What does the $195 Baseline Assessment cover for wildfire smoke?

The assessment measures whole-home PM2.5 using a calibrated laser light scattering sensor, inspects your HVAC filter condition and MERV rating, performs a visual inspection of common smoke entry points, and evaluates system compatibility for filtration or ventilation upgrades. The $195 credits toward any mechanical upgrade we recommend.

Wildfire Smoke · Indoor Air Quality · Los Angeles

Your home is not keeping wildfire smoke out.

Q: Does wildfire smoke get inside closed homes?

Yes. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke infiltrates through gaps in the building envelope, HVAC systems, and exhaust fans. Closing windows reduces infiltration but does not eliminate it. Indoor PM2.5 levels can remain elevated for hours after outdoor air quality improves.

Q: What solutions does Baseline recommend after measuring?

Depending on what the assessment finds, Baseline may recommend an advanced filtration upgrade (MERV 13+), an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) with filtered fresh-air intake, ongoing PM2.5 monitoring, or a combination. Recommendations are based on your home's actual readings and HVAC conditions, not a general package.

Wildfire PM2.5 infiltrates Los Angeles homes even with windows closed. Baseline measures what you're breathing and recommends what to do before conditions get worse.

Establish Your Baseline: $195 How It Works

Serving Woodland Hills and the greater LA area · 818-237-3404

Baseline Score 74 / 100 Sample report

PM2.5 14.2 μg/m³ Above EPA 9.0 threshold

CO₂ Level 683 ppm Below 800 ppm sleep threshold

Humidity 26% Below 30% optimal range

Closing your windows is not enough.
The particles are already inside.

Wildfire PM2.5 measures 0.3 to 2.5 microns. It slips through gaps in the building envelope, travels through HVAC returns, and enters through exhaust fans and fireplace dampers. Indoor concentrations can exceed outdoor AQI thresholds and stay elevated for hours after fire conditions ease.

The only way to know what is in your air is to measure it.

3-5x

Indoor PM2.5 can reach three to five times outdoor levels in homes with no mechanical filtration during active smoke events

EPA Indoor Air Studies

9.0

EPA annual PM2.5 standard in micrograms per cubic meter. Brief wildfire events routinely exceed this by 10x or more outdoors.

EPA NAAQS

MERV 13

Minimum filter rating recommended for wildfire smoke capture. Most homes ship with MERV 8 or lower.

EPA guidance

0.3µm

Minimum particle size of wildfire smoke PM2.5. Small enough to penetrate deep lung tissue and bypass low-rated filters.

CARB

What the assessment finds

Readings, filtration, and HVAC.
One complete picture.

The assessment measures PM2.5 in each room, inspects your HVAC filter and system, and documents what is working and what is not.

PM2.5 Readings

The Haven Central uses laser light scattering technology, individually calibrated. Installed in the return air duct, it reads whole-home particulate load when the HVAC fan is running. After the assessment, homeowners can add room sensors to track individual spaces over time.

Laser light scattering, individually calibrated

Filtration Efficiency Assessment

HVAC filter rating, condition, and compatibility with your system. Many homes have filters rated too low to capture wildfire particles, or systems that cannot handle high-MERV restriction without damage.

Recommended: MERV 13+

Building Envelope Review

Visual inspection of common smoke entry points: exhaust fans, fireplace dampers, recessed lighting, attic bypasses, and gaps around duct penetrations. Conditions noted in the written report.

Visually inspected

Carbon Monoxide

Wildfire smoke carries CO alongside PM2.5. Electrochemical CO detection across the home, with particular attention to attached garages, combustion appliances, and lower-level rooms.

EPA: below 9 ppm (8-hr avg)

HVAC System Inspection

Filter condition, coil contamination, blower, drain, and combustion appliances. A smoke-damaged coil or contaminated drain can recirculate particulate long after an event ends.

Included in every assessment

VOC and Smoke Residue

Total VOC index across the home. Wildfire smoke deposits VOC-carrying compounds on surfaces and in HVAC systems that off-gas for weeks after an event, separate from PM2.5.

Target: VOC index below 100

Schedule the Assessment: $195

What you receive

A written report.
Not a verbal summary.

Every assessment produces a Baseline Report with documented readings, HVAC findings, and specific recommendations for your home. You leave with something you can act on and reference during the next smoke season.

Establish Your Baseline: $195

Baseline Score

A 0-100 composite score calculated from all sensor readings. A single number to track improvement against over time.

PM2.5 and Air Quality Findings

Room-by-room sensor readings compared to Baseline thresholds, including PM2.5 levels and filtration performance relative to wildfire smoke capture.

HVAC and Filtration Report

Filter condition, coil, drain, blower, and combustion appliances. Current filter rating and compatibility with MERV 13+ noted.

Prioritized Recommendations

Mechanical upgrades Baseline can install, ongoing monitoring options, and immediate low-cost actions ranked by impact.

$195 Upgrade Credit

The assessment fee credits toward any mechanical upgrade we recommend. No expiration on the day of the visit.

How it works

Three steps.
One visit.

The assessment takes 90 minutes to two hours. You need to be present at the start and end. Everything in between is handled by Baseline.

Owner Interview and Home Profile

We start with a 15-minute conversation: how the home performs during smoke events, past HVAC work, filter history, attached garage, fireplace use, recent renovations, and any health symptoms that track with air quality conditions. Context changes what the numbers mean.

Calibrated Sensor Readings and HVAC Inspection

PM2.5, VOCs, CO, CO2, humidity, and temperature throughout the home using research-grade sensors. Full HVAC visual inspection: filter condition and MERV rating, coil, condensate drain, blower, combustion appliances, and infiltration pathways.

Findings Walkthrough and Baseline Report

We review every finding before we leave. Your written Baseline Report documents all readings, HVAC observations, and a prioritized recommendation list. The $195 credits toward any mechanical upgrade we recommend.

Residential neighborhood in the Los Angeles area

Southern California

Smoke seasons are getting longer.
Baseline tells you where your home stands.

Not a purifier. Not a guess.

A portable air purifier moves air in one room.
Baseline tells you what your whole home needs.

Portable purifiers address one room. Closing windows reduces infiltration but does not stop it. HVAC filter upgrades only work if your system can handle the restriction. Baseline measures first, so every recommendation is based on your home's actual readings and conditions.

Principle 01

Measured Before Recommended

Baseline takes sensor readings before recommending anything. Upgrades are based on what your home's air is actually doing, not a general package built for the average home.

Principle 02

HVAC-Aware

Most air quality recommendations ignore whether your HVAC system can support them. MERV 13+ filtration can damage systems not sized for the restriction. Baseline checks compatibility before recommending anything.

Principle 03

Whole-Home View

The Haven Central reads your entire home's air via the return duct. After the assessment, you can add room sensors to track individual spaces and confirm whether upgrades are performing as intended.

Learn about IAQ monitoring

Common questions

What to know.

Does wildfire smoke get inside closed homes?

Yes. Fine particulate from wildfire smoke infiltrates through gaps in the building envelope, HVAC systems, exhaust fan backdraft dampers, and fireplace dampers. Closing windows reduces infiltration but does not eliminate it. Indoor PM2.5 can remain elevated for hours after outdoor air quality improves.

Is my HVAC filter good enough to stop wildfire smoke?

It depends on your filter rating and whether your system can handle the restriction. MERV 13 captures most wildfire smoke particles when the system is running. Many older HVAC systems are not sized for high-MERV filters. Baseline inspects both filter rating and system compatibility as part of the assessment.

What does the $195 assessment cover for wildfire smoke?

The assessment measures PM2.5 throughout your home with a calibrated laser particle counter, inspects your HVAC filter condition and MERV rating, identifies infiltration pathways, and evaluates system compatibility for filtration or ventilation upgrades. The fee credits toward any mechanical upgrade we recommend.

What solutions does Baseline recommend after measuring?

Depending on findings, Baseline may recommend an advanced filtration upgrade (MERV 13+), an ERV with filtered fresh-air intake, ongoing PM2.5 monitoring, or a combination. Recommendations are based on your home's actual readings and HVAC conditions, not a package.

What Los Angeles neighborhoods does Baseline serve?

Baseline serves homeowners within a 50-mile radius of Woodland Hills, covering the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley, Santa Clarita, the Westside, Malibu, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, and beyond. Enter your zip code on the booking page to confirm.

Get Your Baseline

The next smoke event is not years away.
Find out where your home stands and what to do about it.

The $195 assessment measures your PM2.5, inspects your HVAC and filtration, and gives you a written report with specific upgrades ranked by impact. The fee credits toward any work we recommend.

Establish Your Baseline: $195 Get the Free IAQ Guide

Assessment credit applies toward any mechanical upgrade we recommend.

Serving the Los Angeles area · CSLB #1153130 · 818-237-3404