than 3.5 million acres have burned across the U.S. The danger of wildfires extends far beyond the burn zone: smoke and pollutants from wildfires can drift thousands of miles across continents and oceans and affect indoor air quality.
Even if wildfire smoke isn’t a danger in your area, managing your indoor air quality is an essential component of a healthy home.
Health and indoor air quality are one of the top three priorities for consumers when they’re considering buying or remodeling a home, according to survey data from Green Builder Media’sCOGNITION Smart Data™.
Wellness is also an important element ofValue Per Square Foot™, a metric that provides insights for home buyers and owners that goes far beyond the traditional price per square foot model. Instead of looking solely at upfront costs, Value Per Square Foot™ integrates sustainability, resource efficiency, wellness, comfort, equity and investment into measuring what a home is worth.
Investing in systems and features that protect your household’s health can start with a focus on indoor air quality at all times, but particularly when wildfire smoke filters into your area.
“Think of your home's ‘envelope’ as your first line of defense,” says Shu Saito, founder and CEO ofAll Filters. “Keep windows and doors closed during smoke events and run your HVAC system's fan continuously so your filter keeps working to clean recirculated indoor air. Keep indoor intake vents clear.”
Heavily polluted air from smoke or other factors requires proactive steps outside, too.
“Make sure your furnace's outdoor PVC combustion vents remain clear of debris so the heating system can breathe safely but avoid clearing or opening any vents designed to pull fresh air into the living spaces,” Saito says. “If your system has a fresh air intake, consider temporarily closing it during the worst smoke days to avoid pulling contaminated outdoor air directly inside.”
Start with the Right Filter
A good air filtration system isn’t just better for your health: it also means less dusting and less duct cleaning. Regardless of whether you’ve invested in a new energy efficient heat pump or have an older system, using the right filter is essential to keeping your system functioning at peak performance, particularly if wildfire smoke is in your area.
“Both the EPA and the CDC recommend using high-efficiency filters of MERV 13 or higher performance for improved indoor air quality, and the EPA specifically recommends these ratings for dealing with wildfire smoke,” says Andy Fox, filtration and indoor air quality specialist at Filtrete, a manufacturer of HVAC and air purifier filters. “Especially when selecting higher MERV filters, it’s important to select a filter that was developed with a balanced approach in mind, so higher efficiency can be achieved without sacrificing on airflow.”
The right HVAC filter depends on your system, so it’s best to follow your HVAC manufacturer's recommendations, says Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO ofIQAir, which provides live air quality updates as well as monitoring devices, masks and air purifiers. MERV 13 filters are common for residential use because they provide a good level of particle capture, she says.
“Higher-efficiency filters can remove more airborne particles, but they shouldn't restrict airflow or force the system to work harder,” Hammes says. “During wildfire smoke events, using the highest efficiency filter your system can support can help reduce the amount of fine smoke particles entering and circulating throughout the home.”
Most residential systems use MERV 8 to MERV 13 filters, with modern systems using MERV 11 or 13, according to Saito. MERV 8 is an affordable baseline for dust, pet dander and larger particles, he says.
“MERV ratings do go up to 20, but anything above MERV 13 can put excessive strain on the blower motor and reduce airflow below what your system needs for heating or cooling for a newer system and it’s even lower for some older systems,” Saito says. “Above MERV 16 moves into HEPA territory, which is common in commercial and industrial settings like airplanes and hospitals. I have seen some great whole-house bypass HEPA systems for residential use, but these come with a significant cost premium most of us can't afford.”
Filter Maintenance Basics
After you buy the right filter, you need to clean or replace it regularly so that it performs well. Otherwise, your HVAC will be less efficient and you could cause wear-and-tear that can lead to costly repairs or failure, Saito says. Plus, your indoor air quality can suffer if your system is recirculating dust, allergens and particulates rather than filtering them.
“Pleated filters are designed to be replaced, not cleaned,” Saito says. “Attempting to clean them breaks down the pleated media and reduces their filtering capacity. For homes with washable filters, thorough drying is critical before reinstalling; any residual moisture can lead to mold growth inside your ductwork. Keep in mind washable filters typically top out around MERV 8 or MERV 9, so while they save in replacement filter costs, they're not built for the same level of particulate filtration as a quality pleated filter.”
Nearly all 1” thick filters should be replaced at least every three months, while many 4-5” thick filters can last for 6-12 months, Fox says.
“During periods of heavy smoke, plan to replace the filter in your air cleaner or HVAC system more often than recommended by your manufacturer,” Fox says. “Practically speaking, right after a major wildfire event is a good time to start fresh with a clean HVAC filter.”
Saito suggests checking filters every two to three weeks during active smoke events. In addition, people with pets or allergies may want to check their filter every 30 to 60 days to see if they need changing.
Other times to change the filter is when seasons change from heat to air conditioning, Fox says. In addition, if the HVAC system starts making excessive noise, having trouble maintaining temperature, frequently cycling on and off or noticeably showing reduced airflow, the filter should be changed immediately, he says.
“Homeowners shouldn't rely on appearance alone to determine when a filter needs replacing,” Hammes says. “Some high-performance filters can look dirty simply because they're doing their job. Instead, follow the manufacturer's recommendations and, when available, use airflow or pressure monitoring to determine when a filter has reached the end of its service life. Many newer air purification systems also monitor filter performance and notify users when it's time for a replacement based on actual use rather than a set schedule.”
Protect Your Indoor Air Quality from Outside Dangers
When outdoor air quality is poor from smoke or other pollutants, Fox recommends setting the HVAC fan to run continuously, which, when paired with a MERV 13 efficiency filter, turns your central HVAC system into a whole-home air purifier.
“When wildfire smoke affects your area, keep windows and doors closed to help limit smoke from entering your home,” Hammes says. “Running a high-performance air purifier can help remove fine smoke particles that make their way indoors. It's also a good idea to avoid activities that generate additional indoor particles, such as frying food or burning candles, while smoke levels remain elevated.”
Saito suggests a combination approach during periods of poor air quality from pollution or wildfire, using the highest MERV filter your HVAC can handle along with standalone HEPA air purifiers in high-use rooms like the living room and bedrooms.
ERV and Air Purifier Options
Whether to invest in an air purifier or an ERV (energy recovery ventilator) depends on your home’s design, climate location in ventilation needs.
“An ERV is designed to improve ventilation by bringing fresh outdoor air into the home while exhausting stale indoor air in an energy-efficient way,” Hammes explains. “It's different from an air purifier because its primary purpose is ventilation, not filtration. Homeowners should consider outdoor air quality. During wildfire smoke events or other periods of elevated air pollution, bringing outdoor air into the home without high-efficiency filtration can increase indoor particle levels.”
An ERV helps ventilate a tightly sealed modern home without spiking your heating or cooling bills, Saito says. It works with your HVAC filtration and point-of-use HEPA purifiers.
“For most homeowners, an ERV makes the most sense in newer, tightly sealed construction where natural air exchange is limited,” he says. “It's generally a much easier and more cost-effective addition during new construction than as a retrofit, but it is possible in an older home in the right circumstances.”
Hammes recommends that all homeowners who can afford a high quality air purifier purchase one because having one can reduce exposure to airborne pollutants that their HVAC system may not fully address.
“A dedicated room air purifier continuously removes airborne particles in occupied spaces, even when the HVAC system isn't running,” she says. “In many homes, the two work best together.”
They’re particularly valuable for homes affected by wildfire smoke, traffic pollution, allergens, pets or other indoor pollution sources, as well as households with people who have asthma or other respiratory concerns, Hammes says.
Point-of-use air purifiers provide additional HEPA-level filtration in specific spaces, Saito says, with some homeowners using them in the kitchen while cooking and others using them overnight in their bedrooms or the living room when family and friends gather.
“Many newer models are app-connected, giving homeowners real-time peace of mind about what's actually being filtered,” Saito says. “Some even have cool color-coded lighting similar to what the EPA uses in its Air Quality Index. And some of the best models go a step further with indoor air quality monitors, which track particulate levels, VOCs and humidity so you can understand exactly what's circulating in your home and take targeted action instead of guessing.”
Indoor air quality deserves the same attention as any other aspect of home maintenance, Hammes says.
“Homeowners regularly think about plumbing, roofing and HVAC performance, but the air inside the home is just as important,” she says. “Small steps like replacing filters on schedule, monitoring air quality and addressing pollution sources can have a meaningful impact on the health and comfort of everyone in the home.”
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsor: ProVia.
Investing In Healthy Flow for Every Season
Health and wellness, including good indoor air quality, are important elements of a valuable home beyond size and style.
Just halfway through 2026 and even before peak wildfire season in many locations, more than 3.5 million acres have burned across the U.S. The danger of wildfires extends far beyond the burn zone: smoke and pollutants from wildfires can drift thousands of miles across continents and oceans and affect indoor air quality.
Even if wildfire smoke isn’t a danger in your area, managing your indoor air quality is an essential component of a healthy home.
Health and indoor air quality are one of the top three priorities for consumers when they’re considering buying or remodeling a home, according to survey data from Green Builder Media’s COGNITION Smart Data™.
Wellness is also an important element of Value Per Square Foot™, a metric that provides insights for home buyers and owners that goes far beyond the traditional price per square foot model. Instead of looking solely at upfront costs, Value Per Square Foot™ integrates sustainability, resource efficiency, wellness, comfort, equity and investment into measuring what a home is worth.
Investing in systems and features that protect your household’s health can start with a focus on indoor air quality at all times, but particularly when wildfire smoke filters into your area.
“Think of your home's ‘envelope’ as your first line of defense,” says Shu Saito, founder and CEO of All Filters. “Keep windows and doors closed during smoke events and run your HVAC system's fan continuously so your filter keeps working to clean recirculated indoor air. Keep indoor intake vents clear.”
Heavily polluted air from smoke or other factors requires proactive steps outside, too.
“Make sure your furnace's outdoor PVC combustion vents remain clear of debris so the heating system can breathe safely but avoid clearing or opening any vents designed to pull fresh air into the living spaces,” Saito says. “If your system has a fresh air intake, consider temporarily closing it during the worst smoke days to avoid pulling contaminated outdoor air directly inside.”
Start with the Right Filter
A good air filtration system isn’t just better for your health: it also means less dusting and less duct cleaning. Regardless of whether you’ve invested in a new energy efficient heat pump or have an older system, using the right filter is essential to keeping your system functioning at peak performance, particularly if wildfire smoke is in your area.
“Both the EPA and the CDC recommend using high-efficiency filters of MERV 13 or higher performance for improved indoor air quality, and the EPA specifically recommends these ratings for dealing with wildfire smoke,” says Andy Fox, filtration and indoor air quality specialist at Filtrete, a manufacturer of HVAC and air purifier filters. “Especially when selecting higher MERV filters, it’s important to select a filter that was developed with a balanced approach in mind, so higher efficiency can be achieved without sacrificing on airflow.”
The right HVAC filter depends on your system, so it’s best to follow your HVAC manufacturer's recommendations, says Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir, which provides live air quality updates as well as monitoring devices, masks and air purifiers. MERV 13 filters are common for residential use because they provide a good level of particle capture, she says.
“Higher-efficiency filters can remove more airborne particles, but they shouldn't restrict airflow or force the system to work harder,” Hammes says. “During wildfire smoke events, using the highest efficiency filter your system can support can help reduce the amount of fine smoke particles entering and circulating throughout the home.”
Most residential systems use MERV 8 to MERV 13 filters, with modern systems using MERV 11 or 13, according to Saito. MERV 8 is an affordable baseline for dust, pet dander and larger particles, he says.
“MERV ratings do go up to 20, but anything above MERV 13 can put excessive strain on the blower motor and reduce airflow below what your system needs for heating or cooling for a newer system and it’s even lower for some older systems,” Saito says. “Above MERV 16 moves into HEPA territory, which is common in commercial and industrial settings like airplanes and hospitals. I have seen some great whole-house bypass HEPA systems for residential use, but these come with a significant cost premium most of us can't afford.”
Filter Maintenance Basics
After you buy the right filter, you need to clean or replace it regularly so that it performs well. Otherwise, your HVAC will be less efficient and you could cause wear-and-tear that can lead to costly repairs or failure, Saito says. Plus, your indoor air quality can suffer if your system is recirculating dust, allergens and particulates rather than filtering them.
“Pleated filters are designed to be replaced, not cleaned,” Saito says. “Attempting to clean them breaks down the pleated media and reduces their filtering capacity. For homes with washable filters, thorough drying is critical before reinstalling; any residual moisture can lead to mold growth inside your ductwork. Keep in mind washable filters typically top out around MERV 8 or MERV 9, so while they save in replacement filter costs, they're not built for the same level of particulate filtration as a quality pleated filter.”
Nearly all 1” thick filters should be replaced at least every three months, while many 4-5” thick filters can last for 6-12 months, Fox says.
“During periods of heavy smoke, plan to replace the filter in your air cleaner or HVAC system more often than recommended by your manufacturer,” Fox says. “Practically speaking, right after a major wildfire event is a good time to start fresh with a clean HVAC filter.”
Saito suggests checking filters every two to three weeks during active smoke events. In addition, people with pets or allergies may want to check their filter every 30 to 60 days to see if they need changing.
Other times to change the filter is when seasons change from heat to air conditioning, Fox says. In addition, if the HVAC system starts making excessive noise, having trouble maintaining temperature, frequently cycling on and off or noticeably showing reduced airflow, the filter should be changed immediately, he says.
“Homeowners shouldn't rely on appearance alone to determine when a filter needs replacing,” Hammes says. “Some high-performance filters can look dirty simply because they're doing their job. Instead, follow the manufacturer's recommendations and, when available, use airflow or pressure monitoring to determine when a filter has reached the end of its service life. Many newer air purification systems also monitor filter performance and notify users when it's time for a replacement based on actual use rather than a set schedule.”
Protect Your Indoor Air Quality from Outside Dangers
When outdoor air quality is poor from smoke or other pollutants, Fox recommends setting the HVAC fan to run continuously, which, when paired with a MERV 13 efficiency filter, turns your central HVAC system into a whole-home air purifier.
“When wildfire smoke affects your area, keep windows and doors closed to help limit smoke from entering your home,” Hammes says. “Running a high-performance air purifier can help remove fine smoke particles that make their way indoors. It's also a good idea to avoid activities that generate additional indoor particles, such as frying food or burning candles, while smoke levels remain elevated.”
Saito suggests a combination approach during periods of poor air quality from pollution or wildfire, using the highest MERV filter your HVAC can handle along with standalone HEPA air purifiers in high-use rooms like the living room and bedrooms.
ERV and Air Purifier Options
Whether to invest in an air purifier or an ERV (energy recovery ventilator) depends on your home’s design, climate location in ventilation needs.
“An ERV is designed to improve ventilation by bringing fresh outdoor air into the home while exhausting stale indoor air in an energy-efficient way,” Hammes explains. “It's different from an air purifier because its primary purpose is ventilation, not filtration. Homeowners should consider outdoor air quality. During wildfire smoke events or other periods of elevated air pollution, bringing outdoor air into the home without high-efficiency filtration can increase indoor particle levels.”
An ERV helps ventilate a tightly sealed modern home without spiking your heating or cooling bills, Saito says. It works with your HVAC filtration and point-of-use HEPA purifiers.
“For most homeowners, an ERV makes the most sense in newer, tightly sealed construction where natural air exchange is limited,” he says. “It's generally a much easier and more cost-effective addition during new construction than as a retrofit, but it is possible in an older home in the right circumstances.”
Hammes recommends that all homeowners who can afford a high quality air purifier purchase one because having one can reduce exposure to airborne pollutants that their HVAC system may not fully address.
“A dedicated room air purifier continuously removes airborne particles in occupied spaces, even when the HVAC system isn't running,” she says. “In many homes, the two work best together.”
They’re particularly valuable for homes affected by wildfire smoke, traffic pollution, allergens, pets or other indoor pollution sources, as well as households with people who have asthma or other respiratory concerns, Hammes says.
Point-of-use air purifiers provide additional HEPA-level filtration in specific spaces, Saito says, with some homeowners using them in the kitchen while cooking and others using them overnight in their bedrooms or the living room when family and friends gather.
“Many newer models are app-connected, giving homeowners real-time peace of mind about what's actually being filtered,” Saito says. “Some even have cool color-coded lighting similar to what the EPA uses in its Air Quality Index. And some of the best models go a step further with indoor air quality monitors, which track particulate levels, VOCs and humidity so you can understand exactly what's circulating in your home and take targeted action instead of guessing.”
Indoor air quality deserves the same attention as any other aspect of home maintenance, Hammes says.
“Homeowners regularly think about plumbing, roofing and HVAC performance, but the air inside the home is just as important,” she says. “Small steps like replacing filters on schedule, monitoring air quality and addressing pollution sources can have a meaningful impact on the health and comfort of everyone in the home.”
Publisher’s Note: This content is made possible by our Today’s Homeowner Campaign Sponsor: ProVia.
Learn more about building and buying homes that are more affordable and less resource intensive.
By Michele Lerner, Associate Editor
Michele Lerner is an award-winning freelance writer, editor, and author who writes about real estate, personal finance, and business.Also Read