Expert: Marc Rubin, RPh Asthma Educator - 2/8/2009

Question
My brother is going to be moving into my house with me due to an emergency.  He will be staying an indefinite period of time.  I'm delighted about this except for one thing.  He is a smoker.  He likes to sit in his room and smoke.  He'll do this with the door closed, but I know from past experience that even downstairs, it travels through our heating ducts (even in summer) and I get a headache right away.  Not a big one, but it's there, and that's the best case scenario.

I want my brother to stay here and it is going to happen. But I need to purchase (a) an ashtray and (b) a really strong air cleaner for his room.  He has promised to use these when he arrives.

For general use, I have a silent "Ionic Breeze" that I bought from the Sharper Image a few years ago while we were doing some renovations.  It is very good on normal dust but it is not strong enough for this.

Can you recommend either a manufacturer, a model type, or a website that would point me in the direction I need to go in for a solution?

I can spend up to $700 on something that is very effective, perhaps I can buy a used model of something else.  He might pitch in for something that is more expensive.

Thank you for your assistance,

Answer
Holly,

You seem to be a wonderful, compassionate person, but the fact that your brother cannot keep his smoking out of your house is extremely disrespectful to you.

There are two items to get, but they do not resolve the issue that the smoke clings to your brother and his clothes, still contaminating your home and lungs.

1) Get yourself a HEPA filtration unit for his room. Look at these items>>

http://www.air-purifiers-america.com/comparison.asp?tag=smoke

http://www.allergyconsumerreview.com/hepa-air-purifier.html

http://products.howstuffworks.com/austin-air-healthmate-hm-400-air-purifier-revi...

http://www.consumersearch.com/air-purifiers

2) Cover the RETURN vent in the bedroom with aluminum foil. I'd suggest using painters tape (light tack version) to hold it in place. That will prevent pulling the smoke into your heating system.

Best of luck. I hope he appreciates what you are doing for him, and will think about not only responding in kind, but will think about his own personal health.

Sincerely,

Marc

Next, is your brother at all interested in quitting smoking, or has tried in the past and failed. I can help him with this, and would be more than happy to guide him. It is education based and positive, not negative punishing.