Could you run an AC unit and an Air Purifier safely during smoke season?

[LiefDuivel]

I have a single-hose AC unit that only has basic screen filters - for large debris and dust. Last summer, we could barely run it due to the overwhelming amount of smoke that blew into our area (avg. quality of 100-150 on IQAir) we just didn't want to risk Genji inhaling it. Unfortunately, our apartment gets well over 30 degrees celcius without AC int he summer, which I also hate exposing him to. So this year, we bought a honeywell 2000 sqft Air Purifier with approved HEPA filters and an allergen filter! (our apartment is 1200 sqft for context)

Theoretically, If the AC and the Air Purifier were both used at the same time, would it be safe to run them both during wildfire season? or would the amount of smoke being pulled in be way too much for the separate air purifier to handle? obviously we wouldn't run it if there's visible smoke outside, but moreso when the smoke has cleared but there's still PM2.5 left mucking up the air quality.

 

[Xoetix]

@Sarahmoluccan is in Canada and went through the fires there, she might be able to help. @Cali is in California, @caspin22 is... Somewhere on the west coast I think (memory of a fruit fly ). Who else... I think @flyzipper is in Canada too.

There are loads more, but I'm pre coffee and can barely remember my own name on a good day

 

[Sarahmoluccan]

I faced something similar to this last Canadian spring. Thou I don't have air conditioners. So it was just opening the window. I was able to keep my windows closed during most of it but it was difficult. Well during my research I recalling coming across something that said air conditioners generally don't have great air purifiers. Its
very good you have both.

Personally I'd keep the air conditioner off for all as long as reasonably comfortable. But I suspect overheating will kill birds faster than poor air quality, so I'd turn it on as soon you are at risk of that. I know my guy was exposed to some bad air quality because of wildfires. Its so difficult. He does have an Austin air purifier in his room. I tried to keep the exposure very minimal and only open windows when it really hot. If your apartment is getting over 30 than I think turn on your air conditioner is reasonable. But I would use it as sparely as possible. And always have the air purifier on.

Its such a frustrating situation with honestly no great answers. Basically you have to reduce harm the best you can and in this situation you have pick between the lesser. This is just my personal opinion. Hopefully some one better educated on this will chime in.

 

[MommyBird]

I want to note here that if you have gotten a ductless minisplit heat/AC system there is no air exchanged with outdoors or even with other rooms.
https://www.attainablehome.com/do-mini-splits-bring-in-air-or-recirculate/
Although if your house is older there are probably a few cracks and leaks in the construction that will let in some outdoor air.

 

[caspin22]

@Sarahmoluccan is in Canada and went through the fires there, she might be able to help. @Cali is in California, @caspin22 is... Somewhere on the west coast I think (memory of a fruit fly ). Who else... I think @flyzipper is in Canada too.

There are loads more, but I'm pre coffee and can barely remember my own name on a good day

I'm in the Phoenix area, and we haven't had any issues with wildfires here recently, but we are in the desert and it's extremely dusty. Plus we're in a valley and have poor air quality. We run the AC probably 9 months out of the year because of our climate, and have 7 HEPA air purifiers throughout the house. Between bird dander and normal dust, I have to change the filters about once a month, but every time I do, I'm grateful that all the crap that's on the filters is not in our lungs.

 

[flyzipper]

Reiterating what @MommyBird said above...

Unless you've got an anomaly, even window air conditioners recirculate indoor air, they don't pull in outdoor air into the inside.
It may be confusing because they do exhaust hot air from the condenser motor (potentially making it appear to have originated from inside), but there's a divider inside the unit.

That said, when it's smokey outside (or allergy season, etc) air sealing is important since any gaps will allow indoor and outdoor air to exchange.
Air wants to seek equilibrium, so differences in pressure and temperature between indoors and outdoors will cause movement through any cracks/gaps.

 

[Cali]

I haven't been near a big fire in awhile, so have not had to deal with that yet. I would think the air purifier would certainly help the air quality, but I am no expert. So far, I've been trying to keep my birds warm.