I recently stayed in an apartment that didnt have central air so I created a corsi-rosenthal box since the smoke from the Canadian wildfires were so bad.
After 30 days of continuous use, with very minimal periods of it being turned off, this is what the filters look like!
It's disgusting yet also so satisfying to see the filters get darker from debris, dust, and dirt.
Edit: typos
Funny enough I cleaned that rug after first moving in (apartment was pre-furnished) and it looked clean for a whole day.
I feel ya. My house was miles away from the evacuation zone of the PacNW fires a little ways back, and the filters didn't last the month. We wore masks with filters rated for smoke whenever we had to go outside, and sealed every external seam, hoping the firefighters could get it under control in time. Thankfully, they're the public servants that actually know what that phrase means, and to the enth degree. I trust every one of them right alongside our Nat'l Park service members (rangers, et al), sight unseen.
When this nation's collapse comes to your town, remember this simple rule, fellow US peeps:
Firefighters & National Park Service? Heroes of the people, through & through.
Cops, etc.? Shoot on sight (if that's your chosen theme for the apoc, ofc.) ๐