I moved to a large apartment community of mostly 12-plex single story units with individual covered patios. It is in California so smoking, even a pipe, is regarded as grounds for deportation or worse. I want to build an exhaust fan / filter system that I can use to collect the smoke and send it up to the roof where the wind can carry it away from the neighbors. I'm thinking of something like we have in our homes over the stove: with a hood, filter, exhaust fan and flex ducting. Something I can put in the corner of my patio, power up during my pipe time, and either filter or vent away enough smoke to keep the neighbors quiet. The parts can be inexpensive and easy to assemble. I just want to know if any one here has ever tried to build something like this for an exterior patio. Thanks for any input.
Filtering Pipe Smoke From My Patio
- Thread starter Beach Man
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Well, you are in California, so the culture is somewhat a known. How much privacy does your patio have? If you went to such generous expense to set up a really adequate ventilation system, some patriotic Californian might SEE you smoking your pipe and assume that was grounds for accusing you of poisoning them, their family, their pets and neighbors. Okay, okay, that's worst case scenario, but I would definitely visually screen your smoking corner at the same time you ventilate it.
If you wear tie dyed shirts and a dreadlocks wig while you smoke, your neighbors will think nothing of it. Camouflage baby!
Sprinkle some weed in to your tobacco and you’ll be fine!
Seriously, what a conscientious smoker you are. Maybe people will actually chill out and let you enjoy your pipe.
Seriously, what a conscientious smoker you are. Maybe people will actually chill out and let you enjoy your pipe.
One thing to keep in mind is our hobby is way stinkier then we can pick up on. What seems fine to you might be over bearing to another. I guess during your experiments you'll need someone with a sensitive sniffer to tell you if it's really working. If it really is that serious though, might be better not to risk it. And honestly I sympathize with the neighbors I've had apartments that get the smells of next door cig smokers clearly coming in.
Haha. All kinds of neighbors. Thin walls. Some scared by the sight, some by the odor. Hiding is a good idea. Thanks
Yep, some odd herbal aromas floating around this neighborhood. Medicinal uses only, of course. /sarc.
M
MARC52
Guest
When I smoke a pipe I barely get a wisp of smoke from my pipe while smoking but I sure as hell wouldn't be firing up any latakia blends on the balcony, that smell travels far and wide and will definitely get complaints from the neighbors, maybe even from neighbors the next building over. 
Just burn some hemp rope while smoking your pipe. Problem solved!
Seriously, no one here in California can tell you what you can or cannot do on your property...... YET.....
Seriously, no one here in California can tell you what you can or cannot do on your property...... YET.....
Install a drop down canvas over the front and savour the room note.
Be sure to get a fan that will move enough air to avoid the tobacco Nazis noses. Your clothes will present a problem.
You need marijuana or crack scented incense to cover up your pipe tobacco smells.
To move all smoke and even aroma from exiting your immediate area outdoors, you really need to be moving some significant air volume.
Most exhaust fans are measured in cfm (cubic feet per minute) of air moved. So your space is 8x8x15 = 960 cf. Now just decide how often you want/need that volume of air removed from your area.
Keep in mind these numbers are ideal. Some air will come in from the open front (A LOT) and reduce the efficiency of the smoke removal (i.e. not removing the smoke but sucking in and removing air from outside).
Just some thoughts. Good luck!
Keep in mind these numbers are ideal. Some air will come in from the open front (A LOT) and reduce the efficiency of the smoke removal (i.e. not removing the smoke but sucking in and removing air from outside).
Just some thoughts. Good luck!
You need to look into 3 stage Hepa Filters. They are rated by how much volume of smoke they move. I had 4 of them in my pool hall back in the day. I would think 1 1500 CFM unit would be an ok unit. Do your due due diligence before buying anything. Careful of the Electrostatic units as they don't move air, worth a shit. You also might want to just get an Ozinator which doesn't move the smoke, but it kills the smell in a big way. I had a top of the line unit that cost me around 400.00 and killed the smell for 27 years straight with no issues. It wasn't very big but it killed the smell like an animal.
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