Once outdoor air quality improves
Check current air quality before opening up. State and local agencies publish smoke advisories and air quality readings for the Front Range.
Air the house deliberately
Open windows on opposite sides to create cross-ventilation and run bath and kitchen exhaust fans for a few hours.
Replace the furnace filter
A filter that ran through a smoke event is loaded with fine particles and odor. Swap it even if it is not due.
Wash soft surfaces
Launder bedding, throws and curtains, and vacuum upholstery and carpet with a HEPA-equipped vacuum if one is available.
Wipe hard surfaces
Damp-wipe windowsills, blinds and furniture near windows, where fine soot tends to settle first.
Recheck after a few days
Shut the house up for an afternoon, then come in from outside. If the smell is still there, look at the air system and the attic.
Why some houses hold onto it
Wildfire smoke contains very fine particles and gases that pass easily through gaps around windows, doors, attic hatches and recessed lights. Homes that rely on opening windows at night to cool off in summer, which is common on the Front Range thanks to cool evenings, may have been pulling smoke in for days before anyone noticed.
In most cases the odor from regional smoke is light and fades with airing and cleaning. It is different from the heavy residue left by a fire inside or right next to a home. When smoke lingers, the usual reasons are a dirty filter that keeps releasing what it captured, smoke drawn into an attic and seeping back down around ceiling openings, or upholstered furniture and carpet that need a real cleaning rather than a vacuum.
If a fire burned close enough to drop ash on the property, or a home sat in heavy smoke for an extended period, the cleanup is closer to fire restoration, and the homeowner's insurer may want to be involved before work starts.
Light drift versus heavy exposure
| Regional smoke drift | Nearby fire or heavy exposure |
|---|---|
| Hazy skies, smoke smell outdoors, no ash on surfaces | Ash or soot on decks, windowsills or inside |
| Odor indoors fades within days of airing | Odor persists after airing and cleaning |
| Filter change and cleaning soft goods usually enough | May need duct cleaning, attic inspection and professional cleaning |
| Rarely an insurance matter | Worth documenting and calling the insurer before cleanup |
Getting ready for the next smoke season
- Keep spare furnace filters on hand, ideally the highest rating the system is designed to handle
- Know how to set the HVAC fan to recirculate without bringing in outside air
- Weatherstrip doors and check the attic hatch seal
- Consider a portable HEPA air cleaner for a bedroom
- Close windows overnight when a smoke advisory is in effect
- Bookmark the state air quality forecast page
Common questions
Is it safe to run an ozone generator to clear smoke smell while living in the house?
No. Ozone is a lung irritant, and ozone generators are not meant to be used in occupied spaces. If ozone is ever used, it should be by a professional in a vacant home with a clear re-entry plan.
General information for Highlands Ranch, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.