I've been facing a tough situation in my semi-detached house. A new family moved in next door, and I'm constantly overwhelmed by the smell of cigarettes, which really bothers my sensitive eyes. Even after sealing all the doors and windows and using air purifiers, the smell still creeps in. I noticed there are some holes in the walls for humidity regulation—I covered them with plastic sheets, which helped a bit. Is there anything else I can do to improve my living conditions? It's becoming really difficult to live here. Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
First off, make sure to seal any openings you have on that wall. You should try putting insulation foam in all the outlets and switches, which you can buy pre-cut. Don't forget to close up any pipe openings and check the baseboards for any gaps—caulking those could help too. Also, consider whether the smell is worse when the wind blows in a certain direction; that could give you some clues about how the smoke is getting in.
If you have a vent fan over your stove or in your bathroom, it might be worth unplugging those. Weatherstripping on your outside doors and windows can also help prevent smoke from seeping in. Check the common wall for any small breaches and fill them up. And if you have a gas dryer, it might be pulling air in; try cracking a window open when you use it.
I appreciate the tips! I'll definitely stop using the bathroom fan; I usually have it on all day but didn't realize it could be contributing to the problem.
I get that—it seems like the smell is always there when they're home, right? It could be that multiple people in their family smoke. But when they leave, you can finally breathe easy. That's a tough spot to be in!