DIY air filter for wildfire smoke

I live where the Mississippi runs west, and local weather people have been commenting on the smoke we are getting from the west coast fires..

 

My Folks sent me photos that look like that, In Salem! I guess there is no off shore winds to push and disperse the smoke to the east, instead the smoke is getting blown up from Cali! I just sent Dad the info for the Fan filter set up, Thanks Y.D.

 

I have been doing this sinc 2010.
It works.
Get a 20''x20" filter, a 20'' box fan and some clear tape.

 

Another trick, but more complex and expensive! Make a water filter using the same idea as a Bong! Draw the air through the water and you will trap 100% of the contaminates! Dad is building such a contraption as we speak, Will see if he can post photos of it and a report on how well it works and a list of materials and cost!

 

The suggested filter in th OP could do double duty as a fallout shelter filter. A tighter seal might be recommended for that usage.

A useful improvised facemask is an infant's cotton diaper / nappy...use it as a bandana. I had a couple of these in my kit when i was in the rural fire service...they gave some measure of protection from smoke and dust, and offered good protection against flying embers and radiant heat.

I used velcro fasteners as a quick way of tightly securing the bandana around my face and neck..instead of a white bandana i had a fruity mauve...which as usual diferrentiated me fron the rest.

 

A good swamp cooler will capture the particles pretty well, smoke can still sneak in but not badly.
I have carpenter painting filter masks for serious events. one for the house one for the vehicle and one for the bike. respirator type masks that cover the eyes as well make a big difference. its not over doing it ,fireman do no less .

 

I use a filter on a box fan in the garage to filter sawdust out of the air. Also wear a 3M white mask. It works, but stuff still gets past.

We had fires in our area a couple years back. Evening time was particularly worse because the fire would 'lay down' for the night. During the day smoke would rise and the air quality improved immensely.

Waking up in the morning and the air smells like fire smoke was something I'll never forget.

 

Wow YD, those photos show a pretty thick concentration of smoke. I used to live in northern Nevada and wildfires were a yearly occurrence, typically burning 250,000 - 500,000 acres of sagebrush. The smoke never got that thick.

 

Actually when my consumer grade 1 inch thick 20x20 filters I bought at lowes run out I was going to buy some 2 inch thick 20x20 industrial/commercial grade filters.
Maybe some one else can try it first?

 

If there is a volcanic event your going to want several filters and the means to keep the air moving without city power and if your running a generator it will need the same attention because it needs air for both running and cooling. you vehicle will need a stand by engine air filter if your caught out and about during such an event .Another thing I might add is to provide one self the means to clean their filters in the event it goes longer or the severity is more than the few filters you've stored can function .
This is what makes a water bath filter more practical in an event like this. it will capture more debris and not clog up like paper will. and it will last indefinitely and what ever your using to move the air will not be as adversely affected as the debris thicken the water,
Cleaning would be simply dumping the polluted water and adding fresh .
Since it is going to be polluted, potable water is not necessary for this operation but a little chlorine couldn't hurt.

 

I made filter fan Gen 2.
Gen 1 is tape a 20x20 dust filter to a box fan. Gen 2 prototype is tape one of those high end merv 13 air filers to a quiet bathroom fan, use cardboard to make up the difference between the small bathroom fan and the 24x24 filter. The finished model will use plywood and might use 2 fans.
You don't have to use a quiet high efficiency bathroom fan, you can use a cheap noisy fan if you want.