neighbors smoke outside and it is filling my house

[Tiggeroo]

My neighbor rents two floors of his home as summer rentals. Every tenant smokes. They all smoke on their deck and in their yard. The smoke drifts up into my house, particularly my bedroom. I have my windows closed but it still gets in. I can't open them on nice days and am being forced to run my ac all of the time. I just washed all of my bed linens, sprayed with febreeze and sprinkled carpet fresh on my rugs. I'll probably die of those chemicals. Any tips? There is also a business and the employees from this place sit out on the steps right next door and smoke 24/7 as well. I would guess it will get better after summer but not sure. But it is my summer too? I have a beautiful large deck I want to use.

 

[aristocatz]

My neighbor rents two floors of his home as summer rentals. Every tenant smokes. They all smoke on their deck and in their yard. The smoke drifts up into my house, particularly my bedroom. I have my windows closed but it still gets in. I can't open them on nice days and am being forced to run my ac all of the time. I just washed all of my bed linens, sprayed with febreeze and sprinkled carpet fresh on my rugs. I'll probably die of those chemicals. Any tips? There is also a business and the employees from this place sit out on the steps right next door and smoke 24/7 as well. I would guess it will get better after summer but not sure. But it is my summer too? I have a beautiful large deck I want to use.

You might consider buying an air purifier (or they might be called "ionizers") for your bedroom. You might also consider putting up that plastic wrap stuff you put on windows in the winter-forgot the name of it. That might help seal up any openings in your windows and reduce the smoke intake.

I'm not sure you could logistically say anything to these people, unless it's illegal to smoke outside where you are (I think this is true of some towns).

I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Ugh, that is terrible. I detest the smell of cigarettes, and there is no getting away from it. Maybe try playing some really annoying music so they'll want to go inside.

 

[aristocatz]

Ugh, that is terrible. I detest the smell of cigarettes, and there is no getting away from it. Maybe try playing some really annoying music so they'll want to go inside.

The OP said they are smoking in the yard as well. and the workers at the store next to her are smoking.

I wouldn't go the "neighbors war" route and play the annoying music. If it's played too loud, they could call the police for disturbing the peace. Otherwise, you are just going to create enemies & ruin your summer even more.

Unfortunately, your neighbors do have every right to be out there smoking. They are not doing anything wrong in the eyes of the law, and I'm sure they are not intending to bother you. Many people smoke outside and it is encouraged and required at most businesses to go outside to smoke.

If you cause a rukus with them, you are the only one who is going to
look like the troublemaker-NOT them.

You could try asking them politely if they wouldn't mind refraining from smoking right below your bedroom window & everywhere else would be fine. Tell them you are allergic to smoke and you are having trouble sleeping. They might agree to that (I'm a light smoker and I personally would agree to it if you were polite about it), but they might not and they have every right to do so.

It's a tricky situation & I feel for you. But just remember that they are well within their rights and playing annoying music or doing something to bother them is only going to cause added grief to your already compromised summer.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I wouldn't play it loud enough to bring me grief with the police, but just as they have a right to smoke in their yard, I would have the right to play music in mine. I happen to enjoy polka and yodeling music sometimes.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Can you plant a row of tall trees/shrubs that would block them?

 

[aristocatz]

I wouldn't play it loud enough to bring me grief with the police, but just as they have a right to smoke in their yard, I would have the right to play music in mine. I happen to enjoy polka and yodeling music sometimes.

I think if most people heard their neighbor playing music that is weird, they would probably just laugh at their nutty neighbor & it would make for great conversation while they are smoking I'm not trying to criticize polka & yodeling, BTW (I actually think yodeling is kinda cool!), & I'm sure you know what I mean.

As I said before, this is just going to cause trouble between the OP and his/her neighbor. I can bet you that these neighbors and store owners are not thinking "Oh goody, let's piss off our neighbor by smoking outside!" They probably have no idea that it's bothering anyone, which is why the OP might consider politely asking them if they could refrain from smoking under the OP's window. By trying to sabotage their summer and do annoying things on purpose, the OP is just setting themselves up for disaster & the OP would definitely be in the wrong here.

With all of the bans on indoor smoking in restaurants, bars, stores, etc in many states nowadays, people smoke outdoors. As a non-smoker, you can't have both worlds-people are either going to have to be allowed to smoke indoors or outside.

As a light smoker myself, I am grateful for the banning-it's a good thing! I also do not smoke inside my house ever. I do however smoke in my private yard or while in my car. I am well within my rights to do so & I do make the effort to stay away from others when I am lighting up. Not everyone thinks like that though.

OP: please don't ask for trouble by intentionally pissing off your neighbors. I can pretty much garuntee you it is just going to make the situation worse & morally, you are going to be in the wrong, not them. Try to politely ask them about refraining from being under your bedroom window. I'm sure you can come to a compromise and meet halfway on this one if you are polite about it.

 

[HM]

So sorry.
Are you renting? If so, I hope you think about moving when your lease is up. With a business next door, you'll likely always have some smokers around.

All you can do now, is make your neighbor (the one who rents to the others) aware of your problem and ask him to talk to his renters about finding a happy medium.

 

[Tina]

I feel your pain. I live in a townhouse. It seems everytime the weather is nice and I open my windows, my neighbors sit on their deck and start smoking. I know they are just enjoying the nice weather too, but it just stinks. Literally. I always have to close my windows back up quickly. Luckily, I don't have an issue with the smoke coming into the house once the windows are closed.

 

[Nancyg56]

I hate the smell of cigarette smoke too so I would hate to have it drift into my home. I would not start the music thing or any other kind of neighborhood war but I would ask if they could smoke further away from the window. They probably don't even realize that the smoke is bothering you.

 

[ma2jr]

I feel for you but I don't really see a solution. I live in the city and I hate the smog...

 

[Hillbeans]

I am sorry you are going through this. I would also ask (nicely) if they could contain their smoking to just the front of the house, not both the front and the back (or wherever your bedroom window is).

We used to live in a townhome and the next door neighbor smoked a lot and my newborn son's window was right over the porch where he smoked. I often closed the window when he was smoking and wasn't subtle about it. We eventually moved to a home a few years ago, but I felt the same way as you that I couldn't really tell him not to smoke on his porch but didn't want our house to be filled with smoke.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I agree with PPs - it's all about how your approach them. If you haven't already, start getting to know the smokers - stop and chat and establish some rapport with them. Then maybe if you ask nicely and they like you they will smoke somewhere away from your bedroom.

I really feel for you OP. I hate cigarette smoke too.

 

[Jenvenza]

I know that sucks, but really there is not much you can do about it. There arent doing anytihng wrong or illegal. And my husband smokes - only outside - and does it right by the door and our house never smells like smoke, so I am amazed it can travel up to your windows and make your sheets smell. Must be some powerful cigerettes!

 

[kelleigh1]

I'm right there with you. Smoking isn't allowed in our apartment building, so the couple downstairs (the only ones in our building who smoke) will go out on the front steps and sit there and smoke. It drifts right up into our living room and bedroom. It is disgusting and worst is when they're out there in the middle of the night and I wake up coughing. I refuse to spend the summer with my windows closed.

I just wish these people were a little more considerate and would move away from the front door. That is the other problem - the front steps are all of about 2 feet wide and they sit out there so often that if you're coming or going, you have to wait for them to move off the steps - grabbing the pack of cigs, lighter and the wine glass - and then make your way through the cloud of smoke.

As soon as I start to smell the smoke coming in my house, I grab the can of Febreeze Air Effects and I spray it against the screens of my apartment. I've been doing that the last few weeks and hubby and I both agree that it really seems to be working. Granted, we have to do it every time, but once we spray, the only thing we smell is the Febreeze which is a nice flowery (but not overpowering) scent. We keep praying they will move.

 

[Disney Doll]

I guess I am also not sure why you just haven't said "Can I ask a favor? Do you think you could smoke more toward the other side of th yard? Your smoke drifts into my house when you are over here, and I don't care for the smell of smoke".

Unless there's an ordinance against smoking outdoors in your town, you can't stop them from smoking, but you can make them move away from your home.

 

[Tiggeroo]

I haven't said anything because I have other issues with these neighbors. We live in a beach town. This is a summer weekly rental and the tenants change almost every week. They are smoking on their own property. The other issue I have is that I have a three car driveway I share with the business. Parking is a highly sought after commodity here. We pay extra for these spots. This neighbor has been telling his tenants to make a 4th spot and just park in our driveway. Sometimes they have parked 4 of their cars in it. I have had to call the building owner and the police to deal with the parking. So we're not friendly. Part of the problem is most homeowners make their summer properties smoke free. I don't believe this building is. Therefore it is very attractive to smokers. At any given time there might be 5 people smoking there. The current owner recently purchased this property so these are new problems. I actually think I get the most smoke from their front deck and tenants standing in their landing on the side of the building. This weekend I'm going to have dh look at the ventilation system. I would guess something causes it to suck into my bedroom as that is almost the only place where the smell is and it is very bad. Maybe it's not coming in through the window but rather the duct work. It's just so annoying to have to shut up my house and pay for ac on a beautiful day.

 

[momrek06]

I feel your pain as well. We are currently renting an apt. in CA. We are on the top floor (3 floors). We love the location in the complex. We have NO one on either side of us OR right below us on the 2nd floor (it is the MODEL).
But on the 1st floor there is a family and only from time to time do we catch cigarette smoke. I almost lean towards it being friends that come by because it is not an ongoing situation with smoke constant.

So in my case, I think you have to pick your battles...we love the location of the apt, love the top floor (you can see the San Gabriel Mtns all winter with their snow covered tops, and we can see the fireworks from Disneyland every single night) and love the fact no one is around us. We just have to deal with it.

So, OP, if you are not up for moving and who knows your new neighbors IF you were to move, maybe they smoke as well. The loud music option, what exactly will that prove.

Sorry you are going through this but I think there is really not much you can do. One of those issues one has to deal with when renting is involved.

 

[NotUrsula]

You know, I saw something just the other day that would go a long way to solving your problem: a household mister fan.

I would fill up the reservoir, point it OUT the window and use it any time the smoke starts drifting in. If questioned, explain that the water is the only way to weigh down the smoke enough to keep it from drifting in through the window.

Eventually, they will get tired of smoking in the rain.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Was thinking along the line of NotUrsula - but maybe just a regular fan. If you had a fan and it was pointing out of the window, blowing smoke and air away from the opening would that possibly work?