Gold Coast Smoke, Fires & Indoor Air Quality: How Your AC Can Help

Recently, a bushfire burning in the Pine Ridge Conservation Park has produced smoke seen and felt across parts of the Gold Coast, including Paradise Point, Hollywell, Coombabah, Runaway Bay and neighbouring suburbs. Smoke from these fires isn’t threatening homes directly, but it can reduce local air quality and impact health, especially for people with asthma, lung or heart conditions.

While wildfires aren’t a common daily concern in coastal suburbs, smoke and haze can travel far, especially in summer when heat, winds and weather patterns push fine particles across the region. In these conditions, your air conditioner can be more than just a cooling tool, it can help improve your indoor air quality, when used correctly. Here’s what every Gold Coast homeowner should know.

How Smoke Affects Air Quality on the Gold Coast

Smoke from bushfires and hazard reduction burns carries tiny particles and gases that can irritate eyes, noses and lungs. These fine particles can travel long distances on the wind and linger for days, even if there’s no fire danger close to homes.

Sensitive groups, including children, older adults, people with asthma or heart conditions and pregnant women, are especially vulnerable to poor air quality. Monitoring local Air Quality Index (AQI) reports and government alerts can help you understand when smoke levels rise and when precautions are needed.

Why Smoke Can Enter Your Home

Even with windows and doors closed, smoke particles can enter through gaps, ventilation systems and sometimes through poorly sealed or older house structures. That’s especially a concern during persistent bushfire smoke events when people are advised to stay inside for prolonged periods.

If you rely on an air conditioner, how you use it matters. Some systems can draw in outdoor air unless set correctly, potentially bringing smoky air inside, the opposite of what you want during a smoke event.

Best Ways to Use Your Air Conditioner During Smoke Events

1. Switch to Recirculate / “Recycle” Mode

Most modern reverse-cycle air conditioners have a recirculation mode. This setting keeps indoor air cycling through the system rather than pulling in outside air. When smoke is in the air, recirculating reduces the amount of outdoor pollutants entering your home.

2. Avoid Fresh-Air Intake Functions

If your system has a ventilation or fresh-air intake, turn it off during smoky conditions. Bringing outdoor air inside under those settings can introduce more fine particles into your living spaces.

3. Close Windows and Doors

This sounds obvious, but in smoky conditions it’s important to reduce gaps around doors and windows where particles can seep in. In older or drafty homes, sealing gaps with towels or draft stoppers can help.

4. Avoid Evaporative Coolers

Evaporative coolers bring outdoor air inside the home, which is great for humidity control but not suitable when smoke is present. During smoky events, stick to reverse-cycle air conditioning in recirculate mode.

AC Maintenance Tips for Healthier Indoor Air

Your air conditioner does more than cool — it also filters the air that circulates inside. That’s why maintenance matters even more during smoke events:

• Clean or replace filters regularly — dirty or overloaded filters can’t trap fine particles effectively.

• Check drain and coils — trapped moisture and debris can reduce performance and filter efficiency.

• Consider a professional clean or upgrade — trained AC technicians can service deeper components to improve airflow and filtration.

EvidiAir technicians are trained in air conditioning servicing specific to Gold Coast conditions. We use proper products and methods - not DIY sprays or untrained cleaning - to ensure your system helps improve indoor air quality without damaging components.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your air conditioner isn’t cooling properly, isn’t recirculating air as it should or has unusual odours or reduced airflow during a smoke event, it may need servicing. Professional AC servicing can improve filtration, reduce indoor pollutants and help your system handle challenging conditions like high humidity and smoky air.

Contact EvidiAir if your system:

• Struggles to maintain temperature

• Is making unusual noises

• Blows dust or smells inside

• Has not been serviced this season

Our team helps Gold Coast homes stay comfortable and healthy, year-round.

FAQs

Can I use my air conditioner to block out smoke?

Yes - if you switch it to recirculate mode and ensure you’re not pulling outdoor air inside.

Should I open windows when the smoke clears?

Yes. If AQI improves and smoke dissipates, open windows briefly to bring in fresh air.

Do air conditioners remove smoke particles?

Standard filters help slow larger dust particles, but fine smoke particles may require higher-grade filtration. Professional servicing optimises this where possible.

Concerned about smoke and indoor air quality on the Gold Coast?

📞Contact EvidiAir - we specialise in professional air conditioning servicing, system optimisation and indoor air quality solutions to help your home stay safe and comfortable even when smoke impacts the region.

Available for service and advice across ALL Gold Coast.