Originally Posted by
Truth
My NYC apartment occasionally gets infested with cigarette smoke odor, despite the fact that no one in the apt smokes. I suspect a neighbor or some apt on a neighboring floor is the culprit, but there is little I can do if that proves true. Simply opening the windows is a good solution in the summer, but the 15-degree air gets (c)old fast in the winter.
I have had the building come check the ventilation systems several times, and a quick cleaning of the main ventilation duct filters did help with the problem, but did not totally eliminate it.
Looking for a more comprehensive solution, I've been researching alternatives such as a home air ionizer / ozone generator / air filtration device. I am quite skeptical that some of these units may actually "do nothing." Does any one have any experience with these things? If so, I am particularly interested in one that works well eliminating cigarette smoke odor, and I'd appreciate any recommendations.
On a side note, will these devices simply remove the odor, but leave all the carcinogenic by-products in the air?