Is Your Air Conditioner Making Smoky Air Worse Right Now

The SouthCoast is dealing with our second straight day of heavy wildfire smoke this afternoon, and WPRI Pinpoint Weather 12 Meteorologist TJ Del Santo says the impact is hard to miss.

Why Does the Sky Look So Weird

Del Santo described the scene outside as ominous. "It almost looks like a sepia tone outside when you're out in it," comparing it to something out of a disaster movie. He said the smoky air is unhealthy to be around for extended periods, especially for kids, the elderly, and anyone with a respiratory disease or heart condition.

Air quality started off relatively steady this morning, but Del Santo warned that a dense plume of smoke will move overhead again as the afternoon continues.

Where Is the Smoke Coming From

The source of the smoke continues to be the wildfires burning roughly a thousand miles away in Minnesota and Canada. Del Santo explained that jet stream winds are carrying the smoke across the Great Lakes and directly into the SouthCoast.

While the air quality is significantly worse near the fires themselves, in places like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, the smoke does thin out somewhat by the time it reaches the SouthCoast, though the impact is still noticeable.

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When Will the Smoke Clear

According to Del Santo, the Fall River and New Bedford area should see improved air quality by tomorrow morning, with better conditions likely lasting through Friday and possibly into Saturday.

However, he cautioned that if the wildfires are not brought under control, smoke could continue working its way back into the region in the coming days.

Does Air Conditioning Filter Out the Smoke

Del Santo also addressed a common concern about air conditioners circulating unhealthy air indoors. He confirmed that central air conditioning units pull air from inside the home and push it outside, so homeowners do not need to worry about smoke being drawn into their houses through that type of AC system.

As far as window AC units are concerned, the EPA suggets, "if you have a window air conditioner, find out how to close the outdoor air damper. If you cannot close the damper, consider preparing other cooling options like a fan. Make sure that the seal between the air conditioner and the window is as tight as possible."

Drivers should keep their vehicles on recirculate mode to avoid pulling smoky air into their cars.