Late August in Calgary can still bring wildfire smoke, and that makes a simple home prep checklist worth doing now. A few small fixes can help keep your indoor air cleaner and your home more comfortable when the smoke rolls in.
Start with your furnace or A/C filter. The City of Calgary recommends keeping these filters clean during smoke events, and using a filter rated MERV 13, or as high as your system can handle safely. When smoke is outside, close windows and doors and turn off bathroom or kitchen fans so smoke is less likely to enter the home.
Repair worn weather stripping and damaged windows. Calgary’s climate-ready home guidance notes that fixing these can help reduce smoke infiltration and improve comfort. A portable HEPA air purifier in rooms you use most is another practical way to reduce fine smoke particles indoors.
Clear leaves, needles, and debris from roofs and gutters. Calgary’s wildfire guidance recommends removing combustible debris from roofs, vents, and gutters, which is especially useful when dry late-summer conditions make fire risk worse. While you’re at it, review your home’s fire-resistant features. The City recommends Class A fire-resistant roofing materials and non-combustible or ignition-resistant siding options such as cement board, stucco, brick, or metal when renovating.
Keep an eye on your outdoor space too. Calgary advises maintaining a non-combustible zone near the home, storing firewood and propane tanks away from the house, and clearing dead vegetation, because the area around the home matters just as much as the inside.
If you own a home in Calgary, August is a good time to do a quick “smoke readiness” check before fall weather settles in. If you’re buying, it’s smart to look at filter access, window seals, and exterior maintenance as part of your regular home care routine, not just the pretty stuff. Small maintenance habits can make your home feel safer and easier to live in, especially when the air outside gets a little ugly, ya know.
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Stay proactive, stay prepared, and keep your home ready for whatever Calgary throws at it.
Sources: City of Calgary, CMHC, Government of Alberta, Natural Resources Canada / EnerGuide, CBC.
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