Ways To Get Rid Of Stubborn Smoke Odors In Your Home's HVAC System

When settling in your new house, the last thing you want is to be greeted with a noxious smell of cigarette smoke wafting in from your AC. Surprise — the last person who owned or rented your home was a smoker! Now that smell is permeating your home. Smoke odors in an HVAC system are persistent and while they linger, it can compromise your indoor air quality and impact your health. Getting rid of the smoke smell in your HVAC requires changing or cleaning your AC filter and vents, along with professional assistance, if needed.

The dangers of secondhand smoke, such as respiratory effects from thirdhand smoke (THS), are just as bad. According to the Mayo Clinic, thirdhand smoke is the pollutants that settle indoors from smoking, and it can contain cancer-causing chemicals including formaldehyde. Thirdhand smoke can remain for months even after the smoker stops smoking in the home. Your HVAC system can easily spread smoke smells from a heavy smoker, but they might also emit thirdhand smoke, a study from Drexel University finds. The smoke's chemicals can attach to aerosols as the air circulates, hitching a ride through the air. Treating the root of the smoke smell in your HVAC system requires certain steps, some by yourself and some with the help of a qualified HVAC professional. Here's what to do when you smell the irritating cigarette odor in your AC.

Want to get rid of HVAC smoke smells? Change the air filter. You should typically change your air filter every 90 days, but it's one of the most important things to do when moving into a new home. While it won't completely resolve the problem, replacing the filter improves your HVAC system's efficiency and airflow. A mistake you may make when buying air filters is to not pay attention to the MERV, or Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, rating, or its ability to trap particles. For instance, the Filtrete 20x20x1 Air Filter has the third-highest rating on the MERV scale. If you have a reusable AC filter, dish soap is the key to making your AC good as new. Once clean, let it dry completely, then use a filter-specific air freshener to mask the smell. 

Next, tackle the rest of the smoke odor by cleaning your vents, including the return vent, as these areas may have lingering smoke odors and nicotine. Use a gentle dish soap and a soft cloth to remove debris, wiping it dry with a clean towel. Run your air conditioner for at least an hour to try to dissipate the scent. If the smell is particularly heinous, you may need to call a professional for coil and duct cleaning to remove stubborn smoke particles. Professional duct cleaning costs an average of $450 to $1,000 according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, while coil cleaning runs $100 to $400, though prices may vary by location and job complexity.