How Do I Improve Air Quality in My Colorado Home?

As you may have noticed by now, the past few days have been interesting here in Colorado.

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Why? Well, it’s incredibly hazy outside.

As I stepped outside yesterday to get started with my day, it took me a while to notice that I couldn’t see the mountains at all. 

It was incredibly strange, and sort of depressing. Seeing the views of the mountains is one of the best parts of my day, just because they’re so beautiful.

So it made me wonder: Why is it so smoky in Colorado right now?

I then found that it was haze from fires that are happening all the way out in Canada right now.

But what concerned me more was the air quality. 

The Smoke From Canadian Wildfires is Giving Colorado Horrible Air Quality

At the moment, the wildfires are making Colorado’s air quality absolutely abysmal. 

Right now, Denver ranks as the 9th worst major city globally for air quality. That’s right, across the entire world.

In general, the worst region in the state for the smoke is north central Colorado, which encompasses places like Fort Collins. 

It’s to the point where advisories have been put in places for people to spend as little time as they can outdoors. This is especially true for people who may have heart disease or respiratory issues.

How Do I Improve Air Quality in My Home?

There’s two major methods that the Environmental Protection Agency recommends for improving your in-home air quality.

One way that is a bit tough to pull off in a short period of time is improving the ventilation in your home.

However, a quicker fix would be to get an air cleaner. You can get models that are relatively inexpensive and can fit on top of a table. 

Finally, there’s research that suggests that having plants in your home can actually improve the air quality as well. 

However, there’s no study that says how many plants will get the job done and to what degree.

When Will The Smoke in Colorado Clear Up?

If you were thinking the smoke was going to pass soon, you may be wrong.

Many models are showing that the smoke and haze will not clear up for at least a few more days.

This is especially true because now the smoke is being compounded by more wildfires in Oregon as well. KKTV says there are over 300,000 acres in the state that are currently burning.

While we would love the wildfires to end for our own sake, let’s hope they end more for the sake of the people who are being directly affected.