Problem Overflow

Smoke, smells and damp getting into your apartment, and how renters stop them.

Smoke from next door

Smoke comes through the bathroom or kitchen vent

Easy · About 20 minutes

Where I am
The smell floats in from the fan or the vent cover.
Where I want to be
Fans that pull air out and not in.
What's in the way
Many buildings share ducts, and smoke from another unit can back up through them.

Landlord's job? Report it in writing with dates, and keep a log. Who fixes what depends on your lease and where you live.

Try this first, free: Turn the bathroom and kitchen fans off and on. If the smell changes, a shared duct is part of the story.

The fix

  1. Check that the fan cover is clean and the flap, if there is one, moves freely.
  2. Wipe the grille so air can flow, and run the fan while you shower or cook.
  3. Hold a strip of toilet paper at the vent while the fan is off. If it's pulled in, air is flowing the wrong way.
  4. Tell the landlord what you found and when. Shared ducts are theirs to fix.

What this won't fully fix: You can clean the vent and write down what you see. You can't fix a shared duct, and covering it could make things worse.

Safety first: Never block or cover a bathroom exhaust, a range exhaust, or any vent near a gas appliance. Blocked vents can trap moisture and dangerous fumes.

What to get

Air purifier with a carbon filter on Amazon Soft cloths on Amazon

These open an Amazon search, so you can pick the one that fits. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

More in Smoke from next door

  1. Smoke from next door Easy · About 30 minutes

    You smell smoke but don't know where it's getting in

    Smoke travels through gaps you can't see, and sealing the wrong spot changes nothing.
  2. Smoke from next door Easy · About 20 minutes

    Cigarette smoke comes in under your front door

    The gap at the bottom and sides lets hallway air walk right in.
  3. Smoke from next door Handy · About 30 minutes

    Smoke comes in through the outlets and light switches

    The boxes behind the plates are open to the wall cavity, and air flows through.
  4. Smoke from next door Easy · About 30 minutes

    Smoke comes in around pipes under the sink or by the radiator

    Pipes pass through bigger holes in the wall, and those holes connect to the next apartment.
  5. Smoke from next door Handy · About 45 minutes

    Smoke seeps in through baseboard and trim gaps

    There are small gaps where the trim meets the floor and the wall.
  6. Smoke from next door Easy · About 20 minutes

    Smoke from a neighbor's balcony blows into your window

    Gaps around the window frame and sash let smoke in even when it's shut.
  7. Smoke from next door Easy · About 30 minutes

    A neighbor's weed smell drifts into your place

    It's a strong smell that slips through the same gaps as cigarette smoke.
  8. Smoke from next door Easy · About 15 minutes

    Picking an air purifier for smoke in a small apartment

    The labels are confusing and the sizes vary a lot.
  9. Smoke from next door Easy · About 1 hour

    The smoke smell is stuck in your curtains, bedding and clothes

    Fabric holds on to smoke particles long after the air clears.