Dealing with a neighbor over BBQ smoke

qnbiker · Jul 28, 2015

Just read the "Our hobby in jeopardy thread"...wow! I had a neighbor who used to complain about smoke from my pit, even though it only lasted about 30 minutes (thin blue after that). I know she likes barbecue, so I told her whenever she sees smoke she is welcome to throw something on. She took me up on it and now the smoke doesn't bother her a bit. I know you can't fight city hall, but if it's just a neighbor, you can usually work it out if you try.

...Dave · Jul 28, 2015

every time my neighbor sees me prepping he runs right over to see if their will be any free space on the racks available :-D

jbounds286 · Jul 28, 2015

i too just acquired a neighbor that i now cook for whenever i fire up the smoker. i think im going to have to start charging him for the real estate rental haha

Ribeye Republic · Jul 28, 2015

Funny this came up. I just got a text from my neighbor asking when I was going to be firing up the Hasty again. Her family loves when I cook. Their 4 boys gather around, ask questions and help me sample the crispy goodness.

gtr · Jul 28, 2015

A few plates of this or that to the neighbors, including home made bacon, keeps things going smooth. Works out well for me too - I get great Mexican food from one set of neighbors and fresh or smoked fish from another set. The only thing that bugs me is I can smell some awesome food smoking up the street on a regular basis and I can't figure out which house it is. :noidea:

bigpernz · Jul 28, 2015

I am under the assumption that firing up the smoker is only perfuming the neighborhood and thus raising everyone's property value.

arclite · Jul 28, 2015

Yes, lots of love from my neighbors. It helps to cook for them and/or send over a plate of food on Sunday. My wife and I can't eat 15 lb's. of brisket, so we invite our friends and neighbors.

Even my veggie neighbor comments on how much she loves the smell of my grill. Ohh, I'll get her to turn toward the dark side... oh yes I will. :icon_devil

Maybe it's a cold weather climate thing, but people who are used to freezing temps generally enjoy the smell of burning wood. Walking around Door county WI or Newport RI in December with all the fireplaces and wood burning stoves is intoxicating.

Bamabuzzard · Jul 28, 2015

If you have a neighbor like that most of the time it's not the BBQ smoke that is bothering them. It's something more important, like loneliness or some other life issue that has brought them sadness or pain.

arclite · Jul 28, 2015

Bamabuzzard said:
If you have a neighbor like that most of the time it's not the BBQ smoke that is bothering them. It's something more important, like loneliness or some other life issue that has brought them sadness or pain.

And what's better medicine for loneliness than an invitation? Even if they say "no" it should help, if not cure, whatever ails. BBQ (not necessarily a quick grill) should be a party anyway.

T.R. · Jul 28, 2015

Neighbors? You guys have neighbors????

gun smoke · Jul 28, 2015

no neighbors but when ever meats on sale the guys at work give me cash and i'll pick some up for them. I keep it in my freezer and when I have a cook going i'll throw their meat on. last time butts were on for $1.29 I picked up 6 for one guy cooked the last one two weeks ago.

nickmv · Jul 28, 2015

Bamabuzzard said:
If you have a neighbor like that most of the time it's not the BBQ smoke that is bothering them. It's something more important, like loneliness or some other life issue that has brought them sadness or pain.

Or perhaps just the large quantity of smoke coming out of his backyard as evidenced on video. There's a difference between BBQ'ing and pouring smoke out. When's the last time your BBQ put out so much thick white smoke that it traveled across the street easily?

jakel · Jul 28, 2015

nickmv said:
Or perhaps just the large quantity of smoke coming out of his backyard as evidenced on video. There's a difference between BBQ'ing and pouring smoke out. When's the last time your BBQ put out so much thick white smoke that it traveled across the street easily?

On occasion I've had thick smoke at startup ...this 7 sec video covers a 1:05 timeframe and It appears to dissipate to me, but what do I know?

[ame]http://youtu.be/gokOf6K6RZU[/ame]

Smokesignalsfromtx · Jul 28, 2015

I've been watching all these threads in amazement! I just give my neighbors a choice......LOUD MUSIC, or a little, sweet smelling BBQ smoke. They opt for the latter. Even show up with an empty plate. :becky::thumb:

[ame]http://youtu.be/ug7ZZHy2waA[/ame]

pjtexas1 · Jul 28, 2015

I used to use stubb's briqs all the time but found a cleaner burning all natural briq. stubb's can blow some thick nasty smoke at startup. the wife and kids didn't like it at all. once it gets going its fine but I was afraid the neighbors would eventually say something. Probably more me just being paranoid.:tsk:

Decoy205 · Jul 28, 2015

pjtexas1 said:
I used to use stubb's briqs all the time but found a cleaner burning all natural briq. stubb's can blow some thick nasty smoke at startup. the wife and kids didn't like it at all. once it gets going its fine but I was afraid the neighbors would eventually say something. Probably more me just being paranoid.:tsk:

I agree about the puffy start up smoke. What brand did you switch too? I love when my neighbors cook. One time i said hey sorry if there's smoke coming by your house and he said NA don't worry it makes me hungry haha. Dude is awesome.

pjtexas1 · Jul 28, 2015

Decoy205 said:
I agree about the puffy start up smoke. What brand did you switch too? I love when my neighbors cook. One time i said hey sorry if there's smoke coming by your house and he said NA don't worry it makes me hungry haha. Dude is awesome.

Awesome neighbor. HEB All Natural Briquettes but you can only get it central and southern parts of Texas.

rookiedad · Jul 28, 2015

my neighbors throw about four parties a year that rattle my windows until 5:00am. i don't say a word. when i kick on the smokers, they respond in kind.

Decoy205 · Jul 28, 2015

pjtexas1 said:
Awesome neighbor. HEB All Natural Briquettes but you can only get it central and southern parts of Texas.

Yea probably won't be able to grab those any time soon haha! I hear that trader joes make a decent briquette.

landarc · Jul 28, 2015

I have great neighbors. To that end, when there was a complaint, I said to them, let's figure out a solution. The key is that we were on good terms to begin with. I have one neighbor on this street, that in 11 years, we have not exchanged one hello. I tried and got nada. So be it. If he decided to complain, I suspect that my response would not be so open. Still, hostility is usually met with hostility.

Dealing with a neighbor over BBQ smoke

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