Neighbour chiminea fun

[welshys90]

Hello all,

Looking for a bit of advice, bought a house and moved in September last year and as I'm a big advocate of enjoying a malt/rum and a cigar some evenings (which can be bitter in Scotland) I purchased a chiminea for use in our garden. As you would expect after purchase we used it a dozen times until the novelty factor wore off and it was point blank too cold to even bother heading out.

So towards the start of the year I bought some new fire lighters, wood and heat logs. And one bank holiday we had a couple of friends round one bank holiday weekend, lit the chiminea and had some drinks out the back. After about two hours our neighbour's neighbour popped his head over the fence and asked 'could you turn your chiminea out, the smoke is going into the upstairs bedroom and the room smells strongly of smoke' naturally we apologised and agreed to keep the peace and his parting comment was 'I mean it's choking our twins really badly'. After we doused the chiminea (creating plumbes of smoke) which we then realised was clearing our neighbours roof and well clearing their back bedroom and noticed that their windows weren't open.

When we returned inside we discussed the fact it could've been the noise rather than the smell and decided to leave it their and let the matter be done. When in passing outside, we were always pleasant to allow them to know that it wasn't meant intentionally.

Then tonight, I thought I'd have a small cigar and rum since the weather is clear and I've been off this week, checked that there was no washings out and that all neighbours windows and doors were closed after the previous incident in March, within 20 minutes of lighting the chiminea, which hadn't been lit since we had previously been accosted, the wife was out the back 'the smell from your Fire is very strong, it's blowing right into the house is it wood your burning?' I replied that it was smokeless logs we were using (which I wasn't) knowing full well that was going to be the next port of attack. 'I mean the smells really bad it's going into our back bedroom and going to choke our twins' reluctantly I have once again agreed to put it out.

Now, tonight I fully engaged in watching and ensuring the smoke was going nowhere near their house and My plan is to phone the councils environmental health officer and ensure I'm not in a 'smoke zone' and ask what is regarded as a private nuisance with smoke and what is considered occasional use before telling them next time to sod off. I don't ever plan to be a nuisance with my neighbours and nobody else has ever complained (our next door neighbour opened their door just after I lit it and then closed just as I doused it) I can't help but feel that they're just being a pain in the arse and don't like the smoke.

Is there anything else I should know/do? I fully plan on changing only to smokeless logs and firefighters, I don't intend on letting it lie to waste as it's an expensive ornament not to be able to use but they seem hell bent on not allowing me the use of it.

Any help appreciated as always,

Yours

One disgruntled cold Scotsman!

[ikarl]

Just because you can't see it going in, doesn't mean it isn't. Smoke has a way of creeping in through small vents. Which, by the sounds of it probably isn't ideal.

Can you move further away from the house? Bottom of the garden?

[welshys90]

ikarl said:

Just because you can't see it going in, doesn't mean it isn't. Smoke has a way of creeping in through small vents. Which, by the sounds of it probably isn't ideal.

Can you move further away from the house? Bottom of the garden?

With that respect Id expect to be able to smell it in my own house which I can't, that said its not to say it isn't going in theirs, unfortunately our garden goes up in three stages and I doubt the highest level which is inline with the top of our downstairs windows would provide much difference.

[Mr GrimNasty]

I think it's like being a smoker you can't smell it, yet it's disgusting for everyone else, also the fumes tend to sink a short distance and then flood the surrounding properties as they cool.

The companies that sell BBQs, Chimneas etc. have a lot to answer for.

I've got a tt of a neighbour who ruins every single summer with endless BBQs.

How would you like it if your neighbour had a bonfire on the best days of the year and forced you out of your garden and indoors with the windows shut in stifling heat and the stench of paraffin/smoke/cremations seeping in?

[227bhp]

If you're 100% sure that the smoke isn't going in their house then there is little more (see below) that you can do aside from what you have suggested.
If there is no wind then it may be whirling around and some getting in, if there is a constant breeze blowing the opposite way then it isn't. You might not smell it in your house after coming in from getting a face full of it, but if they have a modern house with decent windows it shouldn't be getting in if they are closed.
I would spend some time putting some gentle and reasonable words together and going to see them first, then get smoke free fuel.
If that fails then check your rights as you have described. Might be worth considering if it's worth going to war over this? It could last for years if both sides dig in.
Best of luck as they do sound a bit arsey....

[welshys90]

Mr GrimNasty said:

I think it's like being a smoker you can't smell it, yet it's disgusting for everyone else, also the fumes tend to sink a short distance and then flood the surrounding properties as they cool.

The companies that sell BBQs, Chimneas etc. have a lot to answer for.

I've got a tt of a neighbour who ruins every single summer with endless BBQs.

How would you like it if your neighbour had a bonfire on the best days of the year and forced you out of your garden and indoors with the windows shut in stifling heat and the stench of paraffin/smoke/cremations seeping in?

To be honest I don't have an issue with that or BBQ smoke, unfortunately I'm not with you on this one however I feel you'll have a friend with my neighbour

[welshys90]

227bhp said:

If you're 100% sure that the smoke isn't going in their house then there is little more (see below) that you can do aside from what you have suggested.
If there is no wind then it may be whirling around and some getting in, if there is a constant breeze blowing the opposite way then it isn't. You might not smell it in your house after coming in from getting a face full of it, but if they have a modern house with decent windows it shouldn't be getting in if they are closed.
I would spend some time putting some gentle and reasonable words together and going to see them first, then get smoke free fuel.
If that fails then check your rights as you have described. Might be worth considering if it's worth going to war over this? It could last for years if both sides dig in.
Best of luck as they do sound a bit arsey....

I can't ever be 100% unless I smell it in their house myself, the houses are 10 years old so I personally don't believe they're getting as much as they say but I suppose there's no harm in taking the necessary precautions and asking them to bear with me trying to have the best of both worlds!

[eldar]

Mr GrimNasty said:

I think it's like being a smoker you can't smell it, yet it's disgusting for everyone else, also the fumes tend to sink a short distance and then flood the surrounding properties as they cool.

The companies that sell BBQs, Chimneas etc. have a lot to answer for.

I've got a tt of a neighbour who ruins every single summer with endless BBQs.

How would you like it if your neighbour had a bonfire on the best days of the year and forced you out of your garden and indoors with the windows shut in stifling heat and the stench of paraffin/smoke/cremations seeping in?

Move to Cumbria. Too cold and wet for those outside shenanigans. You'll love it, its grim and nasty.

[227bhp]

welshys90 said:

I can't ever be 100% unless I smell it in their house myself, the houses are 10 years old so I personally don't believe they're getting as much as they say but I suppose there's no harm in taking the necessary precautions and asking them to bear with me trying to have the best of both worlds!

Initially your best bet is to try and work with them, compromise, solution etc. If that is unsuccessful then think again, but always be mindful of how things could go if you start battling. There are enough TV programs about neighbours at war to watch!
You like to enjoy your cigar, drink, contentment, peace and quiet, if it kicks off you may never get that again - it's pretty bad living next door to people you hate and hate you.

[Burrito]

Get a patio heater.
Good neighbourly relations make a much better quality of life than an occasional evening next to a chimenea.

[Cliftonite]

I am with Mr GrimNasty on this one.

This must be a candidate for the 'a bit council' thread?

[JustinP1]

Mr GrimNasty said:

I've got a tt of a neighbour who ruins every single summer with endless BBQs.

The fks next door to me insist on mowing their lawn once a week.

Edited by JustinP1 on Friday 24th July 00:22

[welshys90]

Cliftonite said:

I am with Mr GrimNasty on this one.

This must be a candidate for the 'a bit council' thread?

And I suppose you must have your butler set up your patio heater while the other butlers find the Dom Perignon!

[welshys90]

Burrito said:

Get a patio heater.
Good neighbourly relations make a much better quality of life than an occasional evening next to a chimenea.

Thank you for the suggestion, have you had any experiences with patio heaters? I had heard they cost a fortune to run?

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Is it simply a case of poor firelighting and chiminea technique? If you run it hot enough there should be minimal smoke and no smell.

If you have a metal chiminea with a door on the front, use a sheet of tin foil trapped in the door to block off most of the opening apart from a one inch gap at the bottom. This creates a much faster draft of air and will get your fire going much more quickly and with a lot less smoke. Once you can hear the fire roaring (after about 10-15 minutes usually) you can remove the tin foil.

I'm not sure how you'd adapt this method if you have a clay chiminea without a door, but it should be possible with a bit of ingenuity.

Seriously, there should be very little smoke if you're running it hot enough.

Either that, or switch to using smokeless fuel briquettes. But they take a bit longer to get hot.

[rich83]

Burrito said:

Get a patio heater.
Good neighbourly relations make a much better quality of life than an occasional evening next to a chimenea.

^^^ this

We got one a few months back and it's brilliant. 150quid off amazon. Way better (if not slightly less spectacular) than a chimnea.

[hornetrider]

JustinP1 said:

Mr GrimNasty said:

I've got a tt of a neighbour who ruins every single summer with endless BBQs.

The fks next door to me insist on mowing their lawn once a week.

Edited by JustinP1 on Friday 24th July 00:22

Our neighbours' children use their back garden to play in. How fking dare they.

Yours

Disgusted of Milton Keynes.

[toohangry]

I think you've got to ask yourself why they're saying the smoke's coming into their house.

It's probably because it is. However, although I wouldn't have one, lighting a chiminea on occasions with friends should be excepted by the neighbours IMO if you're cleanly burning wood. Lighting it just for yourself to stand next to when you have a cigar? Maybe put a coat on.

[eniacs]

How close are you to the neighbor's house? Are you lighting this thing just outside your patio doors and their windows are almost directly above the smoke plume? Or are we talking a huge garden with you lighting it 100m from their house?

I'm just trying to establish if they are being unreasonable and simply like to complain, or are you the unreasonable one by lighting a smokey fire directly under their windows?

I also have an iron chiminea and love using it. After the first 10 mins or so of smoke, it clears right up and produces a clear plume of very hot gas that rises fast. The neighbours dont complain, but I am far from their windows on the other hand.

[Hoofy]

Not all smoke/fumes are visible, I understand. I think that's one of the reasons they looked at banning smoking in cars if there are children present.