Smoke Issues

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joedan89

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Dec 27, 2006
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I recently purchased an attached Tudor home (built 1935) it has two fireplaces. When I recently started a fire in my living room, my next door neighbor complained of smoke or smell coming into his house. I didn't actually see the issue, just told him that I would let the fire burn out.

What I think the problem is that my smoke is being pulled down his chimney, neither of us have caps on our flues. I am thinking of getting a turbine cap installed, but not too sure if that would solve the issue.

Any suggestions?
 
When was the chimney last cleaned?
Is the wood seasoned?

Unless you are below the equator the smoke from your chimney should be going up, not down.
 
What is an "attached Tudor home"? Like a condo where you guys are right next to oneanother? Do you share a common wall or something?

Did you confirm the smoke smell inside his place? Maybe he smells it outside and just wants to complain.
 
Yes, the houses are right next to each other. We do share a common outter fireplace wall, but have separate flues. No, I didn't walk into his house, I have a feeling that he just wants to complain. But, I want to make sure before it gets heated.
 
babalu87 said:
Unless you are below the equator the smoke from your chimney should be going up, not down.
Click to expand...

Mine quite often goes straight down, babs. It leaves the firebox and travels up 25 feet of insulated ss chimney, at which point it exits the chimney and heads straight back down to the street level. It's weird, but since there's nobody around to be bothered by it (except on the rare occasions when the prevailing winds are from the Northeast), it's not a big problem.

And I live further north than you.
 
Eric, I was just trying to dredge that old argument up again :)

Hey we both live South of I-90 :)
Not as far North as I imagined though.
 
Is the smell complaint outside or inside the neighbor's house? If outside, it may be the weather. Is there a low pressure system in your area right now? Since I moved our stack, we regularly smell smoke on the porch when a low pressure system is around and the wind is from the SW (most of the winter). Normally this wasn't an issue before we moved the stack.

If it is inside the neighbor's house, check to tops of your flues. Are the two chimney tops at the same level or is there a height difference between the two? If they are in close proximity, and at the same level, your smoke may be back drafting into his flue. If that is the case, you need "Extend-a-Flue".
 
In our house last night the upstairs fireplace was going and I was resealing the woodstove pipe to the thimble and when my wife reloaded the fireplace (outside air intake) we shut the outside air off to it and then for that 30-60seconds to refill the fireplace it starts pulling air from the down stairs chimney I guess since it was the path of least resistance and I could start smelling smoke as I was right next to the downstairs chimney.

I can see where this could happen but not sure how you would fix it. Does he burn wood at all? Maybe suggest him closing his chimney off when not in use as I would think you would be equally affected the same if he started his up.

Strange thing to deal with but you should be able to use your fireplace after all it is your house but dumping smoke in the neighbors house would be a health hazard to them I am sure.
 
maybe block his flue off, and run a fire, to see if it stops the smell. If it works, get him one of those flue balloons, and forget about him.

Joshua
 
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