What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
When smoke or particle haze is outside, reduce what enters your home, filter the air where people spend time, and avoid adding particles indoors. Close windows and doors when it is safe to stay inside, use compatible HVAC filtration or a correctly sized portable air cleaner, and move to a cleaner-air location if you cannot keep the home both cool and safe.
What to do first when outdoor air quality is poor
- Check local conditions. Look up your area using AirNow, your state or local air agency, or local alerts. Conditions can change quickly, so use the current reading rather than a fixed AQI threshold.
- Limit outdoor air entering the home. Close windows and exterior doors when it is safe to remain indoors. If your heating or cooling system has an outdoor-air intake, switch it to recirculation or close the intake during smoky periods, if the system allows it. EPA guidance covers emergency indoor air quality and smoke-related questions.
- Filter indoor air. Run a compatible forced-air HVAC fan with an efficient filter, and/or run a portable air cleaner sized for the room. Details on choosing each are below.
- Reduce indoor particle sources. Pause activities that add smoke, aerosols, or cooking particles until outdoor air improves.
- Reassess heat and safety. If the home becomes too hot or cannot be protected adequately with windows closed, go to a cleaner-air location. Keep doors and exits usable.
Choose a filtration option that fits your home
Particle filtration can reduce fine particles indoors, but it is not a universal haze remover: a particle filter should not be assumed to remove every gas, chemical, or odor. The best approach depends on your equipment and the room you need to protect.
| Option | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Portable air cleaner | One room, a home without forced-air HVAC, or an additional layer alongside HVAC filtration | Smoke CADR for the room, ozone emissions or certification, noise, and replacement-filter needs |
| HVAC filter | A home with compatible forced-air heating or cooling and a fan that can run | MERV 13 or the highest rating the system accommodates; correct fit and airflow |
| DIY box-fan cleaner | A temporary or lower-cost option when a commercial cleaner is unavailable or unaffordable | Construction quality and performance vary; it is not EPA’s preferred permanent substitute for a tested commercial cleaner when one is available and affordable |
| Cleaner-air location | The home cannot be kept cool or adequately protected | Whether you can reach and remain in a safer place without creating other risks |
How to use a portable air cleaner for smoke
Size it by smoke CADR and room area
Check the cleaner’s smoke clean air delivery rate (CADR), then compare it with the area of the room where it will run. EPA’s current cleaner-air-room guidance recommends a smoke CADR of at least two-thirds of the room area in square feet. For example, a 150-square-foot room calls for a smoke CADR of at least 100 (150 × 2/3). EPA states this sizing criterion in its indoor air filtration fact sheet and cleaner-air-room guidance.
Check ozone and placement
Choose a unit that emits little or no ozone; EPA recommends CARB-certified cleaners as a way to identify cleaners meeting California’s ozone-emission limits. Place the cleaner in the room people use most, follow the manufacturer’s clearance and operating instructions, and run it continuously during smoky conditions when safe. A unit sized for one room does not guarantee equivalent cleaning throughout an entire home.
#1 Best Overall
- WHY CHOOSE AHAM VERIFIDE AIR PURIFIERS: AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) is an ANSI-accredited organization that sets strict standards for appliance performance. Air purifiers with the AHAM VERIFIDE seal have been independently tested for air cleaning performance and energy efficiency. When you choose an AHAM certified air purifier, you're choosing a product trusted for reliable and effective indoor air quality improvement
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE AIR PURIFICATION: A powerful 56W high-torque motor and 143 CFM CADR delivers fast, effective cleaning. The Levoit Original Filter is HEPA-grade while operating in Sleep Mode (Based on IEST RP C001.7). Ideal for home, bedroom, or office
- AHAM VERIFIDE, PROVEN PERFORMANCE: AHAM VERIFIDE with a CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) rating of 143 CFM for smoke, 153 CFM for dust, and 167 CFM for pollen—refreshing air in a 222 ft² room 4.8 times per hour and a 1,073 ft² room once per hour
- GENUINE REPLACEMENT FILTERS: For the best performance and longest lifespan, use official Levoit filters designed specifically for Levoit air purifiers. Levoit replacement filters ensure the best fit and high-efficiency filtration, while off-brand filters may be unreliable and may damage your Levoit air purifier
- FIND COMFORT: Our filter has strong filtration performance of fine particles. 99.97% filtration efficiency for 0.1 to 0.3μm airborne particulates, including pollen, dust, and animal dander allergens. Tested by an independent lab
How to use forced-air HVAC filtration
If your home has forced-air heating or cooling, EPA advises using a MERV 13 filter or the highest efficiency your system can accommodate. The filter should fit properly so air does not bypass it. Run the fan as often as practical during smoky conditions, and use recirculation or close the outdoor-air intake if that control is available.
MERV 13 is not suitable for every system: a more restrictive filter can affect airflow when equipment is not designed for it. Check the HVAC manufacturer’s instructions or ask an HVAC professional if you are unsure what rating and fan operation your system supports. EPA’s emergency indoor-air guidance provides the relevant recommendations.
Rank #2
- Effortless Operation: Simplified control panel with intuitive design makes it easy to operate. No complicated setup—just one tap, and you're on your way to cleaner air, saving time and letting you relax with ease
- Compact Yet Powerful: Covers up to 1,076 ft² while maintaining a compact size of just 6.69 x 6.69 x 9.84 inches. Its small frame makes placement a breeze—whether on your desk or in a corner, it's ready to work hard wherever you need it (Laboratory Tested: Our air purifier efficiently cleans 250 ft² every 15 minutes, covering up to 1,076 ft² per hour)
- 360° Airflow & High Efficiency Filtration: The elegantly engineered 360° surround air intake, coupled with the sophisticated a triple-layer filtration system, meticulously captures an astounding 99.97% of airborne pollutants, transforming your living space into a sanctuary of purity and vitality
- Quiet with Essential Oil Option: Operates as quietly as 22dB, perfect for undisturbed sleep. The built-in essential oil tray lets you add 3–5 drops to infuse your space with soothing scents while enjoying purified air
- Fully Certified: Backed by DOE, ETL, FCC, CARB, CE, and ROHS certifications, our air purifier meets the highest standards for performance, giving you peace of mind with every use
Can a box fan and filter help?
A box fan fitted with high-efficiency filters can be a temporary or lower-cost particle-filtration option, but its effectiveness depends on how it is built and used. EPA prefers commercial air cleaners with known performance when those are available and affordable. If you use a DIY unit, follow current safety and construction guidance from a reliable source, keep it stable and unobstructed, and do not treat it as a tested equivalent to a commercial cleaner. EPA discusses DIY and commercial filtration in its filtration fact sheet and cleaner-air-room guidance.
Stop adding particles indoors
While outdoor air is smoky, avoid indoor activities that create particles. EPA’s smoke exposure FAQ and current smoke guidance advise avoiding:
Rank #3
- 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐢𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 & 𝐋𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬: This air purifier for home pets is designed with a larger front air inlet and wider dual-side air inlet, which can pull air from multiple sides and trap airborne pet hairs and odors more easily. Engineered to tackle the wildfire smoke, floating ash, and heavy smog, this high-performance air purifier creates a safe haven indoors, keeping your indoor air fresh during severe air quality alerts
- 𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐌𝟐.𝟓 𝐀𝐐𝐈 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 & 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞: Built-in high-precision PM2.5 air quality sensor, real-time monitoring and digital display of indoor air quality. In Auto Mode, the purifier automatically ramps up to higher speed the moment it detects incoming wildfire smoke or household odors, ensuring no-hassle, round-the-clock purification.
- 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫 & 𝟑-𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧: Equipped with a high-efficiency 3-stage filtration system, the air cleaner can capture micro-sized airborne particles, including harmful PM2.5 particulates, dusty combustion ash, seasonal pollen, and pet dander. Cleaning the pre-filter helps save your daily replacement cost and extend the life of the HEPA filter. More activated carbon pellets help absorb unpleasant odors
- 𝟒 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲-𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠: The room air purifier has 4 adjustable fan speeds. You can choose the fan speed according to the air quality. The higher the wind speed, the faster the purification speed. When you are out or resting, you can set the air purifier to automatically shut off after 2/4/6/8 hours to reduce energy costs. Running at maximum wind speed for 24 hours only consumes 0.63 kW·h of electricity
- 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝐝𝐁 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬: Choose our quiet air purifier for bedroom. Noise is as low as 20dB in sleep mode. Low noise, low speed and no lights make it perfect for a good night's sleep. Even light-sleeping babies or pets can enjoy fresh and clean air on quiet nights
- Smoking or vaping
- Burning candles or incense, or using fireplaces and wood-burning stoves
- Aerosol sprays
- High-particle cooking, such as frying or broiling
- Vacuuming unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter
Balance smoke protection with staying cool
Closing windows helps limit smoke entry, but an overheated home can also be unsafe. Use air conditioning or fans that do not pull smoky outdoor air inside, if available. If you need to open windows to cool the home, EPA advises using cooler periods where possible; close them once the indoor temperature is manageable, then filter the indoor air.
If you cannot keep the home cool with openings closed, seek another location with cleaner air rather than enduring unsafe heat. Do not block exits or make a cleaner-air room difficult to leave. EPA explains this trade-off in its cleaner-air-room guidance and smoke exposure recommendations.
Rank #4
- Air Quality Monitoring: This air purifier is designed with a built-in PM2.5 sensor and real-time display, eliminating the need for guesswork about air quality. In auto mode, when it detects a decline in air quality, the purifier with the indicator changing to green, blue, yellow or red, and the fan accelerating to purify the air more efficiently.
- Remarkable Filtration: Featuring an advanced filtration system, the air purifier effectively removes airborne particles (such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and smoke ). When activated, this air cleaner can refresh the atmosphere in a space up to 2400 sq ft / 223 m² every 30 minutes, ensuring you enjoy a fresh and comfortable air quality throughout the day in your home or office. (Note: For significant amounts of pet hair on floors or fabric surfaces, we recommend use other cleaning products.)
- 3-Stage Advanced Filtration: Our air filter combines a high-efficiency purification filter with 3 layers to can effectively filter out the impurities in the air. This high-performance system delivers thorough air purification, creating a healthier living environment for you and your loved one. (Note: The filter needs to be replaced every 3 to 6 months, and must not be cleaned with water or other liquids.)
What indoor particle levels can you expect?
During wildfire smoke events, indoor PM2.5 has generally been around 55% to 60% of outdoor levels in studies of homes with doors and windows closed and no portable air cleaners in use, according to the U.S. EPA’s page accessed in 2026. EPA notes that results vary substantially by home, with reported indoor levels ranging approximately from 30% to 100% of outdoor levels. These figures describe observed conditions, not a prediction or guarantee for an individual home. See EPA’s Strategies to Reduce Exposure Indoors.
When outdoor air improves
Once local air quality has improved, air out the home to clear remaining smoky air, consistent with EPA guidance. Check local conditions first, then open windows when the outdoor air is suitable.
Best Value
- Cleaner Air In Minutes: Purivortex is proven to filter common pollutants from your home’s air. This air purifier purifies rooms up to 880 ft² in one hour. It can purify a 215 ft² room in about 15 minutes, giving you noticeably fresher air in a short time. Breathe clean, crisp air and feel the difference in your space. (*Tested in an ISO 17025 certified laboratory under typical residential room ventilation conditions.)
- Breathe Easier with 99.97% Filtration: Purivortex HEPA air purifiers for home feature a powerful 3-layer filtration system — a pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon—that filter up to 99.97% of pollutants, including dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, and VOCs. Purivortex air filters filter out particles as small as 0.1 microns, while the carbon filter helps reduce light household odors from smoke, pets, and cooking.**(**Independently tested in an ISO 17025 laboratory.)
- Bigger Filter, Better Purification: Purivortex goes beyond the standard—while most purifiers of this size use a 4 inch filter, Purivortex air filters stand tall at 6 inches. That’s nearly 1.5× larger, pulling in more air and delivering cleaner results, faster. Filter made of FSC-Certified paper, sourced from responsibly managed forests, ensuring both high performance and care for the environment.
- Backed by Science, Trusted by Standards: Purivortex air purifiers are rigorously tested to deliver powerful purification performance. Certified by ETL, FCC, and CARB for safety and energy efficiency, and verified through independent SGS laboratory testing to prove their effectiveness. With Purivortex, you get science-backed confidence in every breath.
- 2 Years of Guaranteed Confidence: Purivortex stands behind the quality and performance of every purifier, which is why Purivortex air purifiers come with a full 2-year warranty. More than 500,000 families have already chosen Purivortex for cleaner, fresher air. With added convenience features such as 3 timer settings (4H/8H/12H), 4 fan modes (Sleep/Low/Med/High), and 4 night light modes (Multicolor, Blue, Green, Purple), Purivortex delivers comfort tailored to your lifestyle.
If you have to go outside
Filtration inside the home does not protect you while you are outdoors. If outdoor exposure cannot be avoided during smoke, EPA advises wearing a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 respirator for particle exposure. Follow the respirator’s fit and use instructions; it does not remove haze from the home.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
