Hey everyone! I'm really hoping to get some advice. We recently moved into a house that had heavy cigarette smoke from previous owners. Right from the start, the smell was pretty noticeable, but we thought with some cleaning and renovations, we could get rid of it. Here's what we've done so far: full ozone treatment, fogged and cleaned all vents, renovated the house completely (new floors and materials), painted everything with smoke-blocking primer and fresh paint, and deep cleaned multiple times. It's been three years, and while the smell has reduced, it's still there. We notice it more when we come back home or when it clings to our clothes. I'm wondering if the smell is still lurking in the HVAC system, subfloors, insulation, or drywall. We've spent a lot trying to get rid of it, including a $1,400 treatment that didn't last. Has anyone found a permanent solution? Do we need to replace ducts, drywall, or insulation? Are there any reliable professional services for smoke remediation? Really appreciate any experiences or tips you all might have!
3 Answers
You might want to try running a cheap ozone machine with the HVAC fan on for a long time to help circulate the air. I can’t guarantee it’ll solve the problem, but it should definitely help. How long did the previous treatment last?
Did you clean all drywall and accessible surfaces using TSP before priming and painting? That step is crucial. In my home, we had a heavy smoke smell, and we scrubbed the walls and ceiling for hours until they were clear before priming with Kilz 2 and painting. We also stripped and resealed the floors. After that, the room never had that awful smell again, and it used to trigger my asthma. I’d suggest checking your HVAC because if it circulated smoke before, it could still be lingering in the ductwork and wall cavities.
Consider using KILZ Restoration Primer; it has shellac that can help with odor control. From my experience, ammonia is the most effective for cleaning nicotine and smoke. For your ductwork, there isn't really a treatment that works beyond physically cleaning it out. You might also want to think about steam cleaning inside the furnace.