Is this the answer?

[sirwood]

Originally Posted by RenoB

Yeah, one of those half windows. I put an 80 cfm in-line thru a 3" dryer cutout. If I upped this to 160cfm as you suggest, how big an opening do I need? And, should I bring any makeup air in, perhaps on the opposite side of the room? Have thought about running dryer hose from another window.

Fans are rated based on design, as is. As you add ductwork, elbows, etc., you restrict the air flow. Let's say you get a 160 cfm fan that features 6" round inlet/outlet. I would try to stay with that size (or area [28.3 in2)]) the best you can. If you have to change the size or run a lot of ductwork, you may want to get a larger fan so the end result is 160 cfm. Please note that 6x air changes may be at the low end of the scale...

A 3" (diameter?) opening is small. Forcing a lot of air through that hole will be difficult & loud.

I don't know what your room looks like, or your design restrictions. Maybe some photos would help....

One option I like for (smaller) smoking rooms are the bathroom fans from Panasonic http://www.panasonic.com/consumer_el...al/default.asp
They are quiet & designed to exhaust. Expensive, but readily available with warranty (as I recall). Your room is pretty big, but it looks like they have some larger fans.

I looked at these when I was working on my smoking room/wine cellar. I went with a remote blower from Broan.

If you haven't done it already, you may want to do a search on 'exhaust' or something similar. I found one of my old posts that describes my project:
_______________

I am working on a wine cellar/smoking room, and I installed a Broan in-line ventilator (see below).

This unit is basically a bathroom exhaust fan with a remote blower. I selected this unit because:
- exhaust to outdoors; no smoke treatment required
- remote blower should reduce noise in smoking room
- cost ($~110)

I installed a screw-cap damper in the smoking room to control the exhaust rate. I also installed a timer switch to allow for the fan to exhaust the room for a preset time after I leave.

Be sure to tape your ductwork seams to minimize leaks. I also insulated the ductwork to minimize noise.

________________________

http://www.broan.com/product-detail.asp?ProductID=547
Single-Port In-Line Ventilator
Model SP100

Easily handle extended duct runs.
6” round outlet and inlet for easy duct connections.
Plug-in blower simplifies service.
Air performance is HVI certified and AMCA licensed.

Exhaust Fans: In-Line Ventilators
Super-quiet, high-capacity ventilation.

Our remote in-line units are the quietest, most efficient residential ventilation systems available. It’s a pretty simple concept. Mount a high-performance ventilator in an out-of-the-way spot and you get the high-capacity ventilation, with virtually no sound.

Suitable for intermittent or continuous ventilation applications.

Install the housing in the attic, basement, or wherever is most convenient.
Energy-efficient, permanently lubricated motors with high pressure centrifugal blowers easily accommodate long duct runs.
Designed for quick, easy installation.
Removable panels offer easy access to the motor without disturbing ductwork.

[Puffy69]

have fun and good luck bro..

[RenoB]

***UPDATE***

Opted for a 300cfm fan with 6" diameter outlet. Mounted between joists, flush with ceiling tile. Ran about 20' flexible aluminum duct to window with only one 90* bend (approximate).

Caulked all major openings in the room. Sealed off cold air return and closed heating vents. When I open the door quickly I can hear the ceiling tiles pop up, so the room is fairly well sealed.

Looks to be working well, visible smoke gets sucked right out. Odor remains a problem. Slight smell in adjoining basement area (where laundry is done) is controlled with a smoke eater candle.

Yesterday, the odor problem presented itself in a second floor bedroom. This renders the solution useless until I find how the odor is escaping and plug it. Any ideas?

[Roger Miller"]

Originally Posted by RenoB

***UPDATE***

Yesterday, the odor problem presented itself in a second floor bedroom. This renders the solution useless until I find how the odor is escaping and plug it. Any ideas?

Where is your exhaust? Anywhere near the bedroom?

____
rm

[RenoB]

Originally Posted by Roger Miller"

Where is your exhaust? Anywhere near the bedroom?

____
rm

Same side of the house, two floors down. But it's cold out and the windows are closed, it's gotta be coming from inside don't ya think?

[Roger Miller"]

Originally Posted by RenoB

Same side of the house, two floors down. But it's cold out and the windows are closed, it's gotta be coming from inside don't ya think?

Well, not being there, i'm not sure. My thinking was, why just this one bedroom? Which lead me to inquire if the exhaust was located just outside the room.

I'm not sure how the smoke could pass through the house and only be detected in just one room.

Just thinking out loud, so you might want to find some earplugs

_____
rm

[rumballs]

what kind of heat do you have?
Any chance the smoke is just travelling through ductwork?

[Twill413]

Originally Posted by RenoB

Yesterday, the odor problem presented itself in a second floor bedroom. This renders the solution useless until I find how the odor is escaping and plug it. Any ideas?

I assume the office is heated? Could you be getting some odor transfer through the ductwork while the heat is off? Seems to me that if so, the smell would wind up in the highest level of the home, where it would accumulate the most.

[RenoB]

Originally Posted by Roger Miller"

Well, not being there, i'm not sure. My thinking was, why just this one bedroom? Which lead me to inquire if the exhaust was located just outside the room.

I'm not sure how the smoke could pass through the house and only be detected in just one room.

Just thinking out loud, so you might want to find some earplugs

_____
rm

Me either

Not sure it JUST that room, that is where my wife happened to be when she smelled it.

Originally Posted by mmblz

what kind of heat do you have?
Any chance the smoke is just travelling through ductwork?

Originally Posted by Twill413

I assume the office is heated? Could you be getting some odor transfer through the ductwork while the heat is off? Seems to me that if so, the smell would wind up in the highest level of the home, where it would accumulate the most.

Room IS heated but not anymore:

Originally Posted by RenoB

Caulked all major openings in the room. Sealed off cold air return and closed heating vents. When I open the door quickly I can hear the ceiling tiles pop up, so the room is fairly well sealed.

Unless there is some vortex action or something taking place as heated air travels across the closed heating vent, sucking air from the room into the duct?!?

[RenoB]

And, I don't think it's sealed too tight. Have about 2 inches under the door and draw towards the fan seems to be good.

[12stones]

Were you in the room when she smelled it? Could she have just smelled smoke on you?

Get a Lamp Berger that you run constantly. That will eliminate the odor that is left behind while making the air smell good all the time.

[Boston_Dude05]

This is a great thread, ought to be a classic. I had been wondering about a lot of these same issues.

[Twill413]

Just mask the odor by cooking sauerkraut every day. She will not smell the smoke at all in any room if you have that going.

[sirwood]

Originally Posted by RenoB

Opted for a 300cfm fan with 6" diameter outlet. Mounted between joists, flush with ceiling tile. Ran about 20' flexible aluminum duct to window with only one 90* bend (approximate).

Looks to be working well, visible smoke gets sucked right out. Odor remains a problem. Slight smell in adjoining basement area (where laundry is done) is controlled with a smoke eater candle.

Yesterday, the odor problem presented itself in a second floor bedroom. This renders the solution useless until I find how the odor is escaping and plug it. Any ideas?

Please note that if the fan is located at the ceiling, you are sucking (negative pressure) up to that point, then blowing (positive pressure) from then on. If you are getting some fugitive smoke, you may want to tape each joint to ensure no smoke escapes.

Assuming your ductwork is not leaking, you might get some minor odors in the adjoining basement area just from opening the door during/after smoking. I would recommend Oust/Febreeze as a quick fix. Consider some air treatment (WalMart ionic breeze) for your office space once you are done smoking.

The odor upstairs is something else. I like the prior post about the existing ductwork; I would make sure any unused ductwork is well sealed with tape.

Did she smell the odor while you were downstairs smoking, or another time?

Where do you put your clothes after smoking? My wife smells cigar smoke when she is in my closet, because I hang my smoking clothes in there to 'air out' prior to putting them in the laundry.

Let us know how this works out !

[MeNimbus]

Is it Satisfaction Guaranteed? Because then you could try it out and if it doesn't work simply return it.