Tue 30 Jan 2007
In my Smoking Cigars Indoors article, I stated that the key to smoking a cigar indoors—without getting kicked out by your spouse—is simply to have adequate room ventilation. Cigar smoke that is not allowed to linger in a confined indoor space will just dissipate and, in time, leave no trace of odor. When this is done properly, even those picky non-smoker noses will never suspect that there have been billowing clouds of premium cigar smoke in the house. In fact, I have a great number of acquaintances that visit my office on regular basis and would never even imagine that it also doubles as a smoking lounge for me and my buddies.

Until now, my solution had been quite simple: use a regular window fan to expel smoky air out of the room. Usually left on overnight after a smoking evening, the fan does a good job of removing stale air with no detectable odors in just about 48 hours.
But I just discovered a new gadget that is bound to change the dynamics of my cigar lounge ventilation to make my system even more efficient—the Fresh Air Machine by a company called Bionaire. The device would eliminate a rather eminent conundrum: How to maintain a comfortable temperature in winter, while still allowing fresh outside air into the room?

Instead of sucking smoky air out of the lounge and allowing wintery air in through a separate window or vent, the Fresh Air Machine pumps outside air into the room after it has warmed it up to room temperature, while the separate window or vent would then serve to circulate the smoky air out of the room. The result is brilliant; all the freshness of outside air with the winter taken out of it.
To make this work ideally, I will have to change my current scheme. Since warm air rises, I would install the Fresh Air Machine closer to the floor and place a vent near the ceiling. The rising fresh, warm, air would then also serve to push the smoky layer up and out the vent, instead of relying on pure air pressure to drive it out. I could also place the device and the vent on diagonal corners of the room to maximize the effect, with the lounge chairs just adjacent to the fresh air intake.

Well, the gadget does cost around $200.00, as opposed to the $30.00 that a regular window far goes for; but what’s money when you can have that fine OpusX in a comfortable lounge instead of out freezing your behind? I’ll have to update you on this once I get it all up and running.





February 2nd, 2007 at 11:47 am
Being single gives one flexibility:
Crack 2-3 windows and smoke. Close the bedroom door.
When retiring, open the windows a few inches wider and shut the bedroom door while sleeping.
Granted, when you emerge for a shower your place will be 20 degrees colder than the bedroom, but the smoke/smell is gone overnight.
February 5th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
That sure works too. Just have to take a vow of celibacy!
February 6th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
There’s always her place…
February 22nd, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Thanks, EZ, for posting this blog. My wife and I are looking to buy a new house, and I would like to make one of the rooms into a Cigar Room/Man’s Den. I’d love to smoke indoors, but without leaving behind any stale smoke odor. Your two posts on this topic have been very helpful. Please keep us posted on your Cigar Room progress.
March 13th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
That is one hell of an interesting post. I’ve been imagining for the past year that once I live by myself (as opposed to the student bedsit I’m in now), my place would definitely have one room designated for smoking. Seeing your setup is quite inspiring.
I’m not prohibited from smoking in this room here, but when I open the window for ventilation the guy above me starts stomping on the floor. Besides having an eternally open window (no matter how cold it is), he also apparently has a sensitive nose.
Perhap I can help him with that… see what a hard punch right between the eyes does for his problem.
September 12th, 2007 at 4:50 am
[…] Cigar Lounge Ventilation Upgrade Cigar Blog: Cigar Reviews, and I n my Smoking Cigars Indoors article, I stated that the key to smoking a cigar indoors without getting kicked out by your spouse is simply to have adequate room ventilation. […]
September 15th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
I am building a new home and want to build a large loft area that will include a old built in bar, pool table, and a cigar smoking room / humidor. I am looking for advice on individuals that may be able to help design or provide advice on the best way to develop these features. Should I build I seperate room kept as a indoor humidor, and smoke in it, or a seperate humidor and seperate smoking room?
September 23rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Your system is pretty sharp, catching that I tried to submit this twice. Anyway, here it is with a different email address in case you don’t get the first one:
Hey -
Thanks for posting this. I realize this is way late, but I’ve just been cruising your blog and wondered how effective you found this item to be in clearing the air in the room? Thanks.
October 11th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
There are air handler systems which remove all the smoke. They have charcoal filters which are great
October 20th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
Who makes these air handlers w/charcoal?
January 10th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Each brand and type of cigar tastes different. While the wrapper does not entirely determine the flavor of the cigar, darker wrappers tend to produce a sweetness, while lighter wrappers usually have a “drier” taste. Whether a cigar is mild, medium, or full bodied does not correlate with quality.
———-
hesslei…
http://www.cigarsdirect.com
February 7th, 2009 at 1:56 am
How I yearn for a smoking room. Hard to believe that I’m in the business and my wife absolutely hates cigars.
What a curse.