Purifier placement

[Lunettesman]

Hi guys,

Hope everyone is well. Didn't know which category I should put this post. Sorry if it's not correct. 

I have a small cigar lounge. It's an old tool storage. Installed an air purifier. Unfortunately there's no windows. It used to be a tool storage on the terasse of a building that has 4 terasse over each other. The room is above the living room of my neighbors. It's inside, rather small but so comfy since I turned it to a one man cave to get away from the daily life. 

I did install a purifier that is on the ground. Recently, they did renovation of the roofs. Unfortunately, since the renovation are done, my downstairs neighbors complained amically that it happens than when I smoke they can smell it in the living room. 

What do you guys would suggest I should do. Surprisingly, as the smoke should rise, I don't understand why it's the downstairs neighbors and not upstairs one. I have now moved my purifier higher from ground to about 1m high. It seems to make a slight difference.

What would be your suggestions to address this issue.

Thanks. 

[MossybackR]

I assume you’re using the purifier while smoking and after, thus the intake is pulling air (and smoke) into the unit. That is one problem (raising the unit will help a bit), and the other problem is that there is no true exhaust for the smoke. You’re probably using a HEPA filter and *that* is going to get clogged with smoke and need replacement at some time. There are several examples that I’ve seen of in-line filtration of an exhaust port (e.g., a kitchen exhaust), adding something like that may resolve the problems with your neighbors.

[Chibearsv]

I agree with mossy, you need to exhaust smoke out. Air purifiers are decent at tidying up the lingering smoke and odor but can be challenged dealing with active smoking. It’s impossible to handle all the smoke at the moment it’s created so some will leak through walls, ceilings, floors, etc. The more you can vent outside, the easier time your purifier will have.  For a small room, a bath room exhaust fan should be plenty efficient if it’s possible to install one in that room. Ideally, if your room has outside walls, a small window on one side that you could crack open a little and an exhaust fan on the other side venting directly out could work. Smoke odor is tricky though, I’ve found it nearly impossible to keep some “aroma” out of the house when I smoke in the garage and I’ve got an exhaust fan out there. Good luck

[Fuzz]

@Luca has the Rabbit Air filter and raves about it. He smokes indoors.... now that his gf is currently away with work.

Depending on how much you want to spend, you can get a relatively cheap charcoal filter to put in front of an exhaust fan to trap odours. They are similar to the type used in some cheaper rangehoods.

Or go overboard and get a professional inline filter set up.

No, I don't know why making charcoal out of Australian virgins makes it work any better.

[Lunettesman]

Interesting guys. Surprisingly, since they isolate the outer walls after renovation the problem occurs. Unfortunately no windows as I stated. Pre-renovation, I had a air extractor under the roof that would blow out the air outside. But now I can't do that move anymore. 

The real problem is that it's a closed environment. No way to have an exit for the smoke unless I open the door. 

[Fuzz]

Can't cut a hole in the ceiling and put ducting in to an external wall?

May need some pics to see if the problem can be resolved.

[Lunettesman]

Here's the room. You can notice on the ceiling room a fan that I had installed. I did isolate the place and put in a "wooden wall". Before the renovation the tiles where pretty loose so the fan would blow the air under the tile and the air would probably dissipate outside. Now they're is wood at 1mm to the fan exit, then tiles and solar panel. 

Behinds the curtain there's my bbq during winter. The roof goes slowly down. The room is like a triangle. 

[Fuzz]

May sound silly, but have you ever considered an exhaust fan mounted in the glass door?

[Lunettesman]

Never thought about that. What about cold isolation? I usually use my spot in winter when it's super cold. I'm in the swiss mountains. 

[MossybackR]

How does your BBQ vent?

[loose_axle]

On 4/19/2024 at 1:54 PM, Fuzz said:

No, I don't know why making charcoal out of Australian virgins makes it work any better.

Didn't know we had any left? 

[Lunettesman]

On 4/20/2024 at 10:55 AM, MossybackR said:

How does your BBQ vent?

It's just stored there during the hard winter. October to April it's at the back of the room. In short it never runs inside that place.

[Lamboinee]

I'm curious, did you tell them or did they know that you would be smoking cigars before they started smelling cigars? 

[Lunettesman]

I didn't tell them nothing. My "lounge" is "hidden" as it's on my terasse. Since they are on the bottom floor they don't even have a similar room at a similar place to the contrary of my upstairs neighbors who do. In short they had no idea I was smoking and they first thought it was the ground floor people. However they smoke pot and according to my neighbors they smell strong tobacco. When they told me they asked me first if I'm a smoker (I only smoke cigars). They afterwards told me they never smelled anything prior to the renovation, hence the late complaint.