Make the air flow toward the exit
Air moves from higher pressure to lower pressure. If you open a window in the smoky room and another across the house, which way the air flows depends on wind, temperature and fans, and it may carry smoke straight through the clean rooms. The goal is to make the source room the exit: fresh air comes in elsewhere and leaves through the source room's window.
Tall LoHi townhomes add the stack effect. Warm air rises and escapes high up, pulling air in low. On a cool day, opening a top-floor window and a ground-floor door creates a strong upward draft. That is useful if the smell is on the top floor, and unhelpful if it is in the garage-level bedroom, where it will rise through every floor on its way out.
Airing out a smoky room
- Close interior doors.Close the source room's door and the doors of clean rooms so the smell does not drift sideways.
- Set a fan in the window blowing out.A box fan in the source room's window, facing outward, pulls air from the room and pushes it outside.
- Open an inlet elsewhere.Crack a window in a clean area or the door to the source room just slightly so fresh air replaces what the fan removes.
- Turn off the HVAC fan.While airing, keep the central fan off so it does not pull smoky air into the return and spread it.
- Run bath and kitchen exhaust.Exhaust fans that vent outside help pull air out of nearby rooms.
Adjusting to the weather
- IfIt is very cold or very hot outsideThenAir out in shorter bursts of ten to fifteen minutes with the window fan, then close up and let the heat or air recover.
- IfIt is windyThenOpen the window on the downwind side of the source room so wind does not blow smoke back in.
- IfOutdoor air is smoky from wildfiresThenKeep windows closed and rely on a HEPA and carbon purifier instead.
- IfThe smell returns after closing upThenAiring has done its job; the remaining source is in surfaces and fabrics, which need cleaning.
Common questions
How long should I air out after a smoking guest?
An hour or two of directed airing clears the air. Then clean and recheck closed up; longer airing alone rarely solves residue.
General information for LoHi, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.