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I am plagued by my neighbor's barbeque smells.

I live in a very dense apartment complex, many buildings all three stories tall. Each apartment has an outside balcony and many people have small and large barbeques. However, it seems like some people use a whole lot of smelly lighter fluid and this smell comes right into my apartment. I can't see from my balcony who is doing the barbequing and it may be more than one person; however, I don't know if its simply bad design that makes the smell come inward, in fact, I really don't understand why it does come inside my rooms since I would think it more likely to dissipate outward. Sometimes the smell lasts for a few minutes, so its not that bad, but other times, I think someone is using kerosene or gasoline to light their fire.

What do you suggest? Do other people in apartments have a similar issue?

John Bailo asked in Renting about 1 year ago | Report

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8 Answers

  • Gold-head_small
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    Sniff glue or transmission fluid out of paper bags. You won't be able to smell a thing.

    Fnarf answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
    5 comments by John Bailo, Fnarf, and John Bailo…
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  • Botero100_small
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    Offer to buy your neighbors a chimney starter--works great, doesn't require smelly starter fluid, just a little wadded-up newspaper.

    (Of course, I've been trying to convince my husband of that for 15 years, and he still insists on using starter fluid. I guess some people just like their incendiaries.)

    marymc answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
    2 comments by capicola and John Bailo…
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  • 49631_100000554882811_1400_n_small
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    I'm an avid charcoal griller, but I too hate the smell of lighter fluid. I use a chimney starter with Weber firestarter cubes. The cubes work great and there is no smell.

    Michael Magyar answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Cappa_small
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    You could take the slow passive-aggressive approach and contact the manager or post flyers, but here's what I'd do to get results:

    I'd call the fire department and say that you smell smoke and accelerants coming from somewhere in your complex.

    Either the lighter-fluid maniac will be disclosed, allowing you to negotiate a reasonable compromise, or else you'll just have to call enough times to have lighter fluid banned from the balcony for everyone. Either way, problem solved.

    capicola answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Bauhaus_small
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    Grilling with charcoal and fluid on balconies is a fire hazard. One call to the fire department will probably end your issue. But if that sounds too mean, maybe you could have the manager issue a warning about balcony barbequing.

    Bauhaus answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Qlandav2ex_small
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    I wonder if any of the folks living above/below/next to you are using oil lamps in their homes. I find the liquid parafin lamps produce a similar odor that some people don't realize is so smelly. It could be getting in your rooms via shared ventilation much like cigarette smoker can in close quarter housing.

    Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Avatar_default
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    i have the same problem. but the neighbor that uses lighter fluid or kerosene are living just accross ( a low wall and small bushes separates our building and their backyard). my problem is i have a one year old and a 3 yr old. our 2nd floor bedroom, living room and most wndows are facing their direction. we really dont know where else to go literally. even with our windows closed, the fumes and smell still penetrates inside our unit. im worried about my kids..

    jacobpoy answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Enso_circle_small
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    I feel your pain. One of the most annoying things I find about apartment living is the smells, coming from others. Sadly, I do not think there is anything that can be done - it is just one of those damn things. If you want to get an idea of how a note would be received, go to passive aggressive notes .com ...

    ozchick answered in Renting about 1 year ago | Report
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