kitchen cooking smell seeping into neighbours house

[teamB2011]

We live in terraced victorian house and the neighbour complained the smell of our cooking was apparent in one of his bedrooms. We thought it was the extractor so stopoed using it temporairly. However, tonight, when we were cooking (without the fan and with door open) he said he could smell it again. We at a loss as to how to start investigating the problem. Any ideas welcome. Thank you

[Mumzy]

What are you cooking? Is it pungent/spicy foods. Ask a good friend to give you a honest opinion

[PigletJohn]

tell us more about the extractor. Does it vent through the outside wall, with a hood above the cooker?

It isn't a recirculator, is it?

is there a chimney, or a place where a chimney or fireplace used to be?

[teamB2011]

We used to cook spicy lamb balls which gave rise to complaints but last night in was aubergine parmegana so red onions and oregano were as strong aa it got.

the extractor vents through the hood of cooker. Extractor is not a recirculator.

The place where cooker used to be used to be fireplace in kitchen (1900 house). My husband has been into neighbour's to the upstairs bedroom where smell is causing issue and there is fireplace in his room albeit blocked off i suspect.

Let me know if you need more info.

[Virgolia]

It's just a bit of tough shit really for the neighbour, you can't exactly stop cooking because they can smell it can you.

[drLu]

Sorry but I agree with virgolia. Not a lot more you can do. Sometimes when you live next door to someone in a terrace or semi you have to share stuff! It seems you've made an effort to find out what's causing it. Perhaps if your neighbours that bothered they need to come up with a solution.

[PigletJohn]

so does the hood vent through the wall, or up the chimney?

Is there a plastic duct between the hood and the outside wall where it comes out?

[PigletJohn]

(you may spot that I suspected the smell may be leaking through the chimney/fireplace. In old houses they often have cracked flues and brickwork. Sometimes people let hoods vent up an old chimney, which is poor practice if it is not lined with an airtight, grease-proof, condensation-proof duct)


If the hood/fan does not straight through the wall, using a plastic duct to prevent grease getting into the bricks or any cavity, then there needs to be a plastic duct all the way between the hood and the outside world. If it is a flexible plastic hose, or has any joints, there may be leaks.

If an extractor is working well, and the door and window are closed, it creates a slight suction in the kitchen which prevents steam and smells diffusing around the house or creeping through any structural gaps or cracks.

[dotnet]

The chimney/fireplace theory sounds about right.
In my old house - I hadn't realised any smells could come through from next door - the neighbours had a chimney fire and I could smell smoke in my bedroom. In that case the smell came (I think) from under the floorboards - the floorboards seem to run through from one house to the next, with a gap underneath.
Yes, I think the neighbours just have to put up with it really - surely it's not that bad (or that often)... you could give them a scented oil burner or a scented candle as a present; at least it would show you were 'aware', and a nice person!.

[teamB2011]

not sure if there is a plastic duct - will check.
do you know what kind of tradesmen we would need to insert one if we were to go down that route.
someone said it could be fire risk if not lined properly.


dotnet - i agree with you - it rarely happens as we both work in the City so rarely get home to cook in any event. just don't want bad blood because of it

[PigletJohn]

a small builder should be able to do it with ease

a handyman might not have had much practice.