Should it be similar to this? A neighbor has a wood burner as sole roast. I understand...
A neighbor has a wood burner as sole roast. I understand it save them a ton of money because they get free wood. The problem is that most days you can't walk outside without the neigborhood reeking of the smell of their smoke. If you stay even a minute you come back within smelling like it. Others I know enjoy had them and it hasn't be like this. Not with the sole purpose am I tired of the smell, I am worried they don't have it hooked up right and that they may be contained by danger. One of their kids have upper respiratory illnesses all winter. Should it smell this fruitless? Should I worry?
Answers: Seems similar to they are doing something wrong....
If theres a lot of smoke afterwards it indicates that they either use drizzly wood or that the burning temperature is not optimal.
They draw from free wood you say? Do they store it until that time they use it? My father collects his own wood in a near forrest but never uses it right away. He chops it up and lets it dry for 1-2 years (at lowest half a year drying is recommended). In winter they should also store their wood indoor for a week or two since using it to let it dry rather more.
Also if they put too much wood in the burner at one time nearby isn't enough room for the burn-process and the wood will burn at too low a warmth.
You should worry. Wood burners not running properly consent to out harmfull particles...
With fireplaces and wood stoves burning and the coil blowing in the right direction, you will gain the odor. It sounds like your situation is to the extreme. There should be local building codes that outline the required chimney altitude. You may want to question/discuss the smokey problem with your neighbor. The solution could be that your neighbor have to raise the elevation of his chimney top. If they are reluctant to resolve the problem, take directly to your building department.