Wildfire smoke filtration
MERV 13 filtration or HEPA plus activated carbon for the gases in smoke. We size the filter to the system's airflow so filtration does not strangle the blower, and we explain plainly that a UV light does not remove smoke.
Smoke, radon, dry air and dust — the four Fort Collins IAQ problems
Indoor Air Quality Services in Fort Collins, CO
Fort Collins indoor air has four local problems, and they need four different answers. Wildfire smoke drifts in most summers. Radon in Larimer County averages 7.8 pCi/L — nearly six times the national average. Winter indoor humidity commonly falls to 15–25%. And dry Front Range air loads filters and coils with dust while the city sits at 5,003 feet. A single gadget fixes none of that; what works is a matched set — filtration for smoke and dust, ventilation for fresh air, humidification for dry winters, and radon testing and mitigation handled as its own job. DNA Refrigeration Heating & Cooling works on indoor air quality across Fort Collins. Call (970) 932-2324 any time.
About this service
What indoor air quality work in Fort Collins really involves
Good IAQ work starts with naming the actual problem in your house, not selling a device. Smoke needs particle and gas filtration. Radon needs testing and mitigation — no filter removes it. Dry winter air needs humidification. Stale air in a tight modern home needs ventilation. Each has its own test, its own equipment and its own limits, and an honest IAQ visit says which of them applies to you.
The local facts set the priorities. The Cameron Peak Fire in 2020 burned 208,663 acres — the largest fire in Colorado history — and smoke blocked the sun in Fort Collins. Since then, smoke season, typically summer, is the IAQ selling window, and the effective answer is MERV 13 or HEPA filtration plus activated carbon for the gases; a UV light does not remove smoke. Radon is the quieter problem: Larimer County's official average is 7.8 pCi/L against the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, more than half of Colorado homes test elevated, and the county sits in EPA Zone 1. Filters do not remove radon, and neither do air purifiers — mitigation is a separate, sub-slab job. Winter is the third season: indoor humidity commonly runs 15–25% against a 30–50% target, which is why whole-home humidification is a genuine local topic rather than a luxury add-on. And the water story matters by omission: Fort Collins city water is soft, about 2 grains per gallon, so there is no hard-water or scale angle for city homes — only well-water homes in unincorporated Larimer County face that problem.
- ✓ Smoke, radon, humidity and ventilation — each named separately
- ✓ MERV 13 / HEPA + carbon for wildfire smoke
- ✓ Radon: testing and mitigation, never a filter claim
- ✓ Open 24 hours — call any time, day or night
What's included
What our indoor air quality service includes
An IAQ visit assesses the house, the system and the air, then matches the fix to the problem. Here is what that covers.
Radon conversation, honestly
We explain the Larimer County figure — 7.8 pCi/L official average, EPA action level 4 pCi/L — and what testing and mitigation actually involve. We do not claim any filter, purifier or UV device removes radon, because none does.
Whole-home humidification
Winter indoor humidity of 15–25% dries skin, irritates airways and shrinks woodwork. A whole-home humidifier tied to the ductwork holds the house toward the 30–50% target without the daily filling and the damp corners of portable units.
Ventilation for tight homes
Newer, tighter homes need deliberate fresh air. We assess ventilation against the ASHRAE 62.2 approach for the house as built, and discuss heat-recovery and energy-recovery options where they fit a Fort Collins winter.
Duct and filter assessment
Filtration only works if the air actually passes through the filter. We check filter sizing, duct leakage and return capacity, because a MERV 13 filter on an undersized return is a frozen coil waiting to happen.
A plan, not a pile of devices
You get a written assessment: which problems your house actually has, in what order to fix them, and what each fix costs. Smoke filtration first in summer, humidification before winter, radon testing whenever you are ready.
How it works
How our indoor air quality services process works
Call (970) 932-2324 any time. Tell us what you are noticing — smoke smell in summer, dry air and static in winter, dust, stale air, a radon test result — and we will ask the questions that point at the right test.
We look at the house, the heating and cooling system, the ductwork, the filter setup and the ventilation, and we talk through any test results you already have, including radon.
You get a written assessment naming each problem separately, with the fix, the trade-offs and the order to do them in. No bundled package of devices you do not need.
Filtration, humidification or ventilation equipment is installed, commissioned and tested, with the filter schedule and maintenance explained before we leave.
We leave you with a filter and maintenance schedule matched to your house — smoke season loads filters fast, and a schedule is what keeps the system working.
STEP 01Call and describe the problem
Call (970) 932-2324 any time. Tell us what you are noticing — smoke smell in summer, dry air and static in winter, dust, stale air, a radon test result — and we will ask the questions that point at the right test.
Tools & methods
Tools and methods we use on every job
MERV 13 and HEPA filtration
High-efficiency media filtration sized to the system's airflow, so particle capture does not cost you airflow.
Activated carbon filtration
Gas-phase filtration for the volatile compounds in wildfire smoke that particle filters cannot catch.
Hygrometers and humidity logging
Indoor humidity measured and tracked, so humidification is set from data rather than guesswork.
Airflow measurement
Supply and return airflow checked before any filter upgrade, because filtration only works when air moves through it.
Duct leakage testing
Duct leakage measured so filtered air actually reaches the rooms instead of leaking into the attic.
Radon test guidance
We explain testing options and the mitigation path, and we are explicit about what HVAC equipment cannot do for radon.
Real results
Indoor air quality, home by home in Fort Collins
Fort Collins homes
Smoke season in an Old Town bungalow
Old Town's pre-1930 homes were built for open windows and evaporative coolers, which is exactly the wrong combination during wildfire smoke: the cooler needs open windows, and open windows admit smoke. A sealed, filtered refrigerated system is the answer, but the house also needs filtration sized to ductwork that was retrofitted decades ago.
What good work addresses: assessing the ductwork and return capacity first, then fitting MERV 13 or HEPA plus activated carbon that the system can actually push air through, so smoke season means closed windows and clean air instead of a choice between heat and smoke.
Call (970) 932-2324 → Fort Collins homes
Dry winter air in a Harmony Corridor two-storey
Large 2000s two-storey homes along Harmony Corridor are tight, well-insulated and dry. Winter indoor humidity of 15–25% is common, and the symptoms — dry skin, irritated sinuses, static shocks, shrinking wood floors — are usually blamed on the furnace rather than the air.
What good work addresses: measuring indoor humidity, then fitting whole-home humidification tied to the ductwork and set to hold the house toward the 30–50% target, with the water supply and drain handled properly.
Call (970) 932-2324 → Fort Collins homes
Radon and tight construction in a new south Fort Collins home
Newer homes in the south of the city are tight by design, which is good for energy and bad for radon if the house sits over radon-bearing ground. Larimer County averages 7.8 pCi/L, and more than half of Colorado homes test above the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L.
What good work addresses: an honest conversation: testing first, mitigation as its own job, and no claim that any filter or purifier removes radon — because none does. Filtration and ventilation are still worth doing, for smoke and dust, but they are a different job from radon.
Call (970) 932-2324 → Problems we solve
Indoor air quality problems we solve every week
Four problems, four answers. Here is how each one shows up in Fort Collins homes and what actually fixes it.
Ask a pro →Wildfire smoke gets inside every summer
Smoke needs MERV 13 or HEPA filtration plus activated carbon for the gases. A UV light does not remove smoke, and an evaporative cooler makes it worse by needing open windows. A sealed, filtered system is the fix.
Winter air is painfully dry
Indoor humidity of 15–25% against a 30–50% target is normal here in winter. Whole-home humidification tied to the ductwork is the durable answer; portable units fill daily and dampen one room at a time.
Radon tested high — will a filter help?
No. No filter, purifier or UV device removes radon. Larimer County averages 7.8 pCi/L against the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L. Radon needs testing and mitigation as its own job, and we will say so plainly rather than sell you a filter for it.
The house feels stale and stuffy
Tight modern homes need deliberate ventilation. We assess the house against the ASHRAE 62.2 approach and discuss heat-recovery or energy-recovery ventilation where it fits, so fresh air does not mean throwing heated air away.
Proof you can check
How HVAC licensing works in Fort Collins
- HVAC work in Fort Collins is licensed by the City of Fort Collins, not the state — Colorado licenses only electricians and plumbers at state level. Fort Collins licenses HVAC contractors through the City — ask us for our licence details when you call.
- Refrigerant handling follows EPA Section 608 rules as a general industry requirement.
- 5.0 ★ (23 Google reviews) — all 23 reviews are 5-star.
- Open 24 hours · 7 days a week — 2757 Sternwheeler Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80524.
Customer reviews
What Fort Collins Homeowners Say
★★★★★
“We had a great experience working with this company. From the beginning, they have been incredibly open and helpful. They took the time to explain everything clearly, answer our questions, and genuinely work with us rather than simply trying to sell us a service. We really appreciate the effort they put into helping us find the best option for our situation. Highly recommend!!”
HC
Hannah ClarkGoogle review · a month ago
★★★★★
“Best HVAC company I’ve ever used. Fast response, extremely efficient! Owners are great, will be using for any future issues or upgrades!”
TD
The DazzlefritzGoogle review · a year ago
MERV 13 or HEPA filtration for the particles, plus activated carbon for the gases in smoke. A UV light does not remove smoke. A sealed refrigerated cooling system helps because it does not need open windows the way an evaporative cooler does. Filters load fast in smoke season and need checking more often.
No. Nothing in an HVAC system removes radon — not a filter, not a purifier, not a UV light. Larimer County's official average is 7.8 pCi/L against the EPA action level of 4 pCi/L, and mitigation is a separate sub-slab job. Test first, then mitigate; do not buy a filter for a radon problem.
Fort Collins is a dry, high-altitude climate, and heated winter air holds very little moisture. Indoor humidity commonly runs 15–25% in winter against a 30–50% target. Whole-home humidification tied to your ductwork is the durable fix.
City water in Fort Collins is soft, about 2 grains per gallon from a snowmelt source, so there is no hard-water or scale angle for city-water homes. Only well-water homes in unincorporated Larimer County genuinely face hard water.
Ready when you are
Breathe easier at home: (970) 932-2324
Tell us what you are noticing — smoke, dry air, dust, stale air, a radon result — and we will assess the house and name each problem separately, with the fix for each. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Call (970) 932-2324 →
Call to book
Get in Touch
Call (970) 932-2324 any time, day or night. We are open 24 hours, 7 days a week, from 2757 Sternwheeler Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Phone is the way to reach us — there is no email address for the business, so call any time, day or night — we are open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Call anytime(970) 932-2324
Office hoursOpen 24 hours · 7 days a week