My neighbors installed one of the 'new' outdoor woodburners last fall and ever since then our house smells of smoke. The dogs come in smelling smoky. We hang clothes outside to dry...they dry full of the smoky smell. My husband has breathing problems that have escalated 10 fold, I have bloody noses, watery irritated eyes and sore throats and congestion. My husband talked to the neighbor, and he said he thought he might have a problem with the height of his chimney. Well he did have someone put up a taller one but the situation gets worse everyday that we are exposed to this irritant. Even one of my German Shepherds has developed a wheeze, and another one has eyes that run and matter all the time. We have no ordinances against these burners, yet I feel like not only has this neighbor ruined our lives environmentally, he is also threatening our health. Any suggestions at all will be appreciated.
2007-04-10 23:34:33 · 7 answers · asked by Me 7 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Smoke is not an allergen but it is an irritant and causes breathing problems with allergy sufferers and especially with those who have asthma and COPD. I can walk in a house with a wood burning stove and my nose gets stuffy in less than a minute so I totally understand where you are coming from on this issue. I'm not sure what you can do to help the situation though unless you can convince your neighbor that your health is more important than his little outdoor fireplace. Maybe it's the type of wood he is burning. Pine tends to burn hot and puts out black smoke, we have locust hard wood, it burns hot and makes a good fire but it stinks when it burns and really messes my sinuses up. Maybe you could call the local Fire Marshall and have him check the fire place to see if it is up to code and is drawing right (without upsetting your neighbor too much) and last but not least, keep some Claratin D or Benadryl on hand to help with symptoms and use saline to clean your nose this helps a lot. If a fireplace draws right, the smoke should mostly go straight up unless the humidity is really high where you live. Maybe he needs a lessen or two in how to build a fire or needs to learn to not smother it down or play in it too much(?) Best of luck, I hope everthing works out for you.
2007-04-11 00:10:22 · answer #1 · answered by juniperjasmine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All I could recommend is talking to your neighbor again about it. If he feels like he has done everything he needs to, to be within range of the laws, then call the health department and have them check the air for contaminents and such. outside of that I don't know what else to do. I've been around a lot of wood burners and have never had any problems like that. Maybe you are allergic to somethin he is burning.
2007-04-10 23:52:45 · answer #2 · answered by The_Bluesman 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The worst I have ever experienced (We own a woodburning stove) is just dry air.
It'll dry out your mouth, throat and nasal passages (Hence the coughing and the bloody noses). Smoke isn't terrible for you as long as it's not the ONLY think you're breathing (Such as people trapped in burning buildings).
I suggest you ask him to speak to the people who installed his stove -- They can help him direct the smoke elsewhere or install a small fan to blow it in an opposite direction.
As long as he's not burning plastics or rubber and such, there are no health risks. Wood is wood.
2007-04-10 23:39:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All I can think of is going to your local Council Office and tell them what is happening.
Are you in a "new house"?.
If an older house ... could all this coughing and wheezing be from some asbestos that is in your house. If you have some in there, then get your Council to get it out NOW. Asbestos is a killer. Do something now.
Over here in New Zealand asbestos is not allowed anywhere at all.
2007-04-10 23:58:22 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
have everyone medically cleared. you might need the certificate if in case you are going to have to do legal action. but avoiding that, diplomacy should work.
to answer the question of health risks. yes. the wood could be old wood with fungus all over, or the kind of woodburners your neighbors have aren't safe to use.
2007-04-11 01:25:25 · answer #5 · answered by ·will¹ªm ºn vacation! 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Same as any other cats, except I suppose that theres a higher chance of tripping on a black cat in the dark, but if its dark out, than the color of the cat doesn't matter, so NO. No extra health risks.
2016-04-01 08:44:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your local health department. Also consider getting an attorney. You might first try talking to your neighbor again, tell them all of the problems it is causing your household.
2007-04-10 23:44:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋