Reducing Secondhand Smoke: Inside or Outside?

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The discussion revolves around finding a solution to minimize tobacco smoke reaching neighbors living below in a block of flats. Two primary options are considered: smoking indoors with open ventilation or smoking on the balcony while being aware that neighbors' windows may be open. Participants express skepticism about the effectiveness of smoking on the balcony, noting that smoke can travel downwards and be detected by those below. It is suggested that smoking indoors with windows open might be more effective in reducing the smell for neighbors. The conversation highlights that cigarette smoke is easily detectable by non-smokers, regardless of the smoking location. A practical approach is recommended: experimenting with both methods for a week each and soliciting feedback from neighbors to demonstrate a willingness to accommodate their comfort. The discussion emphasizes the importance of understanding air currents and the potential for smoke to behave differently in various settings.
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I have a silly problem: I live in a block of flats, and my neighbours who live one floor below me, always complains that I smoke tobacco. So I would like to reduce amount of smoke that reaches them. I have two ways, please tell me which one would be more effective:
• I smoke inside, with opened ventilation.
• I smoke outside(in a balcony), but their windows are opened.
 
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What about the win/win approach - quit smoking?
 
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You know, alerts on packages tells the same, smokers know what they do and the risks, I just don't want to argue with neighbours.
 
I'm surprised your neighbours beneath you can smell anything from your balcony. Either way you smoking inside with a few windows open would be best.
 
Ryan_m_b said:
I'm surprised your neighbours beneath you can smell anything from your balcony. Either way you smoking inside with a few windows open would be best.
Well I asked whether it is possible to smell smokes when you are beneath, people said that when smoke gets cold it goes down, that's how it happens. I'm not sure if it is true.
 
Ryan_m_b said:
I'm surprised your neighbours beneath you can smell anything from your balcony. Either way you smoking inside with a few windows open would be best.
My upstairs neighbors smoke and it kills me, and when the temperature outside is nice, I can't open my windows because all of their smoke is sucked into my place.
 
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Evo said:
My upstairs neighbors smoke and it kills me, and when the temperature outside is nice, I can't open my windows because all of their smoke is sucked into my place.
They smoke in a balcony?
 
bagofbones said:
They smoke in a balcony?
Yes.
 
Evo said:
Yes.
So maybe smoking inside with opened windows would be the best solution
 
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Cigarette smoke is one of those things that non-smokers can detect in very minute amounts. No matter where you are, they will probably detect it. Best you can do is reduce it.

And because you're dealing with finicky air currents, you're going to find that it could behave completely differently from one building to the next, one direction to the next.

What you could do is try a few things for your own illumination. Ask them for feedback. Try it one way for a week, and ask them how bad it was. Try it another way for a week and ask again.

This may have the additional side-effect of showing to them that you're willing to adapt for the sake of their comfort.
 
  • #11
DaveC426913 said:
Cigarette smoke is one of those things that non-smokers can detect in very minute amounts. No matter where you are, they will probably detect it. Best you can do is reduce it.

And because you're dealing with finicky air currents, you're going to find that it could behave completely differently from one building to the next, one direction to the next.

What you could do is try a few things for your own illumination. Ask them for feedback. Try it one way for a week, and ask them how bad it was. Try it another way for a week and ask again.

This may have the additional side-effect of showing to them that you're willing to adapt for the sake of their comfort.
Ok.
It seems that you know how this thing works, so which way of these should be the best to try first? Or there is a third way?
 
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