Second hand smoke from outside apartment

[Jawbone Hill]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if I can ask the CP's brain trust for some thoughts / suggestions to my dilemma. I own a second floor condo in an apartment building, and I have 2 neighbours (one below, one to the side) that smoke out on their balcony. For the most part I have no problem with this; however, as the summer approaches I find I have to leave the window open most nights to cool down my bedroom. We usually place a fan in the window frame to suck in cool air from outside. Because of this, every time our neighbours go out to smoke we're pulling a bunch of second hand smoke back into our apartment.

I think I'm pretty much stuck, but I wanted to see if anyone else has had the same problem and what they've done. Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Scott

[Bobblehead]

I was just thinking that there hasn't been a good smoking thread in a long time.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

I've never really understood the whole put a fan in the window thing......I don't think it really does anything that substantial. You're sucking in warm air from outside. Sure, it's probably a tad cooler, but if it's 29 degrees in your apartment and it's 27 degrees outside, is that really that big of a deal?? To me, it's a little silly.

In regards to your problem, there really isn't much you can do outside of closing the windows and doors when you start smelling the smoke.....it's not much of a solution, I know. But you're kinda hooped until your building doesn't allow smoking in or outside the suites.

[ResAlien]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

But you're kinda hooped until your building doesn't allow smoking in or outside the suites.

And that's when the terrorists win.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I've never really understood the whole put a fan in the window thing......I don't think it really does anything that substantial. You're sucking in warm air from outside. Sure, it's probably a tad cooler, but if it's 29 degrees in your apartment and it's 27 degrees outside, is that really that big of a deal?? To me, it's a little silly.

In regards to your problem, there really isn't much you can do outside of closing the windows and doors when you start smelling the smoke.....it's not much of a solution, I know. But you're kinda hooped until your building doesn't allow smoking in or outside the suites.

At night though, it is 10 C outside and 30 C upstairs.

[MelBridgeman]

turn the fan around

[Jayems]

Go downstairs and knock on their door. Politely explain your situation and respectfully request they use their front door when smoking at night. (unless they don't have a front door, then nevermind).

If that doesn't work, post back here. We'll come up with lots of fun stuff to get back at them.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Go to one of those prank stores that sell "stink bombs" and when you notice the smoke at night, go out to the patio and bomb theirs with the putrid smell. When they ask WTF are you doing..................just say you are returning the favor.

[Traditional_Ale]

Take up smoking weed and funnel it back at them.

[Jawbone Hill]

The temp definitely drops enough to make a big difference. Unfortunately, the only outdoor area my neighbours have access to from their suites are the balconies, so I understand why they do it. My only real concern is the health affect of breathing in their second hand smoke every night, mainly due to the fact that my wife and I will probably be starting a family within the next couple of years.

I had a thought about buying a portable air conditioner, and only hooking up the exhaust hose outside. I'd then keep the intake hose inside the room, therefore cooling the air in the room while venting the hot air outside. I'm not totally convinced this will work though, and I don't want to spend 5-600 dollars on a solution that won't work.

I do appreciate the 'entertaining' solutions you guys have though, so keep them coming!

[troutman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisance

Under the common law, persons in possession of real property (either land owners or tenants) are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their lands. If a neighbour interferes with that quiet enjoyment, either by creating smells, sounds, pollution or any other hazard that extends past the boundaries of the property, the affected party may make a claim in nuisance.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I've never really understood the whole put a fan in the window thing......I don't think it really does anything that substantial. You're sucking in warm air from outside. Sure, it's probably a tad cooler, but if it's 29 degrees in your apartment and it's 27 degrees outside, is that really that big of a deal?? To me, it's a little silly.

When I had a south facing apartment, the inside would get to 35 degrees and take forever to cool down, so after 6pm I would put a large box fan in the window to cool it down just so I can sleep. My apartment was also consistently at least 5 degrees warmer than the air outside.

[Clever_Iggy]

Close your window v. smoke inside.

I had this happen at an apartment I rented in Arizona. Since the person was allowed to smoke on their balcony per the apartment rules, they won.

[Jimmy Stang]

Regarding the window fan thing - those things work best if set to exhaust air out of your house/apartment. Works far better than trying to pull cool air inside.

I leave a window at the back open a little and have the fan in the front exhausting all of the warm air out. It honestly works many times better than blowing cold air in. This is one of those specially made window fans.

I just run that all night and it cools the place off substantially.

I'm not sure if this is an option for the original poster's dilemma, as you'll need a different window to act as your intake(away from the smoke, obviously), and that might be tough in an apartment.

You could still try it, as houses and apartments aren't air tight. Problem is you could be sucking in air from the warm hallway.

[DuffMan]

buy a house

[urban1]

So your neighbour has a firepit in his yard and the smoke blows into your house?

Originally Posted by DuffMan

buy a house

[flip]

Originally Posted by urban1

So your neighbour has a firepit in his yard and the smoke blows into your house?

Firepits can fill entire neighborhoods with smoke. There is a reason firepits almost always piss more people off than enjoy them.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by troutman

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisance

Under the common law, persons in possession of real property (either land owners or tenants) are entitled to the quiet enjoyment of their lands. If a neighbour interferes with that quiet enjoyment, either by creating smells, sounds, pollution or any other hazard that extends past the boundaries of the property, the affected party may make a claim in nuisance.

I hope this isn't a cry to take legal action, otherwise it would be a big waste of time.

It's like the guy who ties up hospital waiting lists or clinic drop-ins to get a papercut looked at.

[Doctordestiny]

For the neighbours below, pee on them. For the others, I have nothing.

[Azure]

Waterboard your neighbors until they promise to stop smoking.