Putrid air coming from apartment vents?

Question

Any explanations for this and especially useful tips to stop or improve this problem would be much appreciated!!
The apt. I moved into seems to share air ducts with other apartments...the most putrid smells are pumped through the ducts (and I mean EVERY SINGLE VENT in the apartment blows out this disgusting air). The odor seems to be CIGARETTE SMOKE and cooking smells...except it smells like a meal gone terribly wrong--like burnt meat and potatoes. It permeates the carpet, linens, air etc. and cannot be healthy to breathe.

Please please help me with this--what is causing it, how can I stop it, and can/should my landlord do anything? Thanks for your polite and helpful replies!

Can't move out...just moved in and the rental market in my town is way too tight right now. Thank you anyway though. Any other advice?

Answer 1

Buy an air purifier, of a suitable size, and keep it on 24/7.

Answer 2

This is a good way to introduce yourself to your neighbors, and do a little sleuthing. make some cupcakes, and knock on doors. If it seems like the smell comes from a particular apartment, you might get together with some of your fellow tenants to get the apartment cleaned up, or get vents in that apartment filtered. if the smell is in all the apartments, then the vents need to be cleaned, and the ducts. Talk to your landlord, and get the other tenants to support you. That will help, as collective bargaining. If the landlord does not help, you can all band together, get an estimate on the job, and withhold a portion of your rent to pay for the job. But that is a last resort, as cleaning the air ducts may be beneficial to the landlord, check for tax abatement programs, etc, to sell the job. It is too bad you have to do all this work, but better than living with the stink.
Meanwhile, put small dishes with ammonia, or white vinegar around the house to neutralize the odors, and try febreeze with anti allergens on the fabrics in your house.

Answer 3

It is possible that several units have vents that are shared.

But even if the vents a separate smells can get through the walls etc.

You should check with your landlord about this. It may well be that he can't or won't do anything about it.

At that point I would give notice of moving. If the land lord says you have a lease & he won't let you out of it, there must be a health or building department that you could call for advice.

Answer 4

Is there a filter perhaps that you can put in your vents to stop the smell? Or can the landlord have the vents cleaned.. I would tell him that you have a really severe allergy to what's coming into the house and get a doctor's note to see if he can do anything.. .If you have an exhaust fan in the kitchen use that and see if it helps... If you don't have air conditioning try getting some box fans to blow the air outward out of the apt....

Answer 5

I would deem the environment unlivable. Maybe your neighbor is harboring a cadaver.

Answer 6

You better find out what it is , it maybe a hazzard to you health.