Neighbours BBQ Smoke Entering My House

LGeppys on 05/11/2021 - 15:14

Hi all, after a bit of advice.

I just moved into a place and recently with the warmer days my neighbours have started using their smoker. They start it early in the morning and leave it going for 8-10hrs at times. Unfortunately my house is very close to where their smoker is positioned. There are periods where I can see puffs of smoke blow over their fence and onto the side of my house. All the windows are closed, except for the bathroom which is about 2cm open to help prevent mould. But when I smell the smoke I close it. I also have an air purifier running to help.

I’ve tried to search online for rules about smoke, but haven’t found anything related to a bbq smoker (only fireplaces and chimneys). If it was a regular bbq that lasts 30 mins or so, I think that’s reasonable. But given it goes on for hours, are there any requirements for them to need to install a flue so the smoke is lifted higher? At the moment the smoke doesn’t even make the roof line. It just carries over the fence then towards my house. Given the proximity ~1.5m, the smoke is not very diffuse, so the smell is strong. None of the smoke blows into the direction of their own house, so they probably don’t realise how bad it is. I let her know about the smoke but they’ve done nothing to fix it. They’ve got it sitting against the fence and don’t want to move it elsewhere.

The other downside is with warm days, if they’re smoking, I can’t use my evaporative cooler because I need to keep the windows closed, or open them and get inundated with the smell of smoke. So regularly leaving my windows shut doesn’t sound like a very comfortable solution.

I don’t want to be a Karen, but I do think it is unreasonable to have smoke drifting into my place for hours on end. Are they required to manage the smoke to minimise the pollution to my side of the fence? Has anyone had a similar experience? If so, how did you resolve it?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • dust on 05/11/2021 - 15:18
    +61

    Have you tried getting a big fan to blow it back towards their house?

    • SF3 on 05/11/2021 - 15:23
      +16

      A large fan installed right behind the fence to blow it back to their side. Get it close to the source to increase effectiveness ;)

      • Hithere on 05/11/2021 - 15:28
        +9

        Get it close to the source sauce ;) (Fixed for you)

        • SF3 on 05/11/2021 - 15:30
          +3

          lol nice one ;)

          Here is an idea for OP, cut out an area on the fence to fit one of these

        • capslock janitor on 06/11/2021 - 16:50

          that just makes smoky bbq sauce

    • Geppys on 05/11/2021 - 15:34
      +24

      Just waiting for the next Vornado deal.

      • juki on 06/11/2021 - 17:45
        +2

        doesnt evaporative cooling make your house positively pressured blowing the air out, in which case the smoke wouldnt enter. i believe you are meant to keep windows partially open for the cooling to be effective.

        • 91rs on 06/11/2021 - 19:20
          +3

          Evap cooling brings in outside air and blows it through your house after cooling.
          While I hate evap cooling due to the humidity it creates, the last place I lived had evap, we quickly found out that neighbors on 2 sides enjoyed chain smoking outside during evenings and weekends until the wee hours of the morning. Nothing worse than a house filling up with second hand smoke blowing through it.
          I ended up getting a portable AC unit just for the bedroom to help sleep in summer when inside temps were north of 30c, it was the only option I had.

          Good luck to OP though, it's not something you want to deal with.

          • juki on 06/11/2021 - 19:34
            +3

            @91rs: ugh putting up with ciggie smoke sounds worse than op's story

        • Lps on 07/11/2021 - 21:44
          +5

          I get the the clear impression that’s precisely what the OP is trying to do. Take another look.

            • Lps on 07/11/2021 - 22:07
              -1

              @darkmoss: You can repeat all you like. In fact I insist you repeat again.

    • serpserpserp on 08/11/2021 - 14:26
      +1

      Using a battalion of drones parked right above the smoker should work.

    • macrocephalic on 08/11/2021 - 15:56
      +1

      Or perhaps putting a pot plant right next to the fence - which frequently needs watering.

    • sunnyboys2 on 09/11/2021 - 19:02

      bonus points if you send the electricity bill to neighbor and ask them to pay the running cost

  • Youfah Mizzum on 05/11/2021 - 15:21
    +4

    Do you own or rent?
    Can you install a fence height extender that goes about 1 to 2 metres higher than the top of the fence?

    • Geppys on 05/11/2021 - 15:37
      +5

      I thought fences had a maximum height, It’s already 2m high. I’ll look into an extender.

      • zealmax on 06/11/2021 - 13:41
        +10

        Do the neighbours have the smoker right up against your fence? That would be very inconsiderate. If the smoker is producing smoke for 8 - 10 hours, they are doing something wrong. Just asking for cancer. Smoking should really only be done for the first 30-60 minutes with smoking woods. The rest of the cook shouldn't produce too much smoke when using lump charcoal or good quality briquettes. Maybe call your council and check the regulations. In some councils you need to get council approval to even install a wood heater.

        • gromit on 06/11/2021 - 15:29
          -5

          ^this though depending on cut smoking can be up to 4 or 5 hours, if they are smoking for 8 to 10 hours the result would be pretty disgusting. generally you are only smoking 2 or 3 hours, rarely up to about 5. The rest of the time it should just be acting as an oven with little to no smoke.

          • webmonkey on 06/11/2021 - 16:33
            +13

            @gromit: Nah you've never smoked jack. Zealmax is right in that during the cook 'white' smoke should not last for hours on end but should be thin blue whispy smoke. A cook can go much longer than 4-5 hrs. Hell I don't finish a short rib under 7 or a brisket can stretch into 13-14 hrs.

            You'll still stink up where ever the wind is carrying the smoke white or blue.

            I suggest making friends with the bbq lovers and maybe they'll invite you over for some tender smoked bbq.

            • gromit on 06/11/2021 - 16:40
              -8

              @webmonkey: learn to read, you have obviously never smoked jack if you have smoke going into it for your whole cook. 4 to 5 hours is when I cut the smoke not when I stop the cook, the remaining 2-12 hours it will be just the charcoal..

              • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 06/11/2021 - 16:52

                @gromit: Nope. Webmonkey is correct. Plus we don't even know what type of smoker the neighbour has.

                I keep the smoke on as I add meat at various times due to cooking time required.

            • squidz on 08/11/2021 - 11:58

              @webmonkey: what if they are making chitpotle?

          • GrueHunter on 06/11/2021 - 18:42

            @gromit: /laughs in 16 hour pork butt

        • diddy50 on 06/11/2021 - 17:26
          +1

          This! 100% smoking only produces that white smoke at the beginning, the rest is hardly any.

        • Geppys on 06/11/2021 - 21:07

          Yup, right along the fence.
          Definitely more than 30-60 mins.

  • Ronerrlaw on 05/11/2021 - 15:21
    +25

    Have you tried talking to them? See if they are willing to move the smoker to a different location.

    • SF3 on 05/11/2021 - 15:24
      +29

      I let her know about the smoke but they’ve done nothing to fix it.

      OP has done that.

      • Ronerrlaw on 05/11/2021 - 15:26
        +3

        I would consider maybe speaking to the council then, see if they can assist.

        • Boogerman on 06/11/2021 - 08:13
          +18

          Yep, report to council. It’s illegal.
          Had the same issue with my neighbour with a wood heater. Asked to stop using or use cleaner burning fuel. No change. Reported to council & they were contacted by ranger. Stopped using.

          • Rayzorback on 06/11/2021 - 10:37

            @Boogerman: you might find that cooking food is different from just burning wood outside for heating

            • Boogerman on 06/11/2021 - 14:54
              +1

              @Rayzorback: Nope. Air pollution is air pollution

              • diddy50 on 06/11/2021 - 17:27

                @Boogerman: Incorrect. In Victoria anyway

                • Boogerman on 06/11/2021 - 19:31
                  +2

                  @diddy50: Please direct me to where Council ByLaws or State laws allow cooking to produce unlimited air pollution

                  • diddy50 on 07/11/2021 - 11:06
                    +2

                    @Boogerman: OK you're working with two state laws here to determine if it's 1. Unreasonable or 2.
                    A nuisance to health.

                    These are the public health and wellbeing act and the environment protection act.

                    When dealing with either you need to consider why the smoke is produced, the impact to health on a normal person , how much smoke is created, how often it occurs and the intensity of the smoke.

                    There isn't a law that says you can have unlimited smoke.

                    The laws require the environmental health officer at a council to investigate if a nuisance exists or if the smoke is unreasonable.

                    The issue we face now, how much smoke is too much and are you suggesting councils can stop people from cooking food.

                    What if it's only full on for 20 mins and then it's nothing. That seems reasonable.

                    One person's tolerance to smoke or the odour is different.

                    So in other words. Good luck solving this.

              • fuzor on 06/11/2021 - 19:13

                @Boogerman: Nope full stop then Incorrect full stop. You guys are being typical ozb's. The only other thing you can do is type these in CAPS.

          • magnitude on 06/11/2021 - 16:29

            @Boogerman: oh man, i wish i had done this years ago. will try this next time.

          • diddy50 on 06/11/2021 - 17:26

            @Boogerman: Cooking is treated differently to heating under the laws.

            • Other on 10/11/2021 - 07:45

              @diddy50: Many Ways to skin a cat:

              Is it a wood smoker?
              https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/questions/smoke-from-neig…

              In NSW it seems there is no difference between heating and cooking, rather the fuel source is what makes a difference.

              Other potential questions if you State does not have simialr laws (I would argue unlikely).
              Is the smoker connected to a chimney?
              Chimney: a vertical channel or pipe that conducts smoke and combustion gases up from a fire or furnace
              One could (easily) argue that a Chimney is connected to a smoker.

          • barghunt1 on 08/11/2021 - 09:03
            +3

            @Boogerman: Your very lucky. I live next to a chimney that burns every single day of the year for a couple of decades. It stinks, is smoky and I regularly see black, brown and grey smoke. I get to see what I’m going to inhale before I inhale it because they regularly have treated would sitting in their front yard ready to burn. Years of this chimney burning has damaged my lungs, clothes, limited my use of the backyard and ruined my life. Despite multiple complaints to the council they have sat in their backside which they are very good at doing and done nothing, I have immense hatred for my local council. You are very lucky. A lot of people around Australia don’t get the help they need with their shitty neighbours chimney. This podcast talks about the problem that is chimney smoke in Australia.

            https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbrie…

            • Haliax on 08/11/2021 - 11:44
              +1

              @barghunt1: If this is a problem that effects your entire neighbourhood, then getting a petition signed by a number of those effected is more likely to get the council to do something than isolated reports.

              • barghunt1 on 08/11/2021 - 12:19

                @Haliax: Not an option. She’s mates with multiple people in our street who turn a blind eye to the foul chimney. It’s quite sickening seeing one of them being so chummy chummy with her while pouring smoke daily on her house and poisoning her family. She is a cunning person and with a council who has no balls it’s my fate to smell chimney smoke every single day till I die.

                • Sxio on 08/11/2021 - 14:17

                  @barghunt1: You know you can move right? Seriously, that's the answer. There's no need to tolerate this for decades. If none of them will change, YOU can change your address and never have to worry about it anymore.

                  • barghunt1 on 08/11/2021 - 16:30
                    +1

                    @Sxio: Moving isn’t an option and I really hate it when people say that. Oh just move money grows on trees.

                    I live in a state with no chimney laws. Say hypothetically money grew on trees, I move and carefully choose a house with no chimneys around it and a couple of months later someone decides to put a chimney on their roof and burn everyday. I’ve moved for nothing and chimneys are popping up everywhere. The op is dealing with people who use a smoker everyday. How were they supposed to look out for that before they moved. It’s been a while since listened to that podcast I attached to an earlier comment but I recall one lady who moved multiple times because of chimneys and was still having trouble.

                    • Haliax on 08/11/2021 - 23:23
                      -1

                      @barghunt1: *

                      Buy a tent then you can move instantly and won't have to put up with these nuisances.

                    • Sxio on 09/11/2021 - 09:04
                      -2

                      @barghunt1: If you say so. Seems like it's just one person causing you the grief. You CAN move away from one person.

                      Or you can be miserable for decades. Seems like an easy choice to me.

    • dust on 05/11/2021 - 15:24
      +1

      I let her know about the smoke but they’ve done nothing to fix it.

    • taoz on 06/11/2021 - 21:41

      Lost Art it seems

    • [Deactivated] on 07/11/2021 - 14:41
      +9

      Never talk to the neighbour. Nowdays either the person complaining is a Karen, or the one causing the problems is an arrogant mutt who just thinks everyone else is one because THEY like the smell (but of course don't get much of it in their own home because it always blows into someone else's) and/or they just don't give a damn about anyone else.

      Just complain to council and when the neighbour gets agro with the inevitable accusations act surprised and say: "Nah it wasn't me mate. I actually LIKE the smell of whatever that is, except it makes me hungry, lol."

      If you approach neighbours some will try to make changes but it won't solve it and they'll want to continue anyway. The rest will get agro and now that you NEED to get council involved you're marked for life (even if it's a third neighbour who makes the complaint) so you'll get eggs thrown at your house, your mail stolen, burnouts on your front lawn, dog @#$% thrown over the fence, etc. Best to leave it to council, act dumb when accused, and in a few weeks it's all forgotten because they won't know it was you who complained.

      • freshofftheplane on 07/11/2021 - 17:09
        +2

        Only in Boganville

        • macrocephalic on 08/11/2021 - 16:02
          +3

          I never used to talk to most of my neighbours, but since the original covid lockdowns we've gotten to know heaps of them. It's much better, they're almost all great people, and those who aren't we just stay civil with.

          • kabammi on 09/11/2021 - 23:53

            @macrocephalic: +1 Can't reinforce this enough.

            We've got to know all our neighbours well over covid. It's awesome.

      • funnysht on 07/11/2021 - 18:37
        -4

        Best to move

      • Breno785au on 07/11/2021 - 18:58
        +2

        Nah man, our neighbour would regularly burn shit next to our fence and it would stink up our clothes hanging outside. We spoke to him, he understood, apologised and moved his smoking to the back of the yard affecting no one.

      • neonlight on 07/11/2021 - 23:31

        Some what true. Some neighbours are hard to deal with and for example my neighbour behind is infested with mice. Told him twice to get people to check out as their mice come over to our backyard. They done nothing so far. I put bait boxes and killed heaps and they still did nothing!

        Where as next door they at least also installed bait boxes and cleaned their yard.

        It's not like I can go to council to get him to do something. The mice better go to his place and die there after get poisoned to teach him a lesson.

        I own my place and there is no way I will move.

        The worse thing is they got 3 kids still don't want to fix the problem

        • serpserpserp on 08/11/2021 - 14:36
          +1

          Throw the dead mice in their letterbox and see what happens

          • neonlight on 08/11/2021 - 19:45

            @serpserpserp: I got no control where they die. It's pretty much quite sickening to throw out a corpse let alone put into someone's mailbox…. I don't wanna handle the body with my hands….

            Their mailbox might not fit neither

          • serpserpserp on 08/11/2021 - 20:27

            @serpserpserp: Crikey got some swamp rats on your hands there.

      • barghunt1 on 08/11/2021 - 09:29

        It’s true don’t complain to the neighbour. I complained to mine about her horrifying chimney and she just got worse. There are days when you can smell her chimney six houses a way and her chimney regularly covers multiple houses either side with smoke. Sadly a neighbour between my house and nightmare has told us they lock themselves inside the house daily, shut all the windows because of the nightmares smoke. Don’t assume though by going to council they will help you. There are no chimney laws in my state. The epa has some poor guidelines and dumped responsibility on councils. In my case I have a useless do nothing council.

        • serpserpserp on 08/11/2021 - 20:28
          -1

          You should all pitch in and get her some solar panels and a battery to power her electric heaters. Problem solved.

    • dust on 05/11/2021 - 15:24
      +7

      OP already tried that.

    • gimli on 06/11/2021 - 19:56
      +8

      this is why its best not to be a smart arse

    • TheBean on 07/11/2021 - 11:25
      +5

      OP was not told Ozb is an exclusive forum and was not allowed to join and participate.

    • Velocita on 07/11/2021 - 12:53
      +12

      Member since 2017, doesn't read posts and offers redundant advice.

  • orangetrain on 05/11/2021 - 15:24
    +8

    Maybe that's why you got the place.

    • Geppys on 05/11/2021 - 15:37
      +2

      I’m starting to wonder this.

    • TheMindsetTraveller on 05/11/2021 - 18:19
      +35

      Yes but also no. Everyone is entitled to enjoy their land/house without others interfering with it - whether it is from a smoker bbq or music just as an example. If I moved in next door to you and decided to play my music all day and night - are you saying that you will be OK with it?

      • serpserpserp on 08/11/2021 - 20:30
        +2

        I only play music and slam my weights around at 4am in the morning like a typical OZBer neighbor.

    • Loot N Plunder on 05/11/2021 - 18:23
      +9

      actually the council can do something if they want
      It has something to do with impeding the enjoyment of your house
      I have had council approach me even though i am on acreage
      It can be noise dogs barking/loud aircons, motorbikes and their noise/dust, smoke burning green firewood and so on

      • djones145 on 05/11/2021 - 21:37
        +3

        make a big donation to their election fund and they will do something :)

    • Geppys on 05/11/2021 - 20:40
      +4

      I’m not saying they’ve done anything wrong. Just asking if they need to be responsible for managing the smoke they are creating.

    • RiseAndRuin on 06/11/2021 - 11:31
      +2

      By the same logic, OP could spray round up or something in their direction or when the wind blows that way, then claim to have done nothing wrong as they don't control the wind.

    • ripesashimi on 06/11/2021 - 16:52
      +3

      You are free to do what you want only until in doing so affects what other people doing what they want.

    • Other on 10/11/2021 - 08:04

      Actually very wrong.

      As per legislation in NSW for example.

      The smoke is allowed to go for 10 minutes or emit for no more than 10 meters.

      After this, in NSW you are causing an offence under s135 Protection of Environment Operations (POEO) Act 1997

  • boomramada on 05/11/2021 - 15:32
    +2

    Take to high courts ? https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/03/vegan…

  • mbck on 05/11/2021 - 15:35
    +3

    Why don't you have a compost bin? It'll be great for your garden

    • jv on 05/11/2021 - 15:39
      -4

      Makes sure it's one that is well aerated that can attract rodents…

      • gimli on 05/11/2021 - 17:22

        Rats

      • darkmoss on 07/11/2021 - 19:00
        +4

        they don't want you turning up jv

        • serpserpserp on 08/11/2021 - 20:31

          jv is a different type of pest.

  • AndyC1 on 05/11/2021 - 15:40
    +13

    Grab some blood and bone fertilizer and put it in a ice cream container and put it next to the fence when the wind is blowing towards their house. When the wind changes put the lid back on the ice cream container.

    When they ask about the smell say you regularly fertilize the garden and it must be that and then ask them about the smoke from the smoker smells just as bad…

    Worth a try if they do not try to minimize the smoke.

    • WT on 06/11/2021 - 14:51
      +1

      assholes arnt always reasonable

      I try and take note of where I position my smoker but sometimes you just cant win. Also you should see only faint smoke from their smoker, any more then that then they dont know how to smoke meat

    • GrueHunter on 06/11/2021 - 18:53
      +10

      In your head: "oh wow he sure showed us I've realised the error of my ways"
      In real life: "F'n weirdo. Anyway, better mop the ribs."

      • AndyC1 on 06/11/2021 - 20:56
        -2

        So where is your constructive advise?

    • berry580 on 07/11/2021 - 08:19

      Sounds good, try 10 to make the neighbours understand. Some people are just really thick and don't understand until you shove the problem in their as that's what they deserve

    • funnysht on 07/11/2021 - 18:39

      You know they always said going down to their level of stupidity doesn't work

      …
      And I now know why

  • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 15:57
    +20

    Ask for an invitation to the BBQ and while waiting for the feed, enjoy the wonderful aroma of the cooking meat, and flavoured smoke.with a beer and your neighbour.

    Good neighbours are very valuable.

    • kanmen on 05/11/2021 - 16:59
      +2

      If they were smart they would invite OP over or at least send some food over to keep OP happy.

    • djones145 on 05/11/2021 - 21:39

      make friends, offer to take the smoker and run it. then it won't smoke your house, just ur next neighbour….
      then we get another similar post

    • morse on 06/11/2021 - 03:38
      +9

      Good neighbours are very valuable.

      Agree with this but given the neighbour has done nothing to try and reduce the smoke it sounds like they are not interested in being a ‘good neighbour’. Plus OP probably has other things to do than going next door for 8hrs every other day.

  • rinco on 05/11/2021 - 16:09
    -5

    Maybe gift them an indoor smoker so that they use the outdoor smoker less?

    • pharkurnell on 05/11/2021 - 16:29
      +6

      Then listen to smoke alarms going off for 8-10 hours :D

  • verisimilitude on 05/11/2021 - 16:22
    +31

    Local council can issue smoke abatement notices for residents who do not make an effort to prevent excessive emissions of wood smoke.

    https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/questions/smoke-from-neig…

  • lordsnipe on 05/11/2021 - 16:25
    +3

    In regards to the evaporative cooler, there should be positive pressure from the air drawn from the rooftop unit to keep the smoke from entering the window opening (that is, the draft of wind created by the fan will keep the smoke out).

    Or you could open up the other side of the house so the air exhausts elsewhere.

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