Secondhand smoking can be a threat, even when living next door to a heavy cigarette smoker. Know how to act and what to do to prevent health issues and annoying odors from coming into your house.
It’s not uncommon to get a smoke odor coming from our neighbor’s apartment in areas like Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, and other South Florida locations. Whether it’s because of a shared AC duct or lack of proper insulation, the truth is that it can be annoying and dangerous for our health. According to the Centre for disease control and prevention, more than 41,000 people die yearly from secondhand smoking exposure.
On top of that, according to the web page lung.org, around 44 to 53% of multi-unit housing residents experience or have experienced some smoke infiltration in their homes. This number is even more significant in South Florida locations.
PuroClean of Deerfield Beach has odor removal specialists that can address, identify and get a quick and effective solution to this problem. Still, if you want to try a few things on your own, here we give you some tips to help remediate this issue.
- Identify the source: You should try to find the entry of the smell and look for solutions to isolate it. It could be coming from pipes, electrical outlets, windows, doors, or even gaps in the drywall. It’s a detective job that requires a good sense of smell and patience.
- Seal the gap: Once you are aware of the entry point, it’s essential to seal the hole. This must be remediated before trying odor removal techniques inside the premises. If the smell comes from the AC ducts, it is crucial to contact a refrigeration specialist. If the source is the pipes, call a plumber. Puroclean can help you identify the problem and remediate it. If the cause it’s a hole, it can be filled with insulating foam, silicone, or fresh drywall.
- Seal your house: Finally, it is essential to seal your apartment. Putting caulk around the windows can be helpful. Door drafts are also advisable for doors that lead to the street or common areas. All of these solutions will not only help you lower the smoke smell but will also optimize your energy efficiency.
- Negative Air: If possible, install fans that extract the odor. They’re affordable and can help you lower the problem, even though it’s not a definite solution.
South Florida State Laws
It is also advisable to be aware of the state laws, as they can help you depending on the housing type. According to the page nolo.com, some Florida landlords can restrict smoking in unit properties and public spaces. Unfortunately, most properties don’t have prohibitions, and if the unit is a condo, it is almost impossible to prevent them from smoking inside their premises. But if the problem persists, you can always call professionals to remediate the source and prevent the smell from lowering the value of your property.
