For our most updated information on wildfire smoke and its relationship to COVID-19, visit our companion site, montanawildfiresmoke.org

To learn how Summer Smart fits into our community's broader climate resiliency efforts, visit climatereadymissoula.org

HEPA Portable Air Cleaners (PACs, aka air filtration units) remove the tiny particulate matter in wildfire smoke that cause real health problems. These air cleaners proved to be incredibly helpful during the crazy 2017 wildfire season.  At the time, we launched a program to not only encourage folks to purchase one for their home or business, but also to provide these to those most vulnerable. This started with helping Missoula-area seniors, and then transformed into a program to get HEPA air cleaners to public schools and also help individuals in desperate need, working with the Missoula City-County Health Department. Since 2017, we have expanded these efforts. Visit Clean Air for Schools & Daycares to learn more.

Looking for a HEPA Portable Air Cleaner? It's crucial to buy the right one and use it properly. Click on the buttons above, or just scroll down for recommendations. For more about the health risks and what else you can do is on our Wildfire Smoke page.   

Interested in a DIY filter option? 

Watch this video and visit montanawildfiresmoke.org for more information! 

What's a HEPA Portable Air Cleaner?

HEPA Portable Air Cleaners, also known as air filters, are appliances that filter out really tiny particulate matter (PM) 2.5 microns and smaller. These ultrafine bits are the most common and dangerous component of wildfire smoke, which is rolling into the Missoula Valley more frequently as our climate changes.

HEPA air cleaners typically come with replaceable carbon pre-filters that also remove the Volatile Organic Compounds in wildfire smoke (benzene, acrolein, and formeldehyde for example - causing headaches, scratchy throat, upset stomaches, and stinging eyes). Pre-filters take care of larger particles such as pollen, too.  And one more bonus: because the units blow out filtered air, they double as fans!

HEPA filters are available for central heating and cooling systems as well, but here we'll be talking exclusively about portable air cleaner units with small HEPA filters inside, that plug into a standard wall outlet in your home. Their size varies depending on the size of the room they can filter.

​To learn more about HEPA and other filters for central heating and cooling systems, click here.

How Do I Know Which Model to Buy?

Most importantly, make sure the unit uses a genuine HEPA filter. Other filter types and air purification methods may not filter the smallest PM that causes the greatest health problems, and some release small amounts of ozone gas - which isn't good for people or the planet!  If your air cleaner has a "PlasmaWave" function, we recommend turning this off (it may emit a very small amount of ozone). Avoid "HEPA-like" units. 

Other key considerations:
  • PM size. Make sure the portable air cleaner you choose filters the smallest particulate matter (PM) possible. Some units only filter down to 3 microns - which means they do NOT filter out smoke. The best units we found filter down to 0.3 microns.
  • Room size. Buy the right portable air cleaner to fit the room where you'll use it most frequently. We recommend the bedroom (see below). Most units list the size room they can filter effectively. Some list a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). In this case, choose a tobacco smoke CADR at least 2/3 the room’s area. For example, a 10’ x 12’ room (120 square feet) would require an air cleaner with a tobacco smoke CADR of at least 80.
  • Filter maintenance.​ Some HEPA filters must be replaced from time to time. A few models can be cleaned with occasional washing or vacuuming. Consider how much cleaning you're capable of doing, how much you're willing to spend on replacement filter. 
  • Ozone. Some air cleaners produce ozone, which is a pollutant and harmful to human health. Check to make sure the unit you're interested in has been approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) here. The CARB only approves units that do not produce harmful levels of ozone.
  • Noise level. Some units are noisier than others. If this is a concern, check user comments and online customer feedback.
  • Energy Star rating. To save energy and money on your electricity bill, choose an air cleaner with the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star rating.
  • Cost. Consider the factors above and purchase what you can afford. Look for sales of course!

HEPA Portable Air Cleaners that We Recommend
All of these air cleaners filter PM as small as 0.3 microns and have an Energy Star rating. They are all available online, and some are available in local stores. Prices vary depending on where and when you buy them. These are by no means the only ones, just a helpful start.  
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  • The Winix 5300-2 works for rooms up to 360 square feet and costs about $150-200. It comes with four replaceable carbon pre-filters.
  • The Winix 5500-2 ​is very similar to the one above. It also has a remote control, and costs ~$230. Both the Winix 5300 and 5500 filters are particularly quiet and have good CADR specifications.
  • The Lasko Pure Silver HF25610 works for rooms up to 160 square feet and costs about $160. It has replaceable filters and may be available at ACE Hardware. 
  • The Honeywell HPA 160 works for rooms up to 170 square feet and costs about $180. It has replaceable filters.
  • The Germ Guardian AC4825 works for rooms up to 150 square feet and costs about $100. Replace the filter when it turns gray.

​Again, Check this list of approved filters from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) here. 

Got One! Now How Do I Use It and Keep It Working?

We highly recommend using your HEPA air cleaner in your bedroom at night. This way your body gets a break while you sleep, and for most people, this is the longest period of time you'll spend in one room. For most of us, the portable nature of these units allow you to move them to a more central room during the day.  For people who cannot move their filter, simply keep it in the room you spend the most time, with the doors open between rooms. 

HEPA Portable Air Cleaners work best when all windows and outside doors are closed. This is easy in the winter, but it can be more complicated with hotter weather during wildfire season. During Hotter Days, we generally recommend closing windows and blinds to keep your home cool, then opening them back up at night to draw in cool air. When it's both smokey and hot, this is difficult and the best thing to do is carefully assess the current air quality and balance that with the health risks from overheating. This is especially a concern for the elderly. 

Often the air is healthier and starting to cool in the evening, providing an opportunity to open windows, run fans if you have them and then close them again just before going to bed in anticipation of nighttime smoke settling patterns.  Again, if your home is sweltering, it could be more important to cool off your bedroom than to clean the air. Fans help a bunch, as can air conditioners set on recirculate (remember to clean or replace your A/C filter). For more tips on how to cool your home, see our Hotter Days, Warmer Nights page.

UPKEEP -- change your filters! If you have activated carbon pre-filter to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), be sure to change the filters frequently, as they can be quickly saturated with particles. Activated carbon pre-filters can be pricey, but for some folks the removal of VOC' is worth it. Regular pre-carbon filters are usually inexpensive.

After about a year of use, you will need to change the HEPA filter itself.  These replacement filters cost ~ $25-$50. You can buy the brand name or even off-brand, which tend to be cheaper. If off-brand, be sure the filter is sized appropriately.  If not, dirty air can get around the filter, providing little or no filtration. 
donated generously. What a collaboration!

In 2018, United Way of Missoula County again generously decided to help us prepare our community by funding a Clean Air Needs Assessment for Missoula County Schools. For a summary of this effort as well as our 2018 clean air for daycares program, go to the Clean Air for Schools and Daycares page of our website.  A great article in the Missoula Current about our 2018 efforts can be found here. We were also able to launch a new website in 2018: MontanaWildfireSmoke.org
Can you consider paying it forward and donating to allow us to purchase more filters and serve more in need?  Head to our DONATE page, and select "Clean Air" under the drop-down menu.  

Thank You to the Winix Company for providing discounts in 2017 and 2018 on portable HEPA air cleaners, allowing us to stretch our donations farther. 

Finally, many helped Climate Smart advise and fund this program. The progress we made in 2017 couldn't have happened without Terri, our amazing University of Montana EVST graduate fellow who spent months researching and getting this effort up and running. Thank You Terri! And a big thanks to Sarah Coefield at the City-County Health Department for her hard work and collaborative efforts in both 2017 and 2018!
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Intern Terri with volunteers from Lion's Den Ministries - getting ready to deliver filters.
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A happy air purifier recipient!
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Amy with another pile of filters - these headed to the Swan Valley