Ugh the smell, its back :(

[Runes911]

Back in October of last year my wife and I moved into her great grandmother's house. She had a stroke and had to be moved to a nursing home. She smoked - ALOT. You could literally see the roof supports through the white ceiling from the tar etc! The house is only 5ish years old.

When we moved in, the house was professionally repainted top to bottom and the carpet in the living room and hall was replaced by new hardwood floor. The furniture was also professionaly cleaned and didn't smell anymore. The smoke smell was gone, or so we thought. After coming back from dinner Sunday, (yesterday) I could smell it again. The smoke smell was back. How can I get rid of this smell? Any suggestions? Any other than a $400+ air fiter?

I also think the smell is affecting our new cat, she sneezes alot and has a runny nose all the time.

Cliffs:
How can I get rid of a smoker's leftover smell without spending tons of money on an air filter?

 

[MX2]

Bulldozer is your only option

 

[us3rnotfound]

Did you have the ventilation professionally cleaned out as well? That's always a big one.

 

[foghorn67]

It's probably in places not painted or re-floored.
Let's make a list.
Blinds?
Curtains?
HVAC vents? Replace the filters?
Smell each and every surface around the house from top to bottom.

 

[moshquerade]

how sad that a house can be ruined like that. the whole inside was used as a chimney.

have you had the ductwork cleaned?

 

[IGBT]

..if you have carpets or drapes get rid of em. once tobacco emissions foul them there's no getting rid of the stinch.

 

[foghorn67]

Originally posted by: moshquerade
how sad that a house can be ruined like that. the whole inside was used as a chimney.

have you had the ductwork cleaned?

Yes, better approach then my idea. No need to replace the HVAC filters if the ducting is crapped.

 

[jhayx7]

Do you know if the painters primed everything before they painted?

 

[Canai]

Fight fire with fire.... start the house ablaze

 

[I4AT]

Why do you not want to spend money on an air filter, but you didn't have a problem spending all that money on repainting, professional cleaning, etc.? Just curious..

 

[Alone]

She's haunting the place. GTFO while you still can.

 

[Fiat1]

It is in the wall and ceiling insulation. U R doomed. Can you say second hand smoke. Run for it.

 

[BoomerD]

As a smoker, I'll bet there's no way to get ALL the smell out of the house. It's probably in the insulation, in the duct work, in the ceiling, walls and floors. Just ONE reason why I NEVER smoke in the house, or in my cars...you just can't get the smell out...

 

[Jgtdragon]

Originally posted by: Alone
She's haunting the place. GTFO while you still can.

Was thinking the same thing.

 

[Allanv]

uh weird, we smoke but only in 1 room of the house the computer room in the winter the vents are open.

we have had people come round and say "have you stopped smoking" but alas we havent yet.

so how a house can smell that bad i have no idea. well yes i do its normally the carpets but all our floors are wood so that could explain it.

oh the comments from others are always from non smokers in our case

 

[SagaLore]

You forgot to change the air filter in your AC, didn't you?

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: jhayx7
Do you know if the painters primed everything before they painted?

No idea

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: I4AT
Why do you not want to spend money on an air filter, but you didn't have a problem spending all that money on repainting, professional cleaning, etc.? Just curious..

Acutally I didn't, my wife's grandfather paid for it as a gift. I OTOH can't afford an expensive air filter...

Originally posted by: SagaLore
You forgot to change the air filter in your AC, didn't you?

Changed that - twice within the first month of moving in. In fact, I need to change it again...

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: Alone
She's haunting the place. GTFO while you still can.

Shes not dead yet

Originally posted by: foghorn67
It's probably in places not painted or re-floored.
Let's make a list.
Blinds?
Curtains?
HVAC vents? Replace the filters?
Smell each and every surface around the house from top to bottom.

Blinds - cleaned by people who did the furniture
Curtains - same
HVAC vents - changed
Filters - changed twice within the first month
Every surface smelled clean to me


Its very odd, when we moved in we didnt smell it anymore. Its been 6+ months with no smell yet yesterday it back. Not as bad, but back none the less.

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: Alone
She's haunting the place. GTFO while you still can.

Shes not dead yet

Have you checked the attic? Maybe she's rotting somewhere.

<Hopefully I'm not offending anyone>

 

[Runes911]

Originally posted by: Alone

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: Alone
She's haunting the place. GTFO while you still can.

Shes not dead yet

Have you checked the attic? Maybe she's rotting somewhere.

<Hopefully I'm not offending anyone>

Eh? I said shes not dead, as in still living. At a nursing home.

 

[Rubycon]

Going to be expensive to eliminate it properly and permanently.

Look into ozone treatment - especially if you have a forced air heating/cooling system.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Runes911

HVAC vents? Replace the filters?

It is not just the vents, it is the DUCTS as well.

Oh, and it could easily have come back right now because the temperatures are just now warming up.

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: Alone

Originally posted by: Runes911

Originally posted by: Alone
She's haunting the place. GTFO while you still can.

Shes not dead yet

Have you checked the attic? Maybe she's rotting somewhere.

<Hopefully I'm not offending anyone>

Eh? I said shes not dead, as in still living. At a nursing home.

You sure?

 

[Squisher]

Yes, I second that suggestion of Ozone treatment. You can rent them or buy. Google: Alpine Fresh.

What has changed in the last few days? Run the A/C? Built a fire in a fireplace? I'm thinking you might need something to give the house positive air pressure like a Scuttle vent. You said you could see the wood in the attic in the stains. That sounds like negative air pressure.