Clean Air Rooms

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This program is currently closed

Clean Air Rooms Pilot Program - South County

The program will provide indoor air purifiers for low-income community members in the Oceano zip code and CDF/Mesa 2 Air Quality Forecast zones. Read below for specifics on the program, eligibility requirements and pop-up event dates. If you have questions about this program, feel free to email us at airpurifier@slocleanair.org.

Clean Air Room Pilot Program Eligibility 

Only one air purifier will be given per household and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis at one of our pop-up events. No lists or reservations will be accepted. 

To qualify to receive a FREE HEPA Air Filter this spring, residents will need to provide proof of the following: 

• Proof you live within the Pilot Program Areas (Oceano OR homes within the CDF and Mesa 2 Air Quality Forecast zones). You can do this by showing a utility bill, drivers license, etc. Please note that we will mark off households on a list to ensure just one air purifier per home is given out. 
• Proof of income-eligibility. Privacy is extremely important to us, none of your information will be kept the day of the event, you will just need to show staff working the event. Items that can be used to show low-income eligibility could include (but are not limited to): participation in a state or federal low income assistance program, low-income home energy assistance program, PG&E Care Program, Southern California Cas Company Care Program, SNAP food benefits, Welfare statements or TANF participation, Medicaid and/or Children's Health Insurance Program, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Section 8 or HASLO participation, or 2021 income tax statements.

Income-Eligibility based on 2021 income limits 

Pilot Program Locations Map - Eligible Household Locations

Click the maps below and you can zoom in to your location. 

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Protect Your Health from Wildfire Smoke & Blowing Dust

Wildfires have become more prevalent and consistent across California in the last decade and Impacts are more sustained and not just isolated to the regions in which they occur. The best protection when wildfire smoke or blowing dust is present is to stay indoors as much as possible. We want to ensure that you and your home are ready for wildfire smoke and know how to create a Clean Air Room in your home to protect you from the harmful effects of particulate matter pollution. 

Smoke, ash, and blowing dust all contain very small particles known as particulate matter. These particles can be harmful to everyone, but in particular can be especially harmful for young children, elderly, pregnant women and those with pre-existing conditions like heart and lung disease. The fine particles found in smoke and dust can harm the lungs and hearth, and can cause short-term impacts like coughing, itchy or burning eyes, wheezing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, nausea and in severe instances, premature mortality. 

Creating a Clean Air Room in Your Home

How to choose an air purifier

• Local hardware stores sell air purifiers that can reduce particulate matter by 90% - ask to see their line of HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) purifiers. 
• Make sure the device you selected doesn't reduce particulate but increase ozone! To find a list of options approved by the California Air Resources Board, click here.
• Make sure you understand how frequently the filter on your device needs to be replaced by reading your owner's manual. Particularly during a wildfire, or blowing dust season, filters may need to be replaced more regularly. 

How to make your own air purifier

Assembling a DIY version of an air purifier can be a more affordable option, with materials costing approximately $40. This DIY version has been shown to reduce harmful particulate matter indoors similarly to a HEPA purifier, but be sure to take precaution when making a device like this. It should never be left unattended and should be turned off while sleeping. When the fan is modified this way, it should be used for your clean air room, not as a fan to cool your home. 

Here’s how to make your own:

• Use tape to attach a 20×20 MERV-rated air filter — like what you would use for your HVAC system — to the back of a 20×20 box fan. Attaching to the back of the fan creates a better seal.
• Use a filter with a MERV rating of 13.
• Check the filter for the direction of the air flow, marked on the side of the filter.
• Check your windows and doors and make sure the room is sealed tightly so smoke from the outdoors does not get pulled inside.
• Replace the filter more frequently if used during a wildfire.
• As needed, disassemble the box fan to wipe away any accumulated dirt.

Minimize Sources of Indoor Air Pollution