HOME HANDYMAN
Downstairs neighbor's smoking presents problem

By Glenn Haege

Q. I live in the second-floor flat of a condo (old two-family home.). Our first-floor owner is a smoker, and the fumes make their way to our floor. I have narrowed the issue to two spots where pipes come through the floor. What are my best options to block the odor and smoke?

A. I don't think you are going to be successful because warm air rises. If you block it around the pipes, it may come in through the floor and wall cavities. You can use an insulation spray foam to see if sealing around the pipes works. Spray down into the floor and around the entire circumference of the pipes.

But even if the smoker kicked the habit today, the residual smell could still annoy you. That odor won't go away without a big sealing and deodorizing job.

Get the ducts cleaned. You can also order Smells Be Gone Solid in the gallon direct from Punati Chemical, (800) 645-2882, for long-term odor control. A standalone air filter could help greatly.

Q. In a recent column, you mentioned a pump system for hot water by Grundfos. Could you please give me the information on the company that sells the system?

A. Grundfos Pumps Corp., www.us.grundfos.com, makes a recirculating hot water pump. Nibco makes one called the Just Right Hot Water System, www.nibco.com/newproducts/justright.

Q. I am a single person living by myself in a 2,000-square-foot, quad-level house. I only use one upstairs bedroom, kitchen and living room. The other rooms are unused, so I close off the heat registers

I read that it is not good to close more than 20 percent of the registers in a home because it can cause high resistance and unnecessary heat build up in the furnace.

Am I causing myself some future problems within my furnace? I have at least 50 percent closed.

A. Your furnace is sized specifically for your house. When you close off more than 20 percent, you throw everything out off kilter. By limiting the area the furnace is heating, the furnace is oversized for the job it is doing and it does it very rapidly. This causes the furnace to shut down very soon after the thermostat has told it to start up. The furnace stops in mid-cycle, causing extra wear. Also, the most expensive thing your furnace does is turn off and turn on.

Glenn Haege writes for the Detroit News. Reach him at editor@flashcom.net, or visit www.masterhandyman.com.