A panoramic view of a mountain range with wildfire smoke covering the clouds

Estimated Reading Time 

  • 4 minutes

TLDR

With wildfires becoming an increasingly common occurrence, the need for a reliable solution to combat the harmful effects of smoke in our homes has never been greater. That solution is air purifiers. These devices are our first line of defense against the dangerous particles that accompany wildfire smoke.

So how do you find the best air purifier for smoke? Let’s take a look at the features you need to look for and the top choices available on the market.

How Wildfire Smoke Causes Health Risks

Wildfire smoke poses significant health risks. Understanding the depth of the issue is the key to truly protecting ourselves and our family, pets, or staff.

Increasing Prevalence and Severity

Wildfires are becoming increasingly prevalent and severe. According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), 9,080 fires burned 867,538 acres in the U.S. in August 2023 alone.

They further report that as of August 28, 2023, there have been 38,831 fires in the U.S. that have burned a staggering 1.96 million acres year-to-date. These statistics prove that wildfires are an escalating threat to our environment, health, and well-being.

Health Risks

Wildfire contains harmful particles and gasses that pose significant health risks, especially to the most vulnerable, such as pregnant people, the elderly, and those with pre-existing lung conditions. Common issues seen include:

  • Respiratory issues like bronchitis
  • Aggravation of chronic diseases like asthma and heart disease
  • Eye irritation
  • A weakened immune system
  • Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes

The Importance of Air Purifiers

The air we breathe during wildfire season becomes saturated with harmful particles, so indoor air quality is a top concern. Air purifiers work day in and day out to capture the microscopic particles and neutralize the harmful gasses and odors that come with them.

Consumer Reports & Air Quality

With wildfires becoming a recurring headline, Consumer Reports shared that 26,000 fires have scorched nearly 750,000 acres across the U.S. up until July 14, 2023. That’s a drop from the 5.1 million acres in the same timeframe of 2022. 

Despite the drop in numbers, countless Americans are grappling with poor air quality because of wildfires in Canada. And when you compare these figures with the more recent statistics we shared earlier, we see that over 10,000 fires occurred between July and August of 2023. 

It goes to show how unpredictable these fires are and how far-reaching their impact can be.

Benefits of Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke 

Air purifiers possess technologies that keep our indoor spaces safer during wildfires in several ways.

How They Work

Air purifiers are designed to cleanse the air by capturing and neutralizing pollutants. They use various technologies; High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters and activated carbon filters are at the heart of their system. 

HEPA Filters

HEPA filters comprise a dense mesh of fibers that trap up to 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns as air is drawn into the purifier, ensuring that only clean air gets circulated back into the room. HEPA filters are used in hospitals and other high-risk facilities as a measure against the spread of illness through airborne particles.

Activated Carbon Filters

Top rated air purifiers also include activated carbon filters, which absorb gasses, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) commonly released during wildfires. Since activated carbon is porous, it can bind with these substances, neutralize them, and prevent them from being released back into the air. They work well at reducing the smell of the smoke itself.

Other Technologies

Other optional technologies supplement the two filters above, providing a holistic solution that keeps your air pure and clean. 

For example, UV-C light technology neutralizes airborne pathogens — including bacteria and viruses — by damaging their DNA.

In addition, ionizers release negatively charged ions that bind with positively charged particles in the air. They clump together and get captured by the purifier’s filters or settle out of the air.

Their Benefits

Air purifiers offer numerous benefits during wildfire season, including:

  • Enhanced respiratory health
  • Neutralized odors
  • Protection for babies, children, the elderly, pets, and those with pre-existing health conditions
  • Improved sleep quality
  • Long-term health protection

Key Features to Consider When Choosing Clean Breathing

When choosing the right air purifier, you need to focus on the specific features that meet your needs — especially when you’re trying to combat wildfire smoke. These features can elevate your user experience and air quality.

Consider the following six key features when making your decision:

  1. Filter types (HEPA, activated carbon, and optional UV-C and ionizing)
  2. Room size coverage
  3. Noise levels
  4. Energy efficiency
  5. Portability and mounting capabilities
  6. Smart features

Top Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke 

The best air purifier for smoke prioritizes features that specifically target smoke particles and associated pollutants.

Key Features to Consider

The HEPA filter and carbon filter combination is the most crucial. You also need to consider room changes per hour — how many times the air purifier can clean the entire volume of air in a specific room within an hour. The higher the rate, the better.

Some cool bonus features include smart features like adjustable air speeds or intelligent notifications when the filter needs to be changed. Other nice-to-haves are Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) and the Associate of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) certifications, which verify that the air purifier was tested for efficiency and performance in real-world conditions.

Binding101's Top Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke

We evaluated numerous models and their key features to curate the following list of top rated air purifiers that excel in combating wildfire smoke:

  1. AeraMax Pro AM3r
  2. AeraMax SV
  3. TruSens Z700
  4. AeraMax 190
  5. Luft AP30

Tips for Using Air Purifiers Effectively

How you use your air purifier can significantly influence its efficacy. Here are some best practices to get the most out of your device:

  1. Proper placement: Don’t place your standing air purifier directly in front of walls, large furniture, open windows, or fans. Instead, place it near the primary source of pollution, like a fireplace or stove, or closest to your most frequented areas.
  2. Recommended fan speed settings: Adjust the speed based on the current air quality. Use higher speeds during peak pollution and lower speeds during quieter times.
  3. Integration with HVAC system: If your home has an HVAC system, consider integrating your air purifier for more uniform air cleaning throughout your house. Your HVAC specialist will have more information on this option.
  4. Ventilation: Create regular ventilation in your space when the outdoor air quality is good by opening windows.
  5. Sealing gaps: Seal gaps in doors and windows to prevent polluted air from seeping in.

Things to Know

Are air purifiers worth it for wildfire smoke?

Definitely! According to Consumer Reports, air purifiers with HEPA filters are specially designed to eliminate up to 85% of particles, including those in wildfire smoke.

What's the best air purifier for smoke?

The best air purifier for smoke is one that combines HEPA and activated carbon filters to eliminate smoke particles and odors. It also has a high air change rate of 4 or higher.

Where can I service my Air Purifier?

The manufacturer often services your air purifier during the warranty period. Binding101  also offers service programs that feature service calls to your home and service contracts with unlimited repairs.

Protect your Space from Wildfire Smoke

As wildfires continue to become a more prevalent concern, safeguarding your indoor environment is necessary. With the right air purifier, you can keep your home or workspace free from the harmful pollutants in smoke and safeguard your health and well-being.

Binding101 offers a variety of top rated air purifiers for wildfire smoke.

 Shop the Best Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke


For more information or a quote, call us at (866) 537-2244 (866) 537-2244 or email info@buy101.com


Mallory Morsa, Binding101 Product Expert About the Author • Mallory Morsa has been part of Binding101 since 2008 and she is the primary content creator for BUY101® information. She began in customer service and sales where she honed in her skills to provide the customer with professional, fast, and accurate information. Shortly after, she was promoted to sales supervisor and also took on the role of product expert, training the team on new products. Throughout this time, she also wrote content for the site, as well as contributed stock photography and videography. As the team grew, she moved to an official position as the content specialist and social media manager. Her skills in these variety of areas give her the unique expertise to not just create content for the web, but to create content for you, the customer. She has a Bachelor's degree in business management and marketing, was on the Dean's List each year, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. In her free time, Mallory's favorite things to do include volunteering at the animal shelter by bottle feeding neonatal kittens, reading at the park, cooking plant-based meals, playing board games, hiking, and binge streaming TV shows with her furbabies and family beside her.