Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Neighbor's fireplace/chimney smoke
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
October 23, 2013 at 4:04 am #609461
sevenParticipantCan someone please advise what I can do about excessive chimney smoke from the neighbor’s fireplace?
I live in a small apartment building where a little house is situated very close next door-it’s part of the same property. The buildings sit in and amongst a lot of trees. The smoke seems to get trapped and completely infiltrates the air. This is not just a little smoke trailing through. The air is saturated with it. If I go outside and around the bldg, I can’t breathe the air for very long and it’s worked it’s way into my apartment with no options for clearing it out.
I would like to find out the laws on this issue.
should I call the Fire Dept?
Can anyone provide me with info on this subject?
I am a community oriented, kind and neighborly person, so I would rather have the facts before I talk to my neighbors or my landlord. Thanks to anyone with info or can direct me to someone to talk to! :)
October 23, 2013 at 5:07 am #799007
miwsParticipantseven, I’d suggest starting out with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency:
Mike
October 23, 2013 at 5:42 am #799008
sevenParticipantThank You Mike, I will check that out
October 23, 2013 at 5:51 am #799009
sevenParticipantYes, pscleanair.org, seems to have all the info needed to address the issue. I will print some of the info out and give it to the neighbors and the landlord. Thanks again, very helpful!
October 23, 2013 at 12:59 pm #799010
miwsParticipantOctober 23, 2013 at 3:33 pm #799011
BearsChickParticipantMaybe the trees need to be trimmed & the landlord is unaware. Rather than approach the tenant and landlord with “laws”, why not let the landlord know there’s a problem. Maybe a simple tree trimming with solve the problem.
October 23, 2013 at 3:55 pm #799012
sbreParticipantHey seven~If you would please, let us know things turn-out.
I’m curious to learn what is done to alleviate the problem.
Thanks in advance
October 23, 2013 at 4:49 pm #799013
sevenParticipantI’m not looking to simply approach the neighbors or the landlord with “laws” more like information on how to burn fires properly that produce less smoke, to make sure one is burning the proper type of wood that will produce less smoke and to make sure chimneys are clean and functioning properly and to share information about what is deemed to be the way to avoid “smoking out your neighbors” and keeping the air free from potentially dangerous wood smoke. The issue of tree trimming could potentially be ONE of many factors involved in resolving the issue. I would rather gather ALL the information/options and share it with my neighbors and my landlord whom I have good relationships and plan to continue to maintain those relationships :) I won’t be threatening anybody with laws, but there are clean air laws in place for a reason.
October 23, 2013 at 5:41 pm #799014
2 Much WhineParticipantI’m very naughty. I am not the chimney person refetenced in this post BUT this has been a great year for fishing. I typically spend Sundays smoking my catch. I try hard to place the smoker in an area away from neighbors but the smoke doesn’t always drift up and away. I will gladly share some beautiful smoked salmon with neighbors if it will help them be a little less annoyed with my antics. Now i know what to bring to the “night out” event next year!
October 23, 2013 at 7:27 pm #799015
Barry2012ParticipantFor what its worth: we built a bbq in our backyard out of brick ect. Our neighbors complained that the smoke affected them and made them upset. We called the fire marshall who came out, said the bbq was safe and even complimented us on it. However as he was leaving he said “BTW, City of Seattle rules are that if your smoke bothers your neighbors and they complain-you must extinguish immediantly”. So we never use the BBQ, sadly. My suggestion would be to call and speak to them.
October 23, 2013 at 8:37 pm #799016
inactiveMemberIt might be worth keeping in mind as well that the amount of fog we have been having is super unusual in that there have not been many breaks to clear the air out for days on end. So, my theory is that the particulates in any smoke and/or dust are lingering longer than would be good for our health (I walked by the demolition zone in the Junction and you can not help but get a gulp of gritty dust held down by the fog. Hope there isn’t any – or much – asbestos in that stuff :()
October 23, 2013 at 8:39 pm #799017
sacatoshParticipantBarry2012: That’s really a huge bummer. What if you were to let your neighbors know ahead of time? If my neighbor called and told me they were going to make a bunch of noise/have a party/run a smoker/light their BBQ on Saturday at 3, I’d stay inside, wear earplugs, etc as needed. You and they have equal rights of enjoyment of your property. I hope you can work something out.
October 23, 2013 at 8:55 pm #799018
Barry2012ParticipantThanks Sacatosh, Its incredibly frustrating as we spent days building this thing brick by brick. However even when we let them know ahead of time that we were bbqing they claimed that the smoke still got in through their closed windows. It came down to having disputes with neighbors or just using a gas grill…in our opinion it wasnt worth the hassle.
Much luck to Seven in his search.
October 23, 2013 at 9:35 pm #799019
kgdlgParticipantFor what it is worth, I am pretty sure there has been a burn ban over last several days just for this reason (fog). Before reporting them (if that is what you want to do) I would inquire as to whether this is their only heat source. That is the only way you are exempt from ban, I believe. Always best to check first.
October 23, 2013 at 9:50 pm #799020
WSBKeymasterOctober 24, 2013 at 12:59 am #799021
sevenParticipantThanks for the helpful responses and yes, I believe the fog definitely contributed to the problem, however, I found out today it’s the chimney itself that’s the real issue. Not quite sure how things will progress from here…we’ll see! Thanks again for the input!!
October 24, 2013 at 1:07 am #799022
sevenParticipantp.s. this made sense, too. Smoke was just billowing full force out of the chimney and I read that the smoke should settle down after about 20 min of starting a fire.
October 24, 2013 at 2:54 am #799023
sacatoshParticipantBarry2012: We don’t have one yet, but we’re thinking of building just this sort of bbq. You’re welcome to come join us when we do.
October 24, 2013 at 3:33 pm #799024
Barry2012ParticipantSacatosh,
Contact us when you’re ready to build it! My husband is a contractor and built the whole thing brick by brick and it was amazing. He’ll come out and offer some free neighborly advice…such as not building the chimney too close to neighbors :)
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.