There are a few key things you can do to prevent the infiltration of fragrance, smoke, pesticides, cleaning products, and other chemicals from entering your house.
Whether the offending chemicals are coming from a neighbor with an adjoining wall in an apartment or a duplex, another house, or the outdoor air, the main strategies are similar.
The first thing that most people do (buy an air purifier), is the last thing I would do (and is not even on this list). We need to start with far more effective strategies for preventing infiltration.
Read through all the strategies and adjust them to your circumstances.
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1. Airseal Your Home
The most important thing you need to do first is to air seal.
Start by finding and sealing any small areas where air could find its way through. In an apartment, you cannot do this perfectly but you can still make an impact.
- Airseal along the baseboards wherever there is a gap or where caulking is coming loose (or was never applied) – both the top of the baseboard and bottom of the baseboard. Use AFM Caulking Compound if you want it to be paintable or neutral cure silicone if you don’t need it to be paintable.
- Caulk around any fixtures that are on the shared wall or the exterior walls if that is where the odors are coming in – light fixtures, fire alarms, fire sprinklers, lights, etc.
- Place foam gaskets under the electrical outlets and light switch plates.
- Patch any holes in the drywall with a non-toxic dry mix drywall mud (you can use premixed spackle but only if you are not that sensitive to VOCs).
- Check the caulking around windows and doors and replace it if necessary.
- Add non-toxic weatherstripping to doors if necessary.
Air sealing is the most important step, don’t skip it.
2. Find Out if Your HVAC System Brings in Air
You want to get to know how your HVAC system works so that you can find out if it’s bringing in air, when and where it’s bringing in air, and if that air is filtered.
Some systems have fresh air intakes, some have ways for “make up air” to come in to replace exhausted air – those can be passive or active, some homes have air exchangers, known as ERVs or HRVs, which move air in and out.
The photo above is a passive make up air vent with a small filter on it.
You will want to know if these systems have filters on them (and can you add or replace them), where they bring air in, and how can you control them if needed to either stop air from coming in or to control when it comes in.
The photo above is an ERV air exchanger which brings air in and moves air out in a balanced way. It has MERV filters on it.
3. Control Negative Pressure to Prevent Air Infiltration
Any appliance that moves air out creates a vacuum that causes air to be sucked in through any route it can find. This is usually through small leaks that are found all over most buildings.
This is the main way that contaminants are getting pulled into the building.
You want to avoid negative pressure in your house when the chemicals of concern are being used, and you want to ask your neighbor to continuously run at least one exhaust fan in their suite if your units are attached (and that’s assuming the area where their air exhausts is not right by a window or where your air intake is).
Even if you air-sealed as much as you can from the interior side, there is only so much you can do after a home is built to prevent infiltration of pollutants.
Plus when you are running exhaust in any way, air needs to come back in from somewhere, so you can’t stop this from pulling in air from your neighbors in unpredictable ways and locations (unless you have dedicated “make up air”, which is not very common).
Which appliances create negative pressure:
- Portable AC units that have only one hose (use a dual hose portable AC unit instead)
- Exhaust fans in bathrooms
- Exhaust fans/range hoods over the stove or microwave if they exhaust to the outside (not just those grease catchers)
- Central vacuums
- Dryers
- Some woodstoves
When you run these appliances you are essentially pulling in air through any little place it can and this causes your neighbor’s chemicals or outdoor contaminants like smoke to infiltrate the house.
To stop this from happening only run these at times of the day when the offending pollutant is not being used by your neighbors or in the community.
If that is not possible, you will want to provide easy access to make up air through a window that is not on the side of the building where the fragrance, smoke, or pesticides are coming from.
If that also doesn’t work in your situation, you can consider bringing in filtered make up air (see below section).
4. Use Positive Pressure When Needed
The IQ Air Multigas has a fresh air intake (pictured left) called InFlow W125.
Instead of filtering your indoor air, it brings in fresh air from outside and filters that without exhausting any air outside.
This could be used to keep out contaminants in a few ways.
If you use this without the same amount of corresponding exhausted air, you are creating positive pressure.
This is pushing air out through all those cracks and crevices where those contaminants were passively or actively making their way inside.
This can work really well to keep anything from leaching in.
But this can’t be used in all climates at all times of the year. Especially in the winter in cold climates, this can’t be used, as there is a risk of this causing mold behind the walls.
You could also balance this with your exhausted air.
You will need to measure the CFM of both of those to balance it.
What that could do is allow you to use your exhaust fans when needed but control the air that is coming in so that it doesn’t bring pollutants in through all the small cracks and crevices in an uncontrolled way, but through this one controlled filtered location (the IQ Air).
This ensures that the replacement air is highly filtered.
If the contaminant is in the outdoor air on all sides – like forest fires – then you might still be able to use this highly filtered outside air, especially if you do need to use your exhaust fans.
If the outdoor contaminant is something that is short-lived, like a one-time pesticide spray then I would eliminate all negative and positive pressure for that time and seal things up as well as you can.
As far as I know, you can only buy this fresh air intake for the IQ Air directly through their website. I have not seen any other air purifier companies that make something like this.
Related Posts:
- How to sequester off-gassing of items
- How to off-gas new furniture
- How to off-gas a new house
- How to mitigate and seal fragrance and smoke
Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.
Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!
CJ
how ABOUT OUTDOORS MY NEIGHBOR USES SUCH HORRIBLE DETERGENT I CANNOT EVEN SIT OUTSIDE, THEN IT LINGERS FOR TWO DAYS, SO BASICALLY ALL WEEK LONG
Jules
Hi, considering moving into a place where I will be on the bottom floor and I am fairly certain the neighbor above is using plug ins. Do I have to worry much about it sinking? I have a problem in the room that shares a wall with the hallway leading up to their apartment. That hallway smells strongly. I am hoping being under as opposed to above is better… it’s an old house with drop ceilings in two rooms so may be difficult to seal effectively? Thank you for all you do.
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
you wont be able to air seal in an old house but it is better to be below than above usually. look for negative pressure as well.
Rosemary
I am on the top floor of an apartment building. The 7th floor. My apartment has only one neighbor along the bedroom and the other two walls are hallways. It is essentially square shaped. Walking into the open kitchen with island straight ahead to the sink and to the right is the living area—behind the kitchen sink is the bathroom. In the bathroom direct from the front door is wash/drier combo—sink vanity—toilet—tub/shower combo. Behind the living area is my bedroom with a window to the right on both, and in the bedroom is a small walk-in closet. The closet has a sprinkler that has a gap, and the cable panel is in there as well. In my bedroom is the electrical panel. The smell is coming from the apartment below because the neighbor behind the bedroom is their bedroom, not a kitchen or a bathroom. The smells are coming up under the sinks in both kitchen and bathroom, and in the closet, badly in the closet. I can patch and caulk in there but I don’t know what to do about the electrical panel and the sprinkler. I can caulk around the pipes with the gaps and place a metal or plastic ring that’s more secure, and caulk around the toilet/tub. But I can’t reach the exhaust hose over the drier being a combo—but also the water/drain hoses is a square opening that’s directly behind the kitchen sink. It’s maybe 10×10 or 12×12. I also have electrical heating being in Washington state. The internal wall unit is something I use a magnetic strip to cover in the spring summer, but when it’s used it’s pulling air from the walls.
1. Closet sprinkler and 2’ by 18” cable panel. (2012 construction).
2. Water/drain opening for washer in bathroom.
3. Electrical heating in wall unit.
Any advice?
Thanks
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I would hire an expert who does air sealing
Mary Skiba
I have done all of these things, but I have noticed too that the smells come up through the window cavities up through the windows. There are areas of the window, where the window bottom window slides up you can’t seal that in there.
I’ve even gone under the sinks where the hoses and pipes come through the wall. You pull the metal disc back and the hole is much bigger than the pipe coming through. I have shoved insulation in there and taped over that to seal that up, but it’s still coming up and it’s making me very very sick every day I have MCS, which is severe chemical sensitivities
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
it wont be possible to seal things perfectly in a already finished build but you could have someone who does air sealing come out to look at it
Katie
The section about HVAC systems says which questions to ask, but I can’t figure out what answers you want to those questions…Can you please clarify what specs you recommend? Thanks!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
This article isn’t about which specs I recommend but knowing how your HVAC system works so you know how, when and where air comes in and how to control it, and if it created negative pressure etc and what the means for pollutants.
Catlin Jackson
Do air purifiers create negative pressure?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
no, stand alone air purifiers are neutral.
Katharine
Thanks for this helpful info, Corinne!
I live on the 5th (top) floor of an apartment building. Although I’ve lived here for years, I just noticed a laundry (artificial fragrance) smell sometimes coming from our stacked washer/dryer. I’m trying to determine what to do about this.
Moving the washer/dryer (to ensure the dryer exhaust tube is still securely attached) isn’t an option at the moment, as I react to the dust that gets kicked up each time we move the washer/dryer.
In case the air is coming in through the dryer itself: do you know of any way to quickly/easily cover the dryer exhaust (from inside the dryer), and then remove it to dry a load?
Thanks so much!
🙂
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
You’ll need someone more techy for that
katharine
OK. Thank you Corinne.
Mary Skiba
I have had MCS for 21 years severe chemical sensitivities I continually moved to get away from plug-ins the strong chemicals and kitty litter, cigarettes, etc. I just moved into a unit I thought would be OK Not when I explained to my neighbor below me my health situation all she said was what are you gonna do about it? She continues in the morning at night last night even in the middle of the night, burning candles and maybe even use plug-ins or something else cause I woke up itching and blisters on my skin. My throat is hurting been sick day and night and here because it just comes into my unit constant Landlord says she can’t. Her lifestyle is freaking making me sick and my dog. There’s no heater unit in here. They have these units that hang on the wall two of them and they are for air conditioning and the heat but there’s no vents in the wall. It’s coming up so strong. I know it’s coming through the floors I noticed your window when I opened the window. It was coming in strong. They are one time but it’s always strongest in the bedroom and bathroom and I think that’s where she’s burning her candles. Nobody will help me, but I’m sick as Hell, I’m getting a tape to put around the floor and the molding. I’m going to put foam under all the switch plates but they have tape around them as well. I’m going to put the tape up around the pipes that are under the sink and seal them and keep vinegar and water, but maybe I should , have three air purifiers going all the time one I made myself with 13 air filters for them. I made a queue. I duct taped them together today they were tight and I took a small fan and put on it and duct tape that as well that seems to work better than the ones that I bought, but still can’t fight the damn smell. She leaves for the day, but the smell stays behind and lingers never open her windows but when she opens her door if you’re outside, it just smells all the way out into the parking lot. She gets out of her car walk past her that’s all you can smell , also wondering if there’s maybe not kitty litter down there strange things
Stephen Harris
I’m having the same problem, but with Cigarette and C—k C—–e being Smoked and Cooked. Someone suggested Moving, who should pay for the Move? When we’re told that the Building is a Smoke Free Building, and each of us Tenants sign a Smoke Free Policy along with our Lease. The building owners are getting a Fire Discount on their Fire Insurance, but we the Tenants get no relief from the Cigarette and Crack Cocaine being Smoked and Cooked. My building is a Senior Citizen Building, we can’t afford to move with our Fixed Incomes, because Management want or can’t enforce their Smoke Free Policy – In Maryland.
MK. August 15, 2024 at 6:00 am
my neighbor in apt above me is cooking meth and the chemicals are coming down to my apt, but mgr. will not do anything, and I guess can’t. what can I do for this toxic air making me sick?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist. August 15, 2024 at 7:19 pm
I would move that is a very serious exposure, that is not to be taken lightly, especially if you have chemical sensitivity. fragrance and wood smoke are nothing compared to that.
Thank you for you time,
Stephen Harris.
MK
my neighbor in apt above me is cooking m–h and the chemicals are coming down to my apt but mgr will not do anything and I guess cant. what can I do for these toxic air making me sick?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
I would move that is a very serious exposure, that is not to be taken lightly, especially if you have chemical sensitivity. fragrance and wood smoke are nothing compare to that.
Jean Taylor
Hi Corrine
If a builder states in “Surprising performance” specs of a townhome community as “Energy Series Plus home with certified indoor and airplus qualified, air barrier and ductwork sealing to prevent air passing in and out home, is that a strong assurance that marijuana , cigarette, etc smoke cannot travel from shared walls or through vents? Thank you!
April
Hi Corinne, you have helped me so much over the years. Thank you!! I wonder if there is a paint or sealant (AFM Safecoat type) to paint my wall adjoining my neighbor whose perfume seeps through. I sealed up with
aluminum tape the electrical outlets
and cracks where kitchen appliances are installed, and used denny foil in front of kitchen drawers to block out a whole area. I will try that silicone on baseboards that you suggest, though I did use some aluminum tape over some baseboard. It seems some odor seeps through the wall. So, without removing the wall to airseal it, would some kind of paint/Safecoat seal it well? What is air
sealing anyway, if I did remove the drywall – what would they do to airseal before reinstalling the wall? Just use dennyfoil behind the wall? (How would I find a contractor who would “get” what I want to do?) Thanks agan!
Corinne Segura
I would hire an an energy auditor and continue to seal up all areas where air can come through – there are a lot of them, and straight through a soid material is not likely where it’s coming from. Alternatively you could do a phone consultation with Corbett Lundsford about where to air seal.
April
Corinne, thank you so much! You have helped the community enormously! I love reading your blog and articles. Maybe someday you will consult again. I’ll buy everything through your links to support you plus coffees. And I’ll follow your suggestions above. To have someone like you who UNDERSTANDS and is also so enlightened on the subject makes a huge difference. Wishing you health, happiness, blessings, April
Corinne Segura
thank you April
Jean Taylor
Hi Corrine, I currently live in a townhouse and my neighbors secondhand m_______a, vaping juices, and sage have been literally making me sick the past 6 mos to the point I am considering moving. I vowed no more townhomes, but see a brand new build townhome where the states Energy Star certified & indoor air plus qualified with air barrier & ductwork sealing to prevent air from passing in and out of home. Will these measures guarantee no secondhand smoke from travels via walls, vents, or cracks into adjoining townhomes?
Corinne Segura
I would need more details on what they are doing to air seal, how they are brining in make up air etc. You will never be able to fully block smoke from an adjoined townhouse but I would recommend a consult with Corbett Lundsford to look it over.
Jean Taylor
Thank you, Corrine! I didn’t realize this question was posted and you had responded before I posted again. I don’t know the specifics of how they are sealing etc, so I guess if I am forced out of my home I will buy a single family home to be safe as I can not be subjected to another nightmarish groundhog’s day life!
Jean Taylor
Hi and thanks again Corrine! I spoke with Corbett Lundsford, told him you referred me, and he suggested asking my neighbors to consider running their bathroom exhaust fans 24/7 to depressurize air flow. He was kind enough to answer my questions but I can’t remember if he said for me to also turn exhaust fans on as he had to go. Your thoughts? Also, he did say the contractors building the new townhomes were moving in the right direction with the sealing and ductwork for cleaner air that should stop traveling secondhand smoke via shared walls.
Corinne Segura
no you dont want to ever run any exhaust fans while they are smoking. so if you could negotiate times with them for you to cook and shower that would be best
Winona
Hi Corinne,
Would you whether covering a baseboard gap that is a bit larger than the one pictured across a room is possible to do with Denny Foil or aluminium foil, if the air intrusion issue is coming from the inside of walls?
Is there a benefit of using Denny Foil over heavy duty aluminium foil?
If it’s not sufficient for air intrusion of chemicals one is reacting to, can heavy duty foil be put over a silicone caulk in the first few days, once dry, to ameliorate the caulk offgassing into the room as it cures?
(for example, silicone caulk the air gaps, let dry, then within a few days lay heavy duty aluminium foil over the gap/caulking, then place quarter rounds over baseboard?)
Or is it necessary to allow the silicone caulk to come to a complete cure first before covering with aluminium foil? If so, how long for a complete cure is sufficient (2 weeks?)
Thanks!
Winona
Corinne
deny foil and aluminum foil both work. I don’t know what day you can cover caulking, it probably depends on the type so you should ask the companies. check out the post and video on caulking. you might also try stuffing backer rod under there if it’s a big gap but that is usually caulked as well at the edges after putting that in.
Winona
Thank you very much!
Would you happen to know what type of backer rod is best for sensitivities, and whether that tends to contain any problematic odours or additives, or are they all more or less equivalent?
Winona
Xxxpete
my neighbour below has away pungent nasty smell always coming into my open window., I love fresh air , dang can smell it right now , do pungent and sweet bug it’s not weed
Hope
Funny my neighbor somewhere maybe upstairs is choking me with spray paint or dryer sheets or caustic chemical spray room perfume
Kirsten
wow I wish my house smelled like dryer sheets. my neighbors are animal hoarders so it smells like urine and feces and they smoke M——-a and cigarettes on top of it.
R Catt
Hello Judith,
I have a issue with my new neighbors who lives next door to me. The vents for their washer/dryer aim right at my front door and porch. They do laundry every single day..night and day! And their appliances are so powerful the smell from the detergent and dryer wipes fill my whole yard! I had heart surgery and I choke and gag from the smell. My eyes get itchy and I cant breathe! I have tried kindly to talk to them and they got uppity with me. I even offered to buy them different detergent and dryer wipes. It was a no go! I talked to my HOA and they were absolutely no help! Only thing I see I can do is move. Which I do not feel is right. If someone here ever had a issue with me I worked it out with them to resolve it. But people today just dont care about anyone else!
JT
I agree with you that people don’t care about others well being! we live in such a selfish world nowadays. my neighbors are horrible too. My building is filled with a bunch of chain smokers and drug users. the smell makes me sick and this is supposed to be a nonsmoking complex. Nothing is being done about it so I understand your frustration! I’m moving in 1 month but had to put up with this for 6 months!
Sam
Hello,
I know EXACTLY how you feel!!! I live next door to a non-speaking couple who also uses the dryer EVERY DAY with what smells like at least 10 Snuggle sheets per load. I can’t open the windows; I can’t sit out back. No children, no elderly folks, so I have clue what they’re doing. I am going to have evergreens installed a foot past the dryer vent in the HOPES that the fumes will be absorbed by the trees. I couldn’t even use the downstairs bathroom because as soon as I opened the door I was punched in the face with 50 fabric softener sheets!!! When the outdoor vent trap looked as though it was about to catch fire, Mr and Mrs anti-social did nothing so I had to call the fire marshall. You would think with 364 a day use they would at least have it cleaned. NOPE!
Anne
All these noxious injurious chemical fumes contain known carcinogens! Contact a Tortious Personal Nuisance lawyer! No one should get cancer from involuntarily inhaling known carcinogens they can’t see to avoid! Call the “Fire Prevention” team of the fire department to do an inspection. THe vents can have a duct attached which will vent the fumes tio he rooftop instead!
Hope
Wow I have same issues it’s killing me serious it’s also killing my dog
Anne
Hire a Tortious Personal Nuisance lawyer and sue! You are disabled and have a right to disability accommodation under he Human Rights Code.
Michelle
my neighbour is sticking whole of my flat out with cooking fried food in unclean ovens and in saucepans where fat is so old and dirty it’s rancid.
this guy is given free food as he’s a immigrant so he has all day to cook fry ups.
last year i lost my temper last summer was extremely hot here in England it was unbearable heat but i couldn’t open any windows he had heard me shout it stinks and slam my windows so now he does it on purpose he leaves his oven on for hours just burning food ( free food)
it’s bad the extractor fans in kitchen and in my bathroom i can not use because the smells comes through so bad.
today is like Any other day i get up to smell of sticking chip pans it’s vile I’m losing my mind I’m very sensitive to any bad smells anyway i could never have a animal for exapmle but even if i had 40 cats it wouldn’t smell no where near the smell i get from him.
i can’t leave my windows open unattended i have to be in the room so when he bangs his dirty cooker on i can quickly shut the window.
it has ruined my life last 4years since he moved in .
he knows his cooking stinks he must using weeks old lard cooking oil.
i use plug ins air freshener i put fabric conditioner ( lenor) in hot water which is strong under normal circumstances and I’m also buying incense sticks from amazon nothing works.
all windows are shut but smell of old cooking fat still gets in .
C
you’re just putting nasty chemicals over the cooking. most ” air fresheners” are toxic. skip the plugins and incense and get an activated carbon filter air purifier. not just a regular ol hepa filter purifier. make sure it cleans VOCs out of the air. it may advertise it fixes odors but look at the label for VOC removal. you. be aware of the square footage it can work with you may need more than one.
Pete G
Just recently we’ve been getting all types of smells from the the neighbors next door and we’ve reported them via the 311 as that site has a list of violation one can report. However 6 times we’ve reported these violations and nothing is being done. As part of the community association, even they aren’t doing anything. Oh they’ve put up motion lights to video the ally because of all the drug traffic, but as of yet no reports have been filed. If one was to look online, It says this home is being rented with a clause “No Pets and No Smoking” and they’ve violated both of these renter terms. Now or as of Dec 16th, the kids in the family are dealing drugs and we suspect meth from the home. The police have already raided this hose but again nothing is being done. We’ve tried everything.. Defusers, vapor barriers, smoker candles, repainting, insulating etc nothing works for long. We suspect that their homes/apt has turned into a drug save haven to teens in the area and because it’s section 8 nothing will ever be done. Our only outlook for this is that one of the kids gets a hold of some bad drugs and dies. our only other option is to move.
Hope
I have a horrid issues with overwhelming like using entire box of dryer sheets to point eyes and throat are burning as well as nausea ect.. headaches much more
Cindy
I just moved here a year ago Feb 1 because they were making meth in that older folks apartment building. I couldn’t get help because it was for the elderly so no one wanted to believe it. The smells were different but when I smelled an either smell then I knew for sure it was a meth lab. I could not catch them as they have aerosol sprays that neutralize the odors. Finally I found a place and way to move from there but health damage from 6 months at that building. Now at the new apartments it’s all one level and even older seniors and I though I should be ok. Wrong. The lady is younger than the husband on one side and she’s causing me some of the same issues I had before with her oil defuser. It’s not as bad but I’m living away from them and in my living room and kitchen area. Both places I tried to talk to them but no one cared. This one is just mean and rude. I tried to go talk to her but she spoke mean and all but slammed the door in my face. Then my cat almost died from the oil defuser so I have contacted a lawyer as the landlord is hud and the manager isn’t getting involved. Also the air ducts are full of dirt and they refused to clean them. I am allergic to things like the oil defuser and whatever is in the ducts. I’m still healing with my heart and central nervous system from the meth fumes. I can’t finish healing with this defuser. All my family passed away so I’m alone and they aren’t killing my cat. My dog died prematurely from the meth fumes according to the vet. Like I said I have a lawyer.
Lois
This is frustrating to say the least. I’m experiencing the same issue in my end unit townhome with new neighbors. Cigars, vape, meth, and feces odors and water damage. Police called twice for loud party noise. This is beyond a nuisance.
Anne
Contact a “Tortious Private Nuisance”Lawyer and sue!
Mariane
Hi Corinne,
Curious on your thoughts of how hazardous would it be for us to smell the spray paint my neighbors were doing crafts on their yard. I had the whole house windows open and baby was eating breakfast when we smelled very strong. I tried to move out of the room but the whole house was smelling. I turned fans at that point and left the house because I realized they were done but the smell was in. I was very upset but more worried if that can harm the baby. Their fence is not 12 feet away from our wall. I am very sensitive and can smell things easily but even the kids smelled it.
Sarah
It’s crazy how many offending odors and chemicals are now part of everyday life and that infiltrate our homes. Sharing walls makes it even more difficult, but even in a free-standing home, it’s incredible how many odors drift through the air from several doors down. And it’s shocking how many people seem to have no clue that the products they’re using to wash their close, dry them, inject scent into their air, etc, are building up toxins in their homes, which then enter ours.
Thanks to Corrine for all of her very helpful ideas on this difficult topic. I would also add that for anyone desperate enough to need to move, consider moving to a community with an older demographic. In my experience, there’s a bit less nonsense with older folks. They’re not usually remodeling their homes, burning incense, or smoking up a storm (maybe for health reasons that caught up with them). In addition, they’re often a bit easier to work with if you say something to try to find some sweet spot for them to live their lives freely while perhaps being made aware of something they’re doing that’s impacting your health.
No easy answers…
Hope
I AGREE WE NEED TO START A CAMPAIGN THAT LETS PEOPLE KNOW THE PEEPS TJIER ARE OTHERS WHO CANNOT SMELL THAT STUFF PERIOD , MY DOG AND I HAVE EXTENSIVE MEDICAL ISSURS FROM THIS AND MORE WHY CANT PEOPLE REDPECT IT I USED TO LOVE PERFUME NOW I CANT TOLERATE UNLESS IT IS NATRAL AND FRUIT NON FLORAL NOTES I LOVE FLOWERS IM A FLORIST FOR GOODNESS SAKE BUT THOSE PLUG INS AND SYNTHETIC SMELLS ARE NASTY EDPECIALLY WHEN THEY BURN YOUR EYES NOSE AND MOUTH HEADACHES VOMITT ECT
M. John
Why can’t they make apartments in USA with thicker walls & floors instead of thin drywall ? Use bricks to construct floors & walls between apartments.? Like in India? The USA. Is not a poor country, is it??!
Dean
Every country has different building styles and uses different materials based on different factors. Climate and availability of materials and traditional methods are 3 important ones. What often matters most is attention to detail and when it comes to air sealing and insulation, that is typically relegated to the lowest paid workers. Most consumers are not as concerned or as susceptible to odors and chemicals as a growing minority and this is reflected in building quality and associated pricing. Not many are willing to pay for the level of air sealing needed and air infiltration is the result.
Gina
I have neighbors cigarette smoke coming in on one side of my home and toki torch oil burning on my other neighbors all night until 6 am. My house smells like a trash dump. I have sealed my windows with silicone bought air purifiers. It seems to be more advanced when the AC unit is on. I have a ac window unit In my upstairs which I have to shut off when they like the tiki torches. My newly constructed painted room upstairs now smells like burnt oil.. I do not smell the cigarette smoke upstairs.. My coughing is so bad liquid comes right out of my lungs to my mouth at the same time as I’m coughing.
Mary
I’m going through the same thing with my neighbor I’m going to cottage I confronted her about the cigarette smoke coming in and then she started using plugins and other things with chemicals that started coming in as well trying to cover up the cigarette smoke making it worse then she tries to tell me it was from the covid I had it in December it makes me think I’m smelling smoke and other things and that’s baloney she won’t stop I don’t know what to do having severe allergic reactions it’s even affecting my little dog I just moved into this apartment to get away from a hoarding situation and mold and now I have to deal with this and she won’t stop. so I guess I need to move again this is just not right that these people can do this I’ve got air purifiers and air cleaners going I’ve used vinegar I’ve used cinnamon it just keeps coming in in my case I think maybe it’s coming into the attic area and through the ductwork but nobody will do anything about it 20 years of putting up with this and moving
Access Doors and Panels
If we were to sum it up in a single word, we’d say your work is exceptional. Thank you for your kind remarks.
Lois
Hi Judith,
I understand your frustration, I’m having a similar problem with my end unit town home, new neighbor. His odors enter my home through gaps between the party wall and the foundation. After complaining to the homeowner, HOA, fire department, contractors, and purchasing three air purifiers and two window fans, I have hired a company to air seal basement gaps and remove drywall from the shared wall main floor level to air seal. Hopefully this will help. If not, I will be purchasing a single family home with privacy so this will not happen again. Frustrating.
Anon
I’m having a problem with two of my neighbours. One I share a wall with and one I don’t. They are trying to drive me out of the neighbourhood by running abnormal concentrations of fragrant laundry products, curry, and now perfume, cologne and fart spray. They are also emitting some chemical into the inside of my home that’s making me sick but I can’t smell it. So I’m not safe inside or out. Evil people.
Judith
My next door neighbors emit strong chemical smells from their garage which penetrate my house and burn my skin and eyes. Local law enforcement here will do nothing and worse report the who the complaining neighbor is. And state enforcement works with local. I bought the highest quality austin air filter for chemicals but it isn’t sufficient to protect me. And am at a loss how to protect myself. It smells of solvents or acetone and is searing to breathe.
Corinne
Follow the list in this article. I don’t have air purifiers on this list bc it’s not up there with the most important things to do.
Lois
Hi Judith,
I understand your frustration, I’m having a similar problem with my end unit town home, new neighbor. His odors enter my home through gaps between the party wall and the foundation. After complaining to the homeowner, HOA, fire department, contractors, and purchasing three air purifiers and two window fans, I have hired a company to air seal basement gaps and remove drywall from the shared wall main floor level to air seal. Hopefully this will help. If not, I will be purchasing a single family home with privacy so this will not happen again. Frustrating.
Christopher shindle
That is a meth lab call police and tell them you have reason to suspect meth lab
JT
I have called the police several times but have not used the term meth lab. I will try that bc my neighbors have strong strange smells drifting into my apt throughout the night! I’ve complained several times and nothing is done! it’s a shame criminals get away with this. This is Peoria AZ 85382 and I hope the word gets out and this gets investigated oneday!
Brenda
Hi , I’m having problems with my neighbor, coming over my house at night, he sprays my plants, with pesticides, Air conditioner unit, and comes into my house through the air vents, and it burns my eyes,hard to breath, Law says I need to get proof WTF ..