smoke smell

[David Anderson]

I figured I would post this here since I still see off topic stuff here, and Nick may be able to answer this easily.  If it needs to be moved somewhere else on the board, I understand.

I have a chance to buy my neighbor's house at a really good price sans a realtor commission.  It is somewhat of a distressed sale because the fellow is now in a nursing home and the kids want to get rid of the burden of his house.   Anyway, I can get this, do some cosmetic remoldeling and cleaning and make a nice profit quickly.

There is one catch.  The house reaks with cigarette smoke.  I plan on pulling the carpets and painting everything with kilz and sanitizing the cabinets which should take care of the problem.  However, what can I do to get it out of the central air conditioning unit?  I hope Nick will jump in and give me some ideas.

Thanks,

David

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi David,

Bleach and water in a pump sprayer. Mix two parts water to one part Bleach.

Remove as many duct fittings that you can without droping the main trunk. Soak every part of the inside along with the blower,

and evap [A-Coil], and grills. Then let it dry and repeat as nessessary...  Be carefull not to gag yourself with the bleach....

Keep the blower running while you are doing this to help circulate the fumes.

Good Luck
Nick-

[David Anderson]

 Thanks Nick,

I figured you would have dealt with this.  The plenum is fiberglass duct board.  Should I try to spray inside there, also?  I would have to cut an access hole to do thi.

David

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi David,

Yes!  You should spray the duct board with the solution too.

Good Luck
Nick-

[prevost82]

Or stick an Ozone machine inside the house for a day or 2. Kills all smells. Had to do it to my dads house.
Ron

[Hi yo silver]

Yeah, and be sure to work from the windward (upstream) side, because if you are downstream, the bleach will ruin the tan you have worked on all summer, and if you're a black guy, you will be white. LOL  ...Alright, I saw that! ..rollin' your eyes!
Dennis

[brojcol]

Please be careful with the bleach...it has become so common in its use, we sometimes forget, it is a deadly poison.  Burns the lungs very easily.

Remember, Germans actually used chlorine in WWI to kill Brits.

[David Anderson]

thanks guys,

As usual the best minds in the world cruise this board.

David

[FloridaCliff]

David,

Take the OT out of your topic, I think it is very relevent.

The info given here will no doubt help someone down the road with a similar issue in there bus.

Cliff

[DrivingMissLazy]

I second Ron's suggestion. I have heard that the Ozone machine works great. I believe you can rent them at some rental companies. I know some Motel chains used to have one on hand for the occasion when someone smoked in a non smoking room.
Richard

Or stick an Ozone machine inside the house for a day or 2. Kills all smells. Had to do it to my dads house.
Ron

[Hi yo silver]

Just a word of caution re. some people who might be sensitive to the ozone machines, (asthmatics?)  I think they are intended for short term use. 
Dennis

[DrivingMissLazy]

Good caution Dennis. I did not know that. Where I saw them used they put it in the room, closed the door and left it there for several hours. Would probably have to do it for a few days for a whole house. And make sure the house is not occupied.
Richard

Just a word of caution re. some people who might be sensitive to the ozone machines, (asthmatics?)  I think they are intended for short term use. 
Dennis

[Ncbob]

FWIW, I've also been told, but have not proven it personally, that a dish of fresh coffee in the return air duct will absorb many of the unwanted smoke odors and provided that it is stirred regularly, like a potpourri, will do the trick.

Bob

[superpickle]

Or stick an Ozone machine inside the house for a day or 2. Kills all smells. Had to do it to my dads house.
Ron

Yup, thats the ticket, knew a Car dealer that used them in the used cars to get rid of the smell. Crank that thing to the max and let it go in there for 2 , 3, 4 days till it smells better in ther, you will have to have the Ventalation system going to get into the Ducts. No garrentees , but it workes for the Car guy..

Paul...

[justin25taylor]

As most of you know a lot of my time is spent driving entertainer coaches.
Allot (most) of the bands I drive smoke pot constantly. It really smells up the bus. When I finish a tour or need to cross into Canada I have an ozone generator that I use. I try not to use it when the passengers are on the bus as a lot of them are allergic to it.
It gets rid of all the smell every time. I am not saying what they are doing is right, I just have to deal with it.
Some of the older bands also chain smoke cigarettes. Same thing the machine gets rid of it all all the time.
I usually leave it in there about 3 hours with the engine running on fast idle with bus air on and all 5 rooftop units running on "hi fan". When I return the smell is gone.
Good luck.
Best,
Justin