Wildfire smoke is one of many potential pollutants that can make the air quality outside your home hazardous, and it often peaks in the warm, summer months when all you want to do is open your windows and feel a nice breeze.

Best times for a chance to open the windows

There are a few things that can indicate the air quality outside is improving so you don’t have to monitor the AQI all day every day.

Rain can help clear out particulate matter in the air, and the passage of frontal boundaries can usher in new air masses and push out the smoke.

Shifts in wind can also drive the smoke out of your area and direct future plumes away.

Any change in the weather, really, can be a sign to check the AQI to see if the air is clean enough to air things out.

Use The Weather Channel app or airnow.gov and make sure the AQI is below 100, which puts it in the Good to Moderate range.

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Why you may need to let some fresh air in

It may seem counterintuitive to open your windows when there’s any smoke and questionable air quality conditions outside, but the air in your home may be less clean than you think it is.

Even with closed windows and doors, your house is not completely closed off to the outside world. Smoke can get in through ventilation systems, poorly sealed doors and window frames, cracks and an open door whenever you walk in or out of your home.

Everyday activities in your home can also add pollutants to the air, such as lighting a candle, using a wood-burning stove or spraying hairspray or other canned aerosol.

Temperatures in the summer can also be a major concern for homes without working air conditioning, and opening the window at night can be the only way to cool down.

As long as you check the AQI before you open the window and close it if the air quality starts to get bad again, it can be an important way to stay safe and protect your home.

If wildfire smoke is an ongoing problem for your area, it may be a good idea to get an air purifier to keep the air inside your home clean (or build one) or a portable air conditioner to help cool things off.

Sara Tonks is a content meteorologist with weather.com and has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Georgia Tech in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, along with a master’s degree from Unity Environmental University in Marine Science.