I Just Bought the Former Home of a Smoker; What Steps Can I Take to Get the Smell Out?

I Just Bought the Former Home of a Smoker; What Steps Can I Take to Get the Smell Out?

Residual cigarette smoke can leave a home with unwanted odors and surface and material damage and fading. For new owners, it can cause allergic reactions like headaches, watery eyes, and a stuffy nose.

If you’ve recently bought a home where the previous owner was a smoker, removing the odor and residue is essential to a healthy home. Central Florida Restoration Solutions specializes in smoke damage remediation services. Our team will help rid your home of residual smoke odors and any other damages left behind by a previous smoker.

The Risks Associated With Third-Hand Smoke

Most people are familiar with the health risks of smoking and second-hand smoke. However, third-hand smoke also comes with significant risks, even after the smoke clears and the smoker no longer lives in the house. Third-hand smoke residual clings to and embeds itself in:

  • Carpets
  • Draperies
  • Walls
  • Porous countertops
  • Furniture
  • Vents and ductwork

People who move into a former smoker’s home can be exposed to significant health risks, including:

  • Cancer: Research has found that third-hand smoke is behind some lung cancer cases not caused by first or second-hand smoking.
  • DNA damage: A report from The University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program revealed that third-hand smoke exposure might cause human DNA damage and breaks and could increase the risk of certain diseases.

Third-hand smoke is considered unhealthy for everyone, but experts say small children are most at risk from its effects because they spend more time on exposed surfaces like floors, and they also tend to touch many surfaces or objects and then place their hands in their mouths.

While removing third-hand smoke residuals on your own is challenging, especially if it’s been present for years, hiring a professional smoke damage remediation company can help.

Professional Smoke Damage Remediation Services

Fortunately, a qualified tobacco smoke clean-up professional like CFRS can help permanently remove long-term smoke damage, saving you time, money, and frustration along the way. Our industry-best solutions are designed to remove surface and deeply embedded smoke odors that have worked their way into various household surfaces. The only surface that’s nearly impossible to remove tobacco odor from is “popcorn” ceilings and tiles.

Our standard nicotine odor removal and cleaning processes include:

  • Removal of all fabrics from every room
  • One or more wall and surface cleanings that use water and a specialized cleaning detergent to “bleed out” any trapped nicotine
  • Residual odor elimination with an ozone generator
  • “Trapping” any leftover nicotine molecules and odors with a sealer

Breathe Easily and Safely in Your New Home

If you’ve recently bought and moved into a Central Florida house that’s had long-term exposure to tobacco smoke, CFRS’ professional smoke damage remediation team can help restore your home’s air quality and eliminate lingering odors once and for all.

Our initial whole-house inspection and testing includes assessing structural elements like flooring and framing and determining the extent of smoke damage in individual rooms. We then develop a plan of attack for restoring your home to its previously fresh condition. We also point out areas that likely need significant repairs, which typically includes drywall replacement, carpeting removal, and repainting.

How long the smoke damage remediation process takes and what it will cost varies depending on the size of your home and the extent of the damage. But no matter how long it takes, you can be confident your house is completely clear of nicotine-related odor and damage. That’s because when you hire CFRS to remediate smoke damage at your new home, you benefit from working with Central Florida’s most relied-upon smoke damage clean-up and restoration company. We aim to make the smoke damage remediation process as stress-free as possible, and you can always rely on our team to deliver prompt service using only the latest tools and techniques.

We’re also the area’s #1 go-to source for water damage, fire damage, and mold damage services, and our 24/7 emergency services ensure your smoke, water, fire, or mold problems are dealt with quickly and professionally and with the least disruption to your home and life. Do you still have questions? Contact us today to learn more about all we do.