Expert: James Ball - 12/17/2011

Question
QUESTION: My neighbor has a wood burning fireplace.  I noticed smoke smell building up in my bedroom this autumn...and tried using a fan to clear the air (it didn't work to blow air either out of or into the bedroom enough to clear it).  I wondered what could be different and realized I'd taken the fans out of my basement...I went down and sure enough smoke was seeping in around my own heater.  I tried blocking any openings and put the fan downstairs again.  For a few weeks that seemed to keep smoke from building up affecting my breathing.  Now it's doing it again.
I saw the neighbor fussing with their chimeny yesterday.  I am wondering before I talk with them, what some solutions to this problem might be.  
I have an older home, that is somewhat rustic, and it is never going to be one of those super insulated homes where nothing seeps in.  Their stove is self-installed, the chimeny comes out their living room window and extends to just above their roof (other neighbors have complained about the smoke, but only when they are outside).  My house is only about 20' away.  It gets so bad that I feel like I can't get enough oxygen, and it wakes me up at night...though my eyes feel a little irritated, I don't actually "see" smoke.
Are there any laws about the type of smoke that is allowed, or how far away the chimeny must be from another house or from the ground?  Are there any air clearing kind of fans that I could get for my bedroom?  Any other thoughts or advice would be helpful.  Thank you!

ANSWER: Hello Julie, wow this is a good one, so let me see if I understand you correctly, your neighbor installed a wood stove through a window (Illegal) and may not be tall enough (illegal) (if their house had a chimney fire or caught fire it would burn your too). now why is it coming into your home, might be that your home is pulling that air/smoke down into it.
Do you have a fireplace in your home? is the damper closed? (you might need a top mount damper on it to get it air tight)
I know we hate to be "the bad guy" but you have to have the building department come out and look at it before you have serious issues (smoke has Carbon Monoxide and you can die from that) or a fire (this will be for their benefit also.
please keep me posted
have a great Holiday
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks!
No, we don't have a fireplace, just a central air unit on the same side.  The air intake is inside the (middle) house.  We're in a rural  neighborhood where everyone generally gets on great and helps each other out.  They just want to save on heating costs...and strangely it didn't cause any problems for me last year.  But it's causing repeated problems now for several months.
Well, from what you said, it sounds like I'll have to head to town and see if I can find someone who can provide assistance without (hopefully) starting any unpleasantness.  It sounds like it may be something that requires fixing.  I appreciate that info/nudge.
May your New Year be a blessing!

Answer
Welcome back Julie, ,I know this can be unpleasant, but some where your house is pulling in this smoke, an open attic vent, basement window, either way it is still not good for you, maybe speaking to your neighbor 1st or even a local chimney sweep to help at your home (www.csia.org)
Happy Holidays