Construction technical question (smell)

[brabrabra11]

Hello! I created an earlier thread about getting smoke smell in the bedroom from the neighbor who lives to the right of me. It smells very musty and smoky if I close the bedroom door.

All walls except one wall are made of concrete. Since someone mentioned in the previous thread that concrete is cast against the floor, it cannot come through the wall/floor moldings.

What I wonder is if it's possible that the smoke comes in through the wall that is made of wood/gypsum? That wall also has windows, a radiator, and a fresh air vent. It is exclusively smoke coming from the neighbors through their apartment and not from outside.

 

[Isakare]

Yes, it can be poorly constructed/sealed, there may be passages for drainage, water, electricity, ventilation, etc., that aren't sealed. A wall between apartments should be fire-separating, it should be completely sealed, but that's not always the case. I was helping a tenant with the trap under the sink, and suddenly while I was sitting there, it became bright around the pipe going into the wall, it was the neighbor who opened their cabinet to throw away trash.

 

[brabrabra11]

Yes, it can be poorly built/sealed, there can be penetrations for drains, water, electricity, ventilation, etc., that are not sealed.
A wall between apartments should be fire-resistant, it should be completely sealed, but that's not always the case.
I helped a tenant with the water trap under the kitchen sink, and suddenly when I was sitting there, it became light around the pipe going into the wall, it was the neighbor who opened their cabinet to throw away trash.

Can a tenant request that they fix it? It's a multi-family house from the '60s. Is it possible to fix it yourself in some way, like removing the quarter round and sealing with acrylic caulk? Or does the landlord have to tear down the wall?

 

[Installation]

Hello! I previously created a thread about getting smoke smell in the bedroom from the neighbor who lives to the right of me. It smells very musty and smoked-in if I close the bedroom door.

All walls except one are made of concrete. Since someone mentioned in the previous thread that concrete is cast against the floor, it can't come through the wall/floor moldings.

What I'm wondering is if it's possible for smoke to come through the wall that's made of wood/drywall? That wall also has a window, radiator, and air supply vent. It is exclusively smoke coming from the neighbors through their apartment and not from outside.

The air supply vent is something I would check first. But that's just me.

 

[brabrabra11]

the supply air vent is something I would check first. But that's just me.

Already checked. Have also replaced the filters in the vents.

 

[Installation]

Already checked. Have also replaced the filters in the vents.

Filters don't remove smoke smell. But since they draw in air, it would come that way. There is a probability that it could spread through a leak.

 

[brabrabra11]

The filter doesn't remove smoke odor. But since they suck in air, it might come that way. There's a possibility it could spread through a leak.

No, I know. The filter is more for dust and insects.

Yes, that's my suspicion. I'm considering whether it's worth removing all the moldings and sealing with acrylic caulk and maybe asking if the neighbor can seal in their apartment.

 

[Installation]

No, I know. The filter is more for dust and insects.

Yes, that's my suspicion. Considering if it's worth removing all the moldings and sealing with acrylic sealant and maybe asking if the neighbor can seal in their apartment.

Unnecessary work in my book.