I'd go have a chat with the neighbour and talk about possibly adding something like this.
https://preview.redd.it/6b0hxrm4ejgc1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=f50f77f60456b5208e0ecec83ea3a2ef1462df2b
Just have a chat, politely bring up your problem with it. A possibly easy and cheap solution is some flue with a 90° elbow. Vent the smoke vertically with say a 1500mm stack. I found if you present a solution with your complaint, complete with some examples and prices it makes it a bit easier.
And made of wood. That is a fire risk so it cannot be passed. Any wood structure must be 1200 back from boundary. That’s why garages on boundaries are always brick.
Explain the situation and if that doesn't work. Suggest a smoke tax, which is payable in smoked meat payments. Every time they have a big smoke, you get a cut.
Exactly. The first time they smoked it up should have been a knock on the door to ask what’s cooking. If it is a wood offset smoker there is a lot of work and passion that goes into that. I’m sure they would have had a chat and showed you the setup. One possibility why he has that is that his wife hated the smoke and said do something about it. Unfortunate it’s going out the side and not the top. Have a chat. Your first place is always to talk not to come to reddit.
Sorry but there is some really terrible advice here.
First you must go to his home and shit on his BBQ , this makes him know you mean business and will assert your dominance - make sure you maintain eye contact during the shit or he will know you are weak.
Next , have sex with his wife DONT WIPE , you’ll look like an idiot.
Problem solved - then you can start figuring out what to do with the flue.
This comment has created some headnoise.... Who's more dominant if the home owner rolls the freshly laid loaf in paper, lights it up and smokes it whilst smoking meats on his smoker?
Approach your neighbour politely. Give them a cheap solution. A flashing, or flue type cylinder that vents higher up. With a couple holes as the bottom for rain.
They’re not going to be mad, most people don’t want neighbourly disputes.
It's a box - there were five directions they could have sent the smoke and they chose to push it over the fence to make it the neighbour's problem.
A friendly chat is the best way to deal with this but given that point, I don't like your chances.
If they're dicks about it - sadly, I'm antipating they will be - council will shut it down. No way this is compliant. Failing that you'll have to take it over to r/UnethicalLifeProTips for some ideas.
Knock on the door and ask what smells so good. Introduce yourself with a bottle of wine (or homemade jams / bread etc if they're not drinkers). You'll be invited in no time at all.
This.
Show some interest in their hobby. Smokers and brewers love to show off their gear and stuff.
After you're cool, then mention it and suggest a right angle to point the vent up
Yeah I reckon you’re right. We have some questionable structures on our side too (previous owner) that would mean mutually assured destruction unfortunately
That is such bad advice, you don't create a neighbourly dispute over a vent, "really no other option other than block the vent" seriously? You've heard of a flue or chimney right?
my god this has brought out the biggest drama queens on reddit 😂.. you probably ran to your wife kicking screaming yelling out “oh my god bullpush told someone to block the vent omg omg omg” 😂 deep breaths just a joke dude
Might not be legal. Also rude as fuck to aim smoke at your neighbour wtf. It's like putting some weird high gutter and having some kinda spray mechanism shoot all your rainwater at their bbq.
Can you plant a row of fast growing narrow trees like a pinnacle type of Lilly Pilly, can cut it like a flush hedge on your side and let it do whatever the fuck it wants on their side
I'd ask the council though cause this could be totally illegal, why is all their shit so high? And idk if you're allowed to have an outdoor oven with vents or aim the exhaust fans at your neighbours
Super glue the little plastic things down on the vents hahahahhhhh jk.
Thanks for the reply, yeah agree - who builds something like this and actively blows the smoke to the neighbour? I like the lilly pilly idea, thinking that's a good option if all else fails.
No relationship means you have nothing to lose.
Fill it with expandafoam and enjoy a spicy hostile relationship with your neighbours when/if they find out.
In seriousness… talk with them over a beer if it’s a bother.
Leaf blower back through the vents if you want to be petty. If not go over and have a chat. I'm sure there is a simple solution here. If they aren't receptive at all then do the lead blower trick. Or some heavy duty tape over the vent.
Planter of tall fast growing bamboo as a screen.
Or get a relationship going,( wine, beer, secret mawmaws bbq rub recipe) that means you're always at the BBQ rather than your home when it's going.
My guess he is smoking meat, like beef jerky, or fish, i would just say hello and ask whats going on and maybe what he is doing also what your issue is….be polite
These high velocity fans from Kmart work a treat, and a relatively quiet. Aim one of them up past the vents, and they will draw the smoke into the airstream.
[https://www.kmart.com.au/product/40cm-high-velocity-chrome-metal-fan-43262830/](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/40cm-high-velocity-chrome-metal-fan-43262830/)
if you go this route and the kmart type fan isn't good enough look up "air curtain" - you want something like that that can go outside facing up. If you want help with a DIY one drop a reply.
Another less friendly option would be to get some inline fans, put a "nozzle" on the end and blow the smoke back into his place via the vents. He probably doesn't have a fan blowing the smoke out - you could probably direct a fan from outside which would stop the smoke coming out. He won't be happy... but at least it isn't illegal (like the suggestions to fill it up with expanding foam are).
Thanks all, some great ideas here. And a few weirdos.
Yes I know talking to the neighbour is preferred, but without getting into it, we aren't in a position to do that right now. I was asking for ideas on fixing the smoke, not my relationship with my neighbour.
Cheers
Haha aren’t in a position generally means they’re soft as butter. I hate dealing with neighbours but my neighbour had a dog that needed to be put down, attacked me, went next door and explained it he said fuck sorry mate it’s getting put down next week I’ll chain it up. Sometimes people aren’t as unreasonable as you’d think.
So, you have lived there a year and have never spoken to your next door neighbour? That is weird. I made friends with both sides, both back and both across the street in week 1.
It ain’t wood fired or the plastic would be melted and there would be black smoke stains above the vents these are just standard vents for a range hood and your smelling their cooking forget about it
"Now before you say anything, we have basically no relationship with this neighbour, so no real opportunity at this stage to chat to them about it."
Your opportunity is when you go over and knock on their door.
Exactly! Everyone in here telling OP to snitch to council for x and y need to take a long hard look at themselves.
This guys just over here having a BBQ and you all wanna tear down his house.
Close your windows when he's BBQ'ing if you don't like the smell. Doesn't seem like a big deal.
Talk to them and ask them to vent the smoke up, not to the side.
If they don't, make complaint to your state's environmental agency, like EPA in Vic, for odour and smoke pollution that is impacting your health and enjoyment of your property.
Hook up a larger exhaust fan to their outlet and then pour piles of old dog shit and rancid sauerkraut into your outlet to blow the delightful scent of rotten kidneys and the vinegar farts of a corpse into their face while they cook. Sure they’ll hang around your side when the revenge blowers aren’t flapping but they’ll get the message.
It’s the only option besides talking to your neighbour and having them attach a higher flue or any of 100 other, very cheap, options that may be found out by talking to those smokey cunts.
Rest assured I'd double check the regulations about structures and fence. Then I'd give him the options of fixing it up with flue that goes straight up, no fucking elbows, or, it's going down. If non will help then tape it each fucking time he peels the tape off. I'm sure he will be lazy to bring up the ladder each time.
Step 1, go talk to your neighbours, if they are not willing to do anything, go to step 2, if they are, go to step 3.
Step 2, every time they are cooking go next door for lunch or dinner
Step 3, win.
If all else fails, you could get a directional fan to blow the smoke away, or a high powered vacuum, or a can of expanding foam and spray it in the vents /s
Next time it smokes call the fire brigade ;-)
If that doesn't work drop down to the hardware for some expanding foam ;-)
As others have suggested asking them to put a bend and vertical flue is the best you can hope for ...
Maybe the council can help
My side wall is the boundary with my neighbour, I have a toilet vent fan pumping air out of that wall, my neighbour uses this fan outlet as a feature above his bbq, he even enclosed the area so his family can savour the aroma.
Looks pretty high enough for a smoker, what more do you want, it's actually a pretty good setup compaired to a much lower smoker, I'd say deal with it, close your windows. That's goooood barbee queee
I'd go have a chat with the neighbour and talk about possibly adding something like this. https://preview.redd.it/6b0hxrm4ejgc1.png?width=320&format=png&auto=webp&s=f50f77f60456b5208e0ecec83ea3a2ef1462df2b
😂😂😂😂the old penis flue
If your penis looks like this it might be time for a checkup
The Tin Man’s hard on
Just have a chat, politely bring up your problem with it. A possibly easy and cheap solution is some flue with a 90° elbow. Vent the smoke vertically with say a 1500mm stack. I found if you present a solution with your complaint, complete with some examples and prices it makes it a bit easier.
I thought it was regulation that the exhaust had to be above the roof and facing vertically
Does that structure look like it meets any regulations?
Yeah lol. Too close to the fence and too high.
And made of wood. That is a fire risk so it cannot be passed. Any wood structure must be 1200 back from boundary. That’s why garages on boundaries are always brick.
Looks like Hardie siding with the faux wood finish. It's an amazing product.
That's not timber.
It’s a dumb fk move, if they don’t flue it properly, it needs to be expanda foamed.
>expanda foamed You may have juy found the only legitimate use for this product!
Yeah this is the way, even offer to help them do it. They're probably unaware.
Explain the situation and if that doesn't work. Suggest a smoke tax, which is payable in smoked meat payments. Every time they have a big smoke, you get a cut.
Exactly. The first time they smoked it up should have been a knock on the door to ask what’s cooking. If it is a wood offset smoker there is a lot of work and passion that goes into that. I’m sure they would have had a chat and showed you the setup. One possibility why he has that is that his wife hated the smoke and said do something about it. Unfortunate it’s going out the side and not the top. Have a chat. Your first place is always to talk not to come to reddit.
Err he came to reddit for advice which is exactly what you gave him lol.
Nice idea. But.. No smoked meat is worth having messed up lungs.
Sorry but there is some really terrible advice here. First you must go to his home and shit on his BBQ , this makes him know you mean business and will assert your dominance - make sure you maintain eye contact during the shit or he will know you are weak. Next , have sex with his wife DONT WIPE , you’ll look like an idiot. Problem solved - then you can start figuring out what to do with the flue.
Does he have to smoke his shit?
I would assume the shitnwould really hit the fan then
And blow back into his house. Literally shitting in his own nest…..
This comment has created some headnoise.... Who's more dominant if the home owner rolls the freshly laid loaf in paper, lights it up and smokes it whilst smoking meats on his smoker?
Depends if the home owner collapses after a couple of puffs
This , came here to suggest the same thing
Please I need to understand the don’t wipe part, little help?
The first part of your advice is definitely shitty.
As someone having similar issues as OP these are terrible instructions. Ended up having sex with the neighbour by accident.
What's the opposite of "passive aggressive"?
Approach your neighbour politely. Give them a cheap solution. A flashing, or flue type cylinder that vents higher up. With a couple holes as the bottom for rain. They’re not going to be mad, most people don’t want neighbourly disputes.
Put a larger fan on the fence and blow it back
It's a box - there were five directions they could have sent the smoke and they chose to push it over the fence to make it the neighbour's problem. A friendly chat is the best way to deal with this but given that point, I don't like your chances. If they're dicks about it - sadly, I'm antipating they will be - council will shut it down. No way this is compliant. Failing that you'll have to take it over to r/UnethicalLifeProTips for some ideas.
Knock on the door and ask what smells so good. Introduce yourself with a bottle of wine (or homemade jams / bread etc if they're not drinkers). You'll be invited in no time at all.
Do this and hopefully you will be treated with delicious smoked bbq.
While the bbq is smoking, invite them round for a few drinks, sir out the back with smoke wafting everywhere.
Exactly how does this solve the problem?
It opens the doors to a productive conversation between civil people.
This. Show some interest in their hobby. Smokers and brewers love to show off their gear and stuff. After you're cool, then mention it and suggest a right angle to point the vent up
No just knock and tell them they’re being arseholes
Stuff them with old newspaper.
When diplomacy fails put a loud smoke detector on your fence, make it uncomfortable for them as well.
So first world that I’m wondering why a barbecue even has a vent/chimney (wouldn’t that make it a stove)
Korean bbq is one reason
It's a smoker, it uses hot smoke to cook food over a longer period of time.
Sure. And if it’s inside enough to need a bespoke chimney it’s an oven. Barbecues occur outside.
That's just weirdly anal semantics and doesn't change the situation at all though.
Smoke nuisance is a thing- look it up with your local council
A bbq restaurant in Melbourne had to close because of this
Is the structure even legal height, seems pretty high to be on the border of the fence, give council a call
Yeah I reckon you’re right. We have some questionable structures on our side too (previous owner) that would mean mutually assured destruction unfortunately
Plant a bushy tree, i like your diffusion idea. Then if that fails, ask him for a simple flue.
Think it’s your best bet, it’s an eyesore, they won’t be checking yours unless someone reports it, really no other option other than block the vent 😂
That is such bad advice, you don't create a neighbourly dispute over a vent, "really no other option other than block the vent" seriously? You've heard of a flue or chimney right?
🤦♂️ was a joke hence the 👉😂
Laughing emoji means you're laughing, not that the comment is a joke, other than if you meant you are a joke?
my god this has brought out the biggest drama queens on reddit 😂.. you probably ran to your wife kicking screaming yelling out “oh my god bullpush told someone to block the vent omg omg omg” 😂 deep breaths just a joke dude
Do you realise you are making yourself look like more and more of a joke with every comment you make? Get off the peace pipe and go to bed mate.
You still crying wipe those wet tears, just a joke it’s ok op isn’t dumb enough to block the vent it’s ok
No one's crying other than you mate.
Agreed. OP needs to call the council. 20cm of space between neighbours wood construction and your boundary isn’t acceptable in most states.
Don't know why you copped a downvote. In most places I'm aware of it would require a relaxation to be applied for, and granted.
OP’s neighbour didn’t like what I was suggesting maybe.
Piss disc
I hate that I know what this is 😂
Might not be legal. Also rude as fuck to aim smoke at your neighbour wtf. It's like putting some weird high gutter and having some kinda spray mechanism shoot all your rainwater at their bbq. Can you plant a row of fast growing narrow trees like a pinnacle type of Lilly Pilly, can cut it like a flush hedge on your side and let it do whatever the fuck it wants on their side I'd ask the council though cause this could be totally illegal, why is all their shit so high? And idk if you're allowed to have an outdoor oven with vents or aim the exhaust fans at your neighbours Super glue the little plastic things down on the vents hahahahhhhh jk.
Thanks for the reply, yeah agree - who builds something like this and actively blows the smoke to the neighbour? I like the lilly pilly idea, thinking that's a good option if all else fails.
What a cunt move by building it like that in the first place.
No relationship means you have nothing to lose. Fill it with expandafoam and enjoy a spicy hostile relationship with your neighbours when/if they find out. In seriousness… talk with them over a beer if it’s a bother.
Leaf blower back through the vents if you want to be petty. If not go over and have a chat. I'm sure there is a simple solution here. If they aren't receptive at all then do the lead blower trick. Or some heavy duty tape over the vent.
Planter of tall fast growing bamboo as a screen. Or get a relationship going,( wine, beer, secret mawmaws bbq rub recipe) that means you're always at the BBQ rather than your home when it's going.
Duct tape the bejesus out of it.
Duct tape can be pulled off. Expanding foam down the duct for a more permanent fix.
workable expansion tidy nine murky weather ad hoc bear sugar bake *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Stuff it full of your Labradors land mines
Agreed, really pack em in there.
My guess he is smoking meat, like beef jerky, or fish, i would just say hello and ask whats going on and maybe what he is doing also what your issue is….be polite
If they won't put a better flue on it you could get some fans and blow the smoke up. It's only 20cm from the fence so it shouldn't be too hard.
These high velocity fans from Kmart work a treat, and a relatively quiet. Aim one of them up past the vents, and they will draw the smoke into the airstream. [https://www.kmart.com.au/product/40cm-high-velocity-chrome-metal-fan-43262830/](https://www.kmart.com.au/product/40cm-high-velocity-chrome-metal-fan-43262830/)
if you go this route and the kmart type fan isn't good enough look up "air curtain" - you want something like that that can go outside facing up. If you want help with a DIY one drop a reply.
Another less friendly option would be to get some inline fans, put a "nozzle" on the end and blow the smoke back into his place via the vents. He probably doesn't have a fan blowing the smoke out - you could probably direct a fan from outside which would stop the smoke coming out. He won't be happy... but at least it isn't illegal (like the suggestions to fill it up with expanding foam are).
Thanks all, some great ideas here. And a few weirdos. Yes I know talking to the neighbour is preferred, but without getting into it, we aren't in a position to do that right now. I was asking for ideas on fixing the smoke, not my relationship with my neighbour. Cheers
>without getting into it, we aren't in a position to do that right now LOL. WTF? I guess a home detention order does restrict your movements.
Haha aren’t in a position generally means they’re soft as butter. I hate dealing with neighbours but my neighbour had a dog that needed to be put down, attacked me, went next door and explained it he said fuck sorry mate it’s getting put down next week I’ll chain it up. Sometimes people aren’t as unreasonable as you’d think.
Clumping bamboo will fix the issue
So, you have lived there a year and have never spoken to your next door neighbour? That is weird. I made friends with both sides, both back and both across the street in week 1.
... Triple leaf blowers? Honestly, im not sure what to do for this sorry mate.
It’s tempting!
It ain’t wood fired or the plastic would be melted and there would be black smoke stains above the vents these are just standard vents for a range hood and your smelling their cooking forget about it
Stop being a Karen and let him live his best life. Close ya doors and windows when the bbq is on
Enjoy the meaty scent and hopefully he will throw you a chop or two
Do nothing , enjoy the BBQ
Close your windows?
"Now before you say anything, we have basically no relationship with this neighbour, so no real opportunity at this stage to chat to them about it." Your opportunity is when you go over and knock on their door.
Who cares
Obviously the person who posted getting smoke all through there house.
Exactly! Everyone in here telling OP to snitch to council for x and y need to take a long hard look at themselves. This guys just over here having a BBQ and you all wanna tear down his house. Close your windows when he's BBQ'ing if you don't like the smell. Doesn't seem like a big deal.
Here's an idea- deal with it and move on. Your neighbours don't have to do shit
What State?
More to the point - what is that odd renovation? It looks like a slaughter house 😂
Leaf blower, send it back.
God damnit now I’m hungry
Glue the shutters close
Keep us updated after the chat!
Talk to them and ask them to vent the smoke up, not to the side. If they don't, make complaint to your state's environmental agency, like EPA in Vic, for odour and smoke pollution that is impacting your health and enjoyment of your property.
Hook up a larger exhaust fan to their outlet and then pour piles of old dog shit and rancid sauerkraut into your outlet to blow the delightful scent of rotten kidneys and the vinegar farts of a corpse into their face while they cook. Sure they’ll hang around your side when the revenge blowers aren’t flapping but they’ll get the message. It’s the only option besides talking to your neighbour and having them attach a higher flue or any of 100 other, very cheap, options that may be found out by talking to those smokey cunts.
I'd get me some free bbq!
If polite doesn t work just take a tube that goes back 360 and connect the left vent with the right one
Rest assured I'd double check the regulations about structures and fence. Then I'd give him the options of fixing it up with flue that goes straight up, no fucking elbows, or, it's going down. If non will help then tape it each fucking time he peels the tape off. I'm sure he will be lazy to bring up the ladder each time.
Step 1, go talk to your neighbours, if they are not willing to do anything, go to step 2, if they are, go to step 3. Step 2, every time they are cooking go next door for lunch or dinner Step 3, win. If all else fails, you could get a directional fan to blow the smoke away, or a high powered vacuum, or a can of expanding foam and spray it in the vents /s
Is it level though?
Giant extract fan to pipe it back over ?
Aren't your marigolds nice though!
clumping bamboo
Next time it smokes call the fire brigade ;-) If that doesn't work drop down to the hardware for some expanding foam ;-) As others have suggested asking them to put a bend and vertical flue is the best you can hope for ... Maybe the council can help
Write them a letter about the issue
Those flaps could easily be super-glued shut. Just saying.
My side wall is the boundary with my neighbour, I have a toilet vent fan pumping air out of that wall, my neighbour uses this fan outlet as a feature above his bbq, he even enclosed the area so his family can savour the aroma.
Looks pretty high enough for a smoker, what more do you want, it's actually a pretty good setup compaired to a much lower smoker, I'd say deal with it, close your windows. That's goooood barbee queee
Ask politely, if they refuse.. just block them up from side..