I live in a 1600 sqft house built in 2003 that's still occupied, and we have a strong cigarette smell lingering from 20 years of smoking. The person who smoked has quit, but the odor is really overwhelming for the rest of us. Unfortunately, replacing the carpet or repainting isn't feasible right now. I'm curious if running an ozone generator would make a significant difference in reducing the smell without removing the carpet or furniture.
3 Answers
Honestly, I don't think the ozone generator will do much if you don't do any cleaning first. The smell is likely coming from the walls and carpet, which hold onto that stench. When you're ready, scrubbing the walls and sealing them with a primer like Kilz before painting can really help. Good luck!
From my experience, an ozone generator can be somewhat effective. I had a similar issue in a room that smelled like smoke, so I ran one for a few hours, and it got rid of the smell for good! Just make sure you're not in the same room while it's running and vent it out a bit. Keep in mind, though, it might take a little while for everything to smell fresh again.
Honestly, running an ozone generator might not do much if you're not addressing the source of the smell. The walls and carpet are likely still retaining a lot of that odor. Have you considered just giving the place a good clean? Wiping down the walls with a cleaner like Windex can help, and renting a carpet cleaner could also be a good idea! Don't forget to wash any curtains and linens as well. You might be surprised how much a deep clean can improve things.