It's impossible for the fins to cause this. I would check the hole that the pipes enter the baseboard on each end of the baseboard. Seal the area between the pipe and the hole with caulk.

Ditto.

"... I just dont understand how its coming through..."
1. Air normally rises in a building. Search on "chimney effect" to learn more if you need convincing.
2. Airtightness is not easy to build. The minutest cracks let air slide through.

Does this explain it to you?

If someone downstairs talked real loud or brought a boom box up to the ceiling, you would hear it louder in some areas and less loud in other areas. This illustrates how little sealing was put in place when the building was built. It does not show the path for air though.

DEFINITELY seal the hole where the pipes enter the baseboard on each end of the baseboard. Seal the area between the pipe and the hole with strong goopy sticky stuff and smoosh it real hard down into the hose, so that you might also seal the other air passages in your subfloor. Smokey air can slide through the floorboards too, and behind the moulding too. Any wood slats, wherever, look solid but leak air

Thanks guys. I spent the day sealing up the holes where the pipes enter from the wall with "Great Stuff" insulation foam. I also insulated all the outlets and light switches with foam pads as I heard smoke can enter from there as well. Unfortunately, I am smelling (and tasting) nothing but tobacco this evening.

Could it be coming from the pipes if not the fins? There doesnt appear to be any gaps on them however. I think the only place left would be the floors.. but I can't check them for gaps, the carpet here has been glued to the floor.

No, can't be coming from the pipes either. They have water inside.

what about the bathroom where the pipes come in or the closet, is there a fuse panel in your apt. caulk around that don't use the foam tho.

Is there one area that is worse then the other? If there is a exhaust fan in the bathroom try turning that on and see if that helps or makes it worse. maybe keep that door closed when on ??? I feel for you.

1234.. I did a search and came up with this: Don't know if it works or what.... just a thought.

http://www.5starshine.com/info-atmosklear-odor-eliminator.html

http://www.oxysol.com/index.php?id=how-it-works

Hopefully they aren't scams so do research first

There is everything to gain and nothing to lose, to you wash surfaces that have tobacco on them.

A steamer will be a great tool. The smallest cost less than $100.
Odor eliminators are ok too but personally I'd start with steam, for a number of reasons that you will find out when you research this subject.

The reason why you smelled smoke coming more from the fins than from any other place is that the fins (when warm or hot) pull air towards them from underneath and send it upwards. It's a gentle current, and the fins appear to be the source of the smell, in your perception, and they ARE that too, in the sense that they are the source of the minor air current, but they grabbed the smoke/smell from somewhere underneath first instead of creating the smoke. You accurately identified the downstairs tenants are the source of the smoke and the fins as the source of the current.

What started as an HVAC question became a home repair question. Consider moving. I'll bet that this building will never be airtight between floors.

Even if you lived in a building made of concrete slab floors, you would have a problem with the smell. A smaller problem, but still a problem. Air/effluent/Smoke slides up the sides of a building, and whenever you opened a window you would know that someone is smoking tobacco at a floor underneath you. It may be only a minor aggravating thing, an irritant, but it still is an identifiable smell. I know all this since I smell it when a downstairs neighbor smokes on his balcony; I Iive on the 5th floor of a concrete building. It can make me sneeze but I consider this minor.

For the same reason, people who live above dry cleaners die of cancer at a much higher rate. This has been documented all over the world, and is one reason why dry cleaners are using healthy/green solvents more than ever.

I would recommend moving if you are renting and the manager/landlord/whatever chooses to not try to rectify the issue. The people below you have the right to smoke and you have a right to be smoke free. If they can fix the problem and if you are renting it is actually their (the owner/managers) problem that would be great. If they cannot fix the problem then you should be able to get out of any lease you have and get your deposit(s) back.

Thanks everyone. Thanks david. I'll try cleaning things up and see how it goes. Like I said, moving is not an option right now. I literally cannot come up with the money for movers and to move into another place at this time. Maybe in the future. Until then I'll hope for the best.

Thanks again.

You might have to worry about movers or getting some help moving but the chances are high that you can get out of that contract or at least strong arm them to remedy the problem.

I never smoked inside when I used to smoke. I quit smoking by the use of electronic cigarettes they day I got the one I ordered. I was FLOORED by how easy it was. So much better for you and cleaner. Perhaps you could tell your neighbors about them. The success rate is so high because it's exactly like smoking, only it's not smoke, just water vapor. You can literally be in a car with the windows up and use an electronic cigarette and it would not bother the person in the car with you. It's pretty amazing. I tell anyone who I see smoking about them. Just a thought...I know it would be awkward but who knows, it might help. Just go to youtube and type in elecronic cigarettes and there are TONS of vids if you're no sure what I'm talking about. I would hate to live in an apartment where someone under me smoked. GROSS! Good luck

One more thing .....> countryboymo

It took a few posts, but we've arrived.

The landlord owns the private property and he allows smoking. I would find a new place to live rather than try to take away the rights of a private property owner.

Eventually, another's own rights will become the new target.

Get a doctor's letter to get out of your lease, use masking tape to seal up every gap in every surface for some relief, get an air purifier, blow fresh air in, and get another apartment as fast as possible.

I have the same problem in an older building. Her pipes come up through to my heater pipes. I made a gasket in the bedroom, to go around the pipe holes. BUT just since we've put the heat on a bit, I sit in my living room and choke and eyes run from a burning smell which is not coming from my heaters, because my heat is off. I'm wondering if she's ever in 14 years cleaning out her baseboard heaters. This is no joke. The other night I was going to put my mask on. Today, I'm going to clean my heaters out just in case, but I know it's hers. I'm going to let her know I'll be vacuuming them and sorry for the noise and see what she says. This strong burning smell permeates my whole apartment.

I have the same issue. It's most noticeable when we turn on our heater as the smoke rises. These people below us are clowns and it's a no smoking building. I think because of COVID some places won't evict or they use that as an excuse to do nothing. They vape and smoke below us.

I would try damp towels around the bottom of the baseboards where you suspect smoke entry. Behind the stripping there is zero caulking, so it is seeping thru there. The water on the towel should absorb some of the smoke. If you have sliding doors on your bedroom, damp towel that also on the bottom. A fireman told me to do this and they get trained with smoke. Please reply if this helps and spread the word. Worse case, pepper spray your baseboards on stream not mist level, but wear a mask and open doors and windows. That will get there attention !! Do your research on pepper spray laws in your state first !!

Cigarette smoke and when they're cooking with grease or a dirty oven. Had to put my Covid mask on a couple of times.

I have the same problem. Still don't know where the smoke is coming from. Solution right now is leave the radiator off and cover them with blankets. Use a different heater.

I have the same problem and have had for 7 years since moving into my ashtray I mean condo. I was told today (finally!!) by our new representative at the management company about a possible solution of spraying an insulation type foam around pipes in laundry area and under sinks...i know this is where much of the smell comes up as it is terrible when I open the cupboards under the bathroom sinks. Anyone ever done this?

I was heartbroken yesterday when the potential buyer of my place had her mortgage approval fall through😭