Wildfire Smoke

[Gompers]

Anyone else on the west coast absolutely choking from this smoke? We did a local move last week and of fucking course the AC died when the movers removed the front door to get the refrigerator in.

We have two window AC units and 6 air purifiers running in the living room. I also picked up the $30 smoke rated HVAC air filters and slapped them on the back of a couple box fans.

I'm doing all I can to protect my family, but the AQI has been sitting at like 250 the last few days and it'll stay that way all week according to the forecast.

Guess we'll all just slowly choke to death here.

[Tgo01]

That's crazy. Hopefully things improve soon.

[Gompers]

I'm in Reno, NV. Luckily my wife's family lives in the Bay area so she'll take her asthmatic grandma and our kids there and I'll just sit here and choke in it.

It's not safe for anyone here, it's ridiculously smoggy and disgusting. Everytime I open the door to check my plants or let the dogs out, I just visualize this acrid smoke that you can't see up close, but you know is there (because you can smell it immediately and can't see more than a quarter mile away in the distance.)

Personally, I've gone through two deployments as a Marine infantryman to Iraq and this is more mentally taxing than anything I experienced overseas. It's everywhere and you can taste it when you're outside for more than 2 minutes.

[MokiePrime]

I feel almost guilty because the air quality here in Portland has been great because we are west of all the major fires. Sorry for sending it all your way, everyone.

[Taernath]

We had some in Phoenix earlier this month but last season was real bad. It's gone now, currently being inundated in a biblical flood. See you down in Arizona Bay.

[Alashir]

I feel almost guilty because the air quality here in Portland has been great because we are west of all the major fires. Sorry for sending it all your way, everyone.

Fellow Portlander here...whats up!!!

[Gelston]

I remember back when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, we had so many wildfires. I remember a big one, I think 2016, where on Sunday I could see the smoke way up north, by tuesday we were evacuated to an airstrip. Fire on both sides of us. Woke up covered in ash.

Another fire my battalion kinda caused. We were doing land nav exercises and crap, and then we saw a fire and heard the alarm to get back. We did, but the trucks had already tore ass out of there and left like 20 of us behind. The fire was spreading fast, and I remember we just ran about two miles out in all our gear, the fire was on both sides of us. It was fun as hell.

[Parkbandit]

Anyone else on the west coast absolutely choking from this smoke? We did a local move last week and of fucking course the AC died when the movers removed the front door to get the refrigerator in.

Your ac shouldn't die when you remove a door for an hour. Might be a simple fix like the condensation line is backed up. Just put a wet/dry vac on the line and suck the water out.. that might reset the overflow switch if that's the problem.

Good idea about the box fans and the HEPA filters. You should see a huge difference if you are keeping your doors and windows closed, as you are only filtering out the air inside your home.

[Bhaalizmo]

Anyone else on the west coast absolutely choking from this smoke?

We were actually seeing the smoke haze from your west coast fires over here on the east coast last week. Sunny days but grayed out from smoke. Not seeing it this week though. Here's hoping for a week of rain for you.

[Gompers]

Your ac shouldn't die when you remove a door for an hour. Might be a simple fix like the condensation line is backed up. Just put a wet/dry vac on the line and suck the water out.. that might reset the overflow switch if that's the problem.

Good idea about the box fans and the HEPA filters. You should see a huge difference if you are keeping your doors and windows closed, as you are only filtering out the air inside your home.

On move in day it was 104° outside. As soon as they removed the door I turned off the AC. The unit at the new house we're in was made in 1994.

When I kicked it back on it tries to run but the main fan in the outside unit doesn't move. Seems like the compressor is running for a few minutes and then just turns itself off.

As far as the HVAC filters and box fans - yeah, humongous improvement. I also taped painters plastic over the windows where the window unit exhaust is, because smoke was definitely leaching in from it not having a perfect seal.

AC guy is coming on Tuesday so there's light at the end of the tunnel but it's been insane here.

[Parkbandit]

On move in day it was 104° outside. As soon as they removed the door I turned off the AC. The unit at the new house we're in was made in 1994.

Might be time for a new unit. That unit is 27 years old, which is about twice as long as they normally last.

[Gompers]

Might be time for a new unit. That unit is 27 years old, which is about twice as long as they normally last.

Haha yeah what sucks for our personal situation is that we have it covered under the home warranty and the entire wait has been waiting on them sending someone out here to service it/replace it.

I'm not sure of the legality of what the home warranty place telling us it's a two and a half week wait. Temps have been 100+ everyday and we're lucky to have two units but if we didn't have those we'd probably be dead.

My entire family (4 of us plus dogs) are sleeping where my office was supposed to be set up because one unit is in the living room and the other is in that room.

Needless to say this has been the worst move in my life and I'm contemplating whether it's even worth living in this area if this is the new reality.

[Gelston]

Make yourself a swamp cooler. Bucket, ice, fan. Refill ice as needed.

[Tgo01]

Needless to say this has been the worst move in my life and I'm contemplating whether it's even worth living in this area if this is the new reality.

It seems unlikely fire seasons are gonna get better anytime soon on the West coast. If anything they are bound to get worse.

Move out East where the worst you have to deal with is snow a few months of the year, and maybe the occasional tornado or two :p

[Bhaalizmo]

It seems unlikely fire seasons are gonna get better anytime soon on the West coast. If anything they are bound to get worse.

Move out East where the worst you have to deal with is snow a few months of the year, and maybe the occasional tornado or two :p

Well, to be fair the maga populace is a worse plague than any weather events we might suffer on the East Coast.

[Gompers]

Make yourself a swamp cooler. Bucket, ice, fan. Refill ice as needed.

Will give that a shot, the unit for the living room is clutch, but around 3-6pm it doesn't feel so great unless you're sitting right in front of it.

We're freezing at night in the "cold room" I've set up for us to sleep in.

[Tgo01]

Well, to be fair the maga populace is a worse plague than any weather events we might suffer on the East Coast.

ok

[MokiePrime]

Fellow Portlander here...whats up!!!

There are a lot of us here! Maybe we're all doing our part to keep Portland weird? Because let's face it, our game is a little weird.

Otherwise, I'm getting my bug out bag ready. I'm actually more out in Beaverton, and pretty far out at that, people just know what you mean when you say Portland. Far enough out and close enough to dry AF rural areas that I am getting my bugout bag ready. One of the many reasons I miss living in the city.