The Smoke Next Door
I rented a beautiful garden-level apartment in a brownstone and was told the fireplace works great. But whenever I light a fire, my next door neighbor complains she smells wood smoke and it REALLY bothers her. We’ve had two fireplace experts in, did a smokebomb test, and they didn’t see any cracks in fireplace liner….
I rented a beautiful garden-level apartment in a brownstone and was told the fireplace works great. But whenever I light a fire, my next door neighbor complains she smells wood smoke and it REALLY bothers her. We’ve had two fireplace experts in, did a smokebomb test, and they didn’t see any cracks in fireplace liner. Is there something we’re missing? Another test? She’s so upset I’ll quit making fires -but am desperate to fix this. Thanks.
Assuming the neighbor is in the same building, you likely share a flue to the roof. If she doesn’t use her fireplace, try stuffing up her flue opening with some styrofoam and see if she has the problem.
(I had a 2nd floor bedroom reek of smoke when the 1st floor fireplace was used. a crack in the liner halfway up the chimney was the culprit. I cut a piece of rigid styrofoam board insulation to fit the opening upstairs and problem solved.
In the end, either you get to use your fireplace or you get to reduce your rent — after all, you rented a place billed as having a working fireplace.
Maybe she’s getting a downdraft or something through her fireplace? Maybe the smoke is somehow blowing down from outside into her windows?
Is this a recent complaint? You can check complaints against your building/unit and see if there is a pattern, ask your landlord if s/he has dealt with this neighbor before and/or ask your neighbor to let you come over to check for yourself. In any case, this sort of maintenance is ultimately your LL’s responsibility, so I’d loop him in at this point.
Wouldn’t your neighbor’s problem, if any, be with your landlord rather than you?
I’d light a fire & go next door to be able to judge how serious (or real) the problem is & then work out a plan.
i think if there is no visible smoke coming into your neighbor’s apartment you should continue to have as many fires as you want.