What's at stake:
The valley has the most polluted air in the country. When wildfire season starts, the air will get even worse.
To help curb the health effects of dirty air, the Valley air district is now giving out free air filters for your home.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is giving away 25,000 free air purifiers as part of its Clean Air Rooms program.
You need to apply soon: roughly 11,250 have already been given out since the program started at the beginning of June, according to air district spokesperson Jaime Holt.
Applications are now open on the air district’s website. If you are eligible, the air district will provide one whole-room air purifier, and one filter replacement will be shipped directly to your home at no cost.
What type of air purifier is the air district giving away?
The air purifier the air district is giving out is a Medify Air MA-25. The unit retails for $160, features a hospital-grade air filter, and is powerful enough to purify the air in a room as large as a living room.
Am I eligible?
If you live in the San Joaquin Valley and have not previously received a clean air filter from the District, you are likely eligible. Other eligibility criteria include living in a Disadvantaged or Low-Income Community.
To see if you live in a designated Disadvantaged or Low-Income Community, check your eligibility here.
How do I apply?
You can start the application here.
To fill out the application, you will need to provide proof-of-residence. This can be a copy of your most recent energy bill, public utility bill, or cable/internet bill, or any other official document that has both your name and address listed.
What are the benefits of an air filter?
Buying the right air filter can drastically reduce your health risks of living in the San Joaquin Valley, the most polluted air basin in the United States.
Air filters and purifiers can trap tiny particles called PM2.5 pollution, which are known to cause damage to every organ in the human body.
Where can I find out more about keeping myself safe from air pollution and wildfire smoke?
For a complete guide on how to keep you and your family safe during wildfire season (and every other season), and which air filter is right for you, see Fresnoland’s guide for all things air quality.