Neighbors Smoke.....

ugh...I have the same issue, but in an apartment and I don't know where the smoke is coming from. So, I just hollered out my window, "who ever is smoking out there could you blow it somewhere else, the wind is taking it directly into my baby's room." It worked! I wouldn't make a big deal of it, exspecially with neighbors you know : )

whatever you do don't lie to them. Smokers aren't dumb people. Most are very conscientious about their smoke too. I smoked for years and now haven't since 7-30-07. I also live in base housing. Depending on where you live there are things you can do. Ask them to smoke in their garage, maybe even the other side of the house? We have smokers across the way and they smoke outside too. I just told them flat out that it blows in baby's nursery and I worry about 2nd hand smoke. They now smoke on the other side of their house or in their garage. Smokers know how bad smoking is, its an addiction. Most think of quitting while they are smoking and then put it out of their minds as soon as they put it down. Talk tot hem while they are smoking... it will help:)

Hi C.,

As a former smoker, I can tell you that it's not their intention to be offensive and they probably have no idea that the smoke is even going into your home.

As a former smoker, I can also tell you that I really hate the smell of smoke in the house now and I know exactly how you feel. My husband still smokes, but only outside. If it comes in, even the slightest, I make snarky remarks... but that's because he's my husband. If a neighbor did that, I'd be extremely offended. But if our neighbors came over and said, 'your smoke is blowing into our place,' I can tell you that we would both be very apologetic, and he would immediately change his location so that he was more aware of where the wind was blowing his smoke.

I think you should just go over there and politely mention that when he/she stands in a particular area, the smoke comes right into your place, and you sure would appreciate if they could find another spot, so that the wind doesn't carry the plumes right in through your windows.

I'm sure they will be responsive and respectful.

Good news, at least healthwise you can totally relax. :)

The particulates from cigarette smoke out in the open air are so dispersed it's not actually a big deal. A FAR bigger deal is the exhaust coming in your house from cars driving by. Of course, we don't SMELL the exhaust because we've become acclimated to it. (Try going up into the mountains, or out in the desert...notice how fresh the air is? That's the lack of pollution that we breath in every day. Bleck :P)

2nd hand smoke kills. It's absolutely true. Over years and years of living with people who smoke in confined places (like houses and cars). In one of my microbiology classes in school a professor of mine was part of a team that dissects lungs from people of all walks of life all over the country. (oh...yummy :P). To cut a long story short she had us look at 2 sets from men approximately the same age: One from a 2.5 pack a day smoker who'd smoked for over 40 years and lived in nowhere Colorado. The other a lifelong non-smoker and avid runner from LA. She had us guess which lungs belonged to whom, and we were all wrong! I won't go into details (eeeewwww yuck!). Smoking is bad for us. Pollution is worse. Yet no one glares and teaches their children to be hateful of people who drive cars...or at the factories...or shopping malls...or, or, or.

What I find most disturbing about smoking, is that it is teaching so many people to be hateful and judgmental. My sister smokes and I spend a great deal of time with her. I cannot count the number of times a mother has walked by my sister's yard with us on her porch (more then 10 feet away) and has said something at the top of her lungs to the effect of "Let's get away from the nasty lady now, Susie", or "Oh how DISGUSTING". Those are two actual quotes. More often it's the intent glare, or phony coughing. It's like my sister is not only stupid, she's subhuman. So she should be treated like a slave in the south, or Irish immigrants, or the Jews in the ghetto...someone who can be freely hated & discriminated against. And yet, one switch of the wind and I inhale more smoke from the BBQ then I do hanging out with her all year round...and people who merely smell it from 10 feet away use it as an example to teach their children how to be bigoted and judgmental.

Oops...bit of a tirade. Sorry about that, because your post makes it abundantly clear that you're not one of those people. I think I'll leave it up, rather then deleting it, though.

I can't tell you to shut your windows for 2 reasons: 1) they might be the only windows you have! & 2)smokers smoke off and on continuously...so it's not like you should be on patrol constantly opening and shutting them. So this is what I would do: treat it like any other irritating smell: brussels sprouts, or strong (omigod who would WEAR that???) perfume, or freshly baked cinnamon rolls when you're on a diet. If under those circumstances you would say something, say something. If you wouldn't, don't. If you wouldn't say anything there are a number of products out there that neutralize odors (some specifically made for smoke, but any would work) that grab onto the odor causing molecules and make them drop down 'round our ankels (Neutrair, Febreeze, etc.).

Also, if you love the breeze as much as I do, it's possible you might not want an air conditioner...but it's another option. Many kinds, that fit into windows, come equipped with hepa-type filters. Our is a portable (stands in the room type) one though, and didn't come with it....so we snagged one meant for a vacum cleaner and fit it over the intake! The stand alone type was more expensive, but at the time when we bought it, our building didn't allow anything "non-conforming". :P Pfui.

I don't know if any of this will help, but Good Luck to you!
~Z.

Tough call. I would ask them nicely if they could move the place they smoke. If you are living in Navy housing perhaps you could ask for a different place. Sounds like a lot of work but I would not like living in smoke either.

Tell them your children are alergic to smoke all kinds and ask very politely that they move to another location to smoke because it blows right in your windows. I did this worked like a charm.

I say you buy a window air conditioner or portable air conditoner which is what we have. That way you are not only protecting and filtering your indoor air from smoke but also from allergens and outdoor pollution. If you ask a smoker not to smoke on their own property-good luck. I think this will create conflict and they probably smoke outside for a reason, maybe to protect their own children or pets from direct contact with secondhand smoke. Nowadays smoking is banned from most places so a smoker has few options on where they can smoke-outside being the most courteous and most accepted.Before you ask them not to smoke outside of their own home,think about what you expect them to do...smoke inside their house( cant ask that) quit smoking? not likely to happen. Smoke in the garage? Or dig a hole in the yard and smoke in that? I mean maybe that is the only place they can smoke is outside. So, in their eyes, you will be asking them to not smoke. I highly doubt they will comply unless they have another place to smoke that will not blow in your window.......if so, then it is reasonable for you to ask them to simply move the location of their smoking to a different part of the yard. Still, be prepared for neighbors that will shy away from getting to know you and will feel completely inhibited around you. Not a neighbor who will likely be friendly with you after this conversation happens.
It would drive me nuts too having my windows closed all the time, so figure out when they are not home and open your windows then. Make friends with them first then maybe you can talk to them about it. But the immediate solution is in your hands, not theirs.
Good Luck :)

Hi C., I would approach them. in a very friendly manner, and let them know that the smoke is coming into your house, around your children, and you are concerned for their health, in the mean time if the smoke is coming through the door, put a fan on facing the door it will push the smoke back out the door. If they don't respond well to you, then if you live in housing you may have to talk to your housing director. J. L.

Hi C.,

This is very interesting, as my husband and I are on the opposite end of this question. We just moved here as well and are temporarily living in an apartment and we are on the bottom floor. Only one apartment is above us and their patio is right above ours. From time to time, not very often, my husband likes to sit on the patio after a long day and enjoy a cigar and some cognac.

Our neighbor above us came out and asked that we not smoke due to the fact that they sleep with their windows open and the smoke is going in to their apartment. We obliged, felt bad. But it is OUR apartment, OUR space that we are paying for and OUR right to smoke a cigar, cigarette, or whatever. My husband doesn't smoke a cigar often, maybe once or twice a week. We were confronted again and now we were getting a little pissy. All of our units have A/C!

Do we really have to go coordinate with them so that we can smoke a cigar, do we have to ask permission?! That is rediculous. We have every right to smoke a cigar on our patio. If it bothers them, they should close their windows and turn on the A/C for a while.

Your case is probably a tiny bit different in that you are most likely dealing with chain smokers who are smoking all the time, not just once or twice a week. Good luck, it can be a sensitive subject to approach with them but I like the idea that the mom said about saying your kids are allergic.

-Char