Hey everyone! I bought my house in 2022 and the previous owner was a cigarette smoker. It's been 3 years, and despite my efforts, I still smell cigarette smoke in my downstairs area, which is pretty strong. I've repainted and replaced the flooring, cleaned the HVAC system, and even had a professional ozone treatment for 4 days. The things I haven't done yet include replacing the cabinets and countertops, cleaning the chimney (both inside and outside), and painting the ceilings. Interestingly, I don't smell anything upstairs or from the vents—just downstairs. I'm starting to wonder if the smell is coming from inside the chimney, but that seems a bit unlikely. I thought the ozone treatment would take care of it, so I'm really stuck here. Any suggestions or insights would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I totally feel you! My house smelled like smoke for years too, especially when it rained or during renovations. It took about 10 years for it to finally fade away. Just keep at it with cleaning and airing things out; it can be a long process, but it does get better!
Getting that cigarette smell out can be a real challenge! It sounds like you've done a lot already. Have you tried sealing the chimney? Wrapping it in Saran Wrap for a bit might help determine if the smell is coming from there. Sometimes these old homes just need some time and a bit more cleaning—they can be stubborn!
Cigarette smoke can cling to everything, and it might mean you need to strip the walls or ceiling down to the studs. When you painted, did you use a good odor-blocking primer? That can make a big difference! Also, don’t forget to call a chimney sweep; they tackle these issues all the time.
Yes, definitely! A chimney sweep might be able to find and fix any issues you might have there.
Great point! A good primer can really help lock in those smells. Just make sure you prep the surfaces properly!