Smoked out on Second St. (Park Slope)

hollister

I'm at Second St., right by Society for Ethical Culture, and getting a boat load of smoke in my apartment, which is at the rear of the building. Don't actually see the smoke, but boy do I smell and taste it - it's driving me out of my apartment. Anyone on Second or First having this problem? Neighbors all deny it's them, of course.

homeowner

I'm assuming you are talking about cigarette smoke correct? Any particular time of day it occurs? Are you garden level? First floor? All that will help determine where its coming from...

hollister

Not cigarette smoke, and not from within my building/house. I think it's coming from another house on Second Street. Smells like wood smoke - with that creosote smell, though sometimes it's more ashy. Not a clean burning smell. I can't sleep in my apartment without ending up coughing and tasting smoke the next day. Totally bizaare; it's as if the smoke has just taken up residence.

My friends joke that someone has inherited a house from a hated relative, and is now, slowly, burning up all of the furniture.

booklaw

I wonder if they aren't using a fireplace whose chimney has not been properly cleaned; or perhaps the flue is closed or partially closed.

Seems odd, though, that they would be doing so now in 60 degree weather.

opossumqueen

Booklaw's theory sounds right to me. And it could be that the neighbor just moved into a place with a fireplace and couldn't resist using it or something like that.

Personally, as long as it's below 60, I need a fire or to run the heat to keep my fingers and toes from going numb or worse (I wish I were kidding--never knew how extreme my Raynaud's was until I moved so far north).

homeowner

If you are smelling it that strongly, I'd start with the party wall, especially if your neighbors in your building are reporting the same thing. If no one smells it but you, you may want to do something like take a walk by the local fire house, describe to them what you are experiencing and ask for some advice.

hollister

Thanks for the input, everyone. I read up on chimneys last night; never knew how much attention they require! I actually now think I know where it's coming from; have observed a very smoky chimney a couple of times. But it's just me smelling it in my building.

I'm with OppossumQueen - I like my heat. And this neighbor does too, apparently!

slopeduder

Yeah im on 1st, and smell this occasionaly, it is people using their fireplaces.

hollister

Doubt it. I've lived here 15 years and never had a problem with people's fireplace smoke. This is more than that, and it's most of the day, every day.