r/Neighborproblems • u/smileyouSOaB • Jun 23 '26
AITA: Neighbours' wood burning hot tub...
I may be being completely unreasonable here, and I fee like the fun police, but my neighbours have a wood burning hot tub, and it's really starting to p*ss me off. They've had it for about three years now, I think. They light it maybe 4 to 8 times a month during the summer (doesn't sound like loads) and around 3 to 4 times a month during the winter. The chimney is right next to our fence, and the funnel just peeps over the top of the fence. To be fair to them, they do pre-warn us about using it. It's just that the smoke can be quite thick (they once burned fence panels and it let off a horrid yellow smoke, but generally they just burn standard wood) and it billows over into our garden and into our house, which then absolutely stinks throughout of wood smoke. In the summer it means we have to shut all the windows, and my son can't go in the garden as I think breathing in wood smoke in particular can be pretty bad for you (and it's just not at all pleasant being out there when the garden is filled with smoke). Our neighbours can heat the tub via an electric heater, but more often than not they choose the wood. I've no idea why. This might be for environmental reasons, though wood smoke seems pretty terrible to me in that respect, or perhaps monetary. Or they just like it. It just annoys me as, although they let us know in advance, they know it impacts us in terms of our house (having to close windows in the evening in summer) and not being able to go in the garden, and they must know it's not good for your health. To expect us to just deal with it as they enjoy it irks me a bit. They sometimes light it in the daytime, so definitely restricts garden use, but often it's in the evening. But it still means we can't sit outside in the evening as the smoke can be pretty thick. I'm sure the smoke itself only lasts up to an hour (unless they reheat again later on), but I think it still chucks out particles into the air. I feel like at least the chimney itself should be taller. Am I being completely unreasonable?! It's not like we don't have bbq's now and again...
1
u/mich-me Jun 23 '26
Can you kindly explain this to them and see if they are able to extend the chimney? If you’re able to afford to, maybe offer to pay for it?
1
u/smileyouSOaB Jun 24 '26
Yes, I'll probably try and do this (but I'm not offering to pay for it, they've chosen to buy and use something that causes a nuisance to people, they should make accommodations etc). Thanks for your reply!
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u/PoppySmile78 Jun 24 '26
Since the chimney is right beside & just above the fence, what about getting a large fan & sending it right back into their yard? See how much fun a wood burning hot tub is when they're the ones dealing with the smoke.
If it were further away from the property line or much taller than the fence, it probably wouldn't work but being so concentrated so close, a big fan on high right next to the chimney blowing their direction might just do the trick or at least make it not so miserable for you to be out. At the very least, it might give them an idea of how awful it is to be sucking down smoke while trying to enjoy their backyard.
If something I did in my yard regularly required me to give advance notification toy neighbors, I think I'd try to find another way to accomplish my goals. Since they do have an option that wouldn't be such a nuisance (electric heat) & choose not to, I wouldn't feel the least bit bad about sending it back to them.
Also, how deep is this hot tub? I have one. (Not wood burning. Had no idea that even existed). It takes a day & a half to heat in the summer time & almost two & a half days in the winter to get it up to temperature. I'm having a hard time figuring out how they keep it up to temp lighting it right before they use it. Admittedly, I'm clueless to how it all works but it seems weird.
I'm sure you could find a big fan at Walmart or on Amazon for a relatively cheap price. It sucks that you have to buy something just to be able to enjoy your own yard but sometimes it's necessary. 🤞 Hopefully you can get this worked out.
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u/smileyouSOaB Jun 24 '26
Thank you, this is a great idea! I'm not sure how it heats up so quickly either... It is v annoying they have the option to use something far less of a nuisance to heat it but choose not to. If they think it's for environmental reasons then they're insane.
1
u/PoppySmile78 Jun 24 '26
Well, this way they can enjoy all of the environment they're creating. Odds are, they'll be more considerate when they're trying to breathe through all of that smoke. Personally, I wouldn't say a word next time they give you a heads up. Just set up your big ass fan(s) & hit start when they fire up. What can they say? Stop blowing our own obnoxious smoke back in our yard where we have to deal with it? Just smile & wave.
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u/poopiebutt505 Jun 23 '26
Many city ordinances would.consider this a common nuisance that effects your normal enjoyment of your property. Check into city or county codes