Smoke from a neighbour’s wood fire getting into your house is usually down to airflow and pressure effects, not because anything is wrong inside your home. Common reasons include:
- Wind direction & downdraught. Certain wind conditions push smoke sideways or downward instead of letting it rise. If your house is downwind or slightly lower, smoke can be driven straight toward it.
- Temperature inversion (very common in winter evenings). Cold air trapped near the ground stops smoke from rising, so it spreads horizontally at breathing level. This is why it’s often worse at night or early morning.
- Your house is drawing air in via extractor fans, bathroom fans, cooker hoods, tumble dryers, or even a running boiler can create negative pressure, pulling smoky air inside through trickle vents. window seals, loft hatches, chimneys, or unused flues.
- Neighbour’s chimney is too low or poorly sited. Short chimneys, nearby buildings, trees, or roofs can deflect smoke.
- Wet or poor-quality wood produces much more smoke and particulates. The smell is stronger, lingers longer, and travels further.
Things you can do:
- Open windows or vents on the affected side – even small openings can let in noticeable smoke when conditions are right.
- Close windows and trickle vents on the affected side.
- Turn off extractor fans temporarily.
- Create positive pressure by opening a window on the opposite side of the house If it keeps happening.
- Have a conversation with your neighbour (many people don’t realise smoke is drifting indoors) and ask if they can burn only dry, seasoned wood, avoid lighting fires in still/foggy conditions, check chimney height, or add a chimney cowl
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