Quick answer
A clean-air room is one room where you focus your smoke-reduction efforts. Pick a room where people sleep or spend the most time, then size the purifier properly and reduce outdoor air leaks as much as practical.
Setup checklist
- Choose a bedroom or main living room.
- Close windows and doors during smoke events.
- Use a properly sized portable air cleaner.
- Run it continuously when smoke is a concern.
- Keep the filter changed.
- Avoid candles, smoking, frying, and other indoor particle sources.
- Use weather stripping or towels for obvious gaps if needed.
Sources & further reading
Check the original guidance for details that apply to your home. How we use sources
- Health Canada
Wildfire smoke: health effects of exposure
PM2.5 risk framing and vulnerable household context.
- Health Canada
Using a portable air cleaner to filter wildfire smoke
CADR sizing, clean-air-room guidance, HEPA/carbon distinctions.
- Health Canada
Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health: Protecting your physical and mental health
Wildfire smoke protection guidance, including high-quality HVAC filters, certified portable air cleaners, DIY air cleaner caveats, newer certified box fans, filter changes, and not leaving DIY fans unattended or running while sleeping.
- Health Canada
Guidance for cleaner air spaces during wildfire smoke events
Cleaner-air-space guidance for wildfire smoke, including highest MERV rating the system can handle, MERV 13+ for fine particulate matter, and pressure-drop/system-capability caveats.