Previous tenant's cigarette smoke smell prevalent when using AC (and when not) (Long Beach: lease)

[d1p23nz]

The place we rent in Long Beach was inhabited by a smoker prior to moving in. The walls were painted and the blinds were change. After moving in, the smell was more noticeable. We had the vents cleaned and the ceilings painted by the owner's workers. It still smells of smoke when the AC is turned on. We moved in when the AC was not as needed. Now that we need the AC daily, the smell is really bugging us. What are are rights and options?

[katenik]

did you change the AC filters? that might help.

are you sure that you aren't smelling cigarette smoke from a current tenant's adjacent unit? if you next door/upstairs/downstairs neighbor smokes, the smell can drift into your unit via the vents.

what about carpet? was it replaced, or merely cleaned before you moved in? carpet can trap odors that you might not be able to detect until the air in the room is stirred up more than usual, such as when the AC is turned on.

consider buying one or two portable air filters. oreck, the vacuum cleaner manufacturer, makes one that is very effective. don't bother with the cheapies you can get a target, etc., especially if you have nasal allergies. they just blow dust around, and make a lot of noise, to boot.

you can't break your lease because of this issue, if that's what you're hoping.