How to Eliminate Cigarette Smoke in Air Conditioning Ducts

The ducts in heating and air conditioning units can spread unpleasant odors throughout a home.

Cigarette smoke odors can be unpleasant for non-smokers and may cause or worsen symptoms in people who are prone to allergies. Cleaning the central heating and air ducts of cigarette smoke will help eliminate the smell of cigarette smoke from the home. You can clean the ducts and remove cigarette smoke and other odors without the expense of calling a duct cleaner or air conditioning repairman.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Duster with extended handle
• Vacuum cleaner
• Crevice vacuum attachment
• Heating/air conditioning filter

Instructions

1. 

   Use the screwdriver to remove the receptacle covers.

   Use the screwdriver to remove the receptacle cover from each heating duct in each room of the home.

2. 

   Using a duster may not remove all of the dust from the duct, however, it can remove a great amount.

   Extend the handle of the duster so you can reach inside the ducts. Gently rotate the duster in a clockwise direction to remove as much caked-on dust from cigarette smoke and other household sources.

3. 

   Use a vaccum cleaner with an attachment to remove hard caked-on dust from the ducts.

   Attach the crevice tool to the vacuum cleaner hose. Turn on the vacuum cleaner and rotate the hose in a clockwise direction to remove any remaining dust inside the ducts.

4. Spray one or two pulses of air sanitizer in each duct to remove unpleasant odors from such things as cigarette smoke, food, and the bathroom. Feel free to use more spray in rooms with the heaviest amount of cigarette smoke odors.

5. Replace the air filter with a clean one. Typical air filters should be replaced once every 30 days in order to maintain proper filtering of dust.

6. Replace the receptacle covers in each room. Tighten the screws securely to prevent unpleasant rattling sounds.

7. Turn on the air conditioning unit. The blower from the unit will circulate the air sanitizer throughout the home.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't allow visitors and residents to smoke inside the home. This prevents the odor of cigarette smoke from infiltrating the home and keeps appliances, walls, furniture, and other sources from yellowing as a result of cigarette smoke.

• Clean your carpets to remove the smell of cigarette smoke from the carpet.

• Paint the interior of the home to get rid of the smell and yellow residue from cigarette smoke from walls within the home.

References

• repair-home.com: Do it Yourself Air Duct Cleaning

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish