San Miguel

Hi All

We had occasion to put our heating on one evening when we were in DV last week and it made our apartment smell of smoke.  As we don't smoke ourelves, we can only assume that it was filtered in to us from our neighbours apartment.  Has anyone else experienced this problem? The smell was so bad that we had to turn the heating off. 

Yes we had the same issue in August when we were over. The couple below us where smokers so we assumed this was the source of the smoke. It was quite a strong smell particulalry in our master bedroom.

We have had the same ploblem when we were over in the summer, it seems to come up through the vent under the bath in the master bathroom. 

Carleen

Have any of you logged this with AEA or RYF?

The vent on the side of the bath is the air flow input for the jacuzzi bath and to allow ventilation for the jacuzzi motor for cooling.

The pipe work in one apartment goes into the ceiling void of the apartment below. If they are smoking inside the apartment below you its possible for this to come thru the floor holes if they are not adequately sealed. In my case vent is only held in place with silicon seal and can be removed to check the pipework.

If its a very strong smoke smell it may be something else.

 

Hi Jeff

I was going to report the problem to Maria at RyF but I thought I'd better put it on the message board first to see if anyone else has a problem.  It's definitely cigarette spoke and not just a smell of burning.  I know my neighbour next door smokes but I'm not sure about upstairs or downstairs.  Obviously, the more people we can find with a problem then the better chance we have of trying to sort it.  What concerns me is that it could get a lot worse with full occupancy.

Ann,

I think you should report it to Maria it sounds as if there is a hole between the floors or ceiling void that is allowing foul air to be drawn into your apartment. Ther are smoke bombs that can be used to find gaps etc. these are not toxic and non smelling but very visable.

 

Little concerned about this.  Having lived with air conditioning in many forms for many years, usually when you have a split a/c unit installed, you should have your own "ventilation" (I believe we all have split unit a/c's installed in DV).  Sometimes, with a "central" unit installed in an apartment block fumes, etc., from other apartments  can be a problem, but again, only when they use the cheap way out.  But we all have individual units and we shouldn't, in any way, have our units linked to a central ventilation system.  If one apartment is suffering the stench/smells from another apartment through their a/c unit, then, I would think, there is a basic design fault that should be rectified. 

I am not an expert in this, but I've had numerous problems in the past here in Dubai with airconditioning and offer this only because I had a similar problem in one of our apartments, with our neighbour who was a smoker - but then again, (it was a central a/c apartment) we had it rectified, as I pulled out all the stops and they found faults in the system and there was a hell of a lot of structural work carried out after!

But only after I complained!!   So, if you are suffering from  fumes from another apartment, through any sort of vent, there is most definitely a problem!!  As Jeff says, there must be a vent/hole open somewhere, because there is no reason why each individual a/c unit should link up, I would suggest in my humble opinion!!

Hi all,

It is important the each apartment is sealed from the next and sealed properly so that it can resist the spread of fire from one apartment to the next. The developer needs to be involved and any faults made known so that others can be checked.

Regards Andy

Hi Ann,

My on suite bathroom also smells of cigarette smoke.  Well it is at definitely tobacco.   I've noticed it on each and every visit. 
It is present when I don't put on the air conditioning so it must drift in somehow.

I had resigned myself to this being a design flaw  but if it is something that can be fixed then I'm very interested in progressing it.

I'm over again in a few weeks if there is anything I should investigate to root out the cause.

regards
Paul

Hi Everyone

Thanks for all the feedback.  I knew if I posted the problem that there would be a response.  I'm going to email Maria Cosano at RyF on maguyandres@rosyfalcon.com

Could everyone who has a similar problem do the same as it will only get worse when more apartments are occupied.  I'm not sure if I can still smell smoke in the bedroom and ensuite without the aircon system on, but I do hope there is something that can be done as at the moment it is most unpleasant.

I got the following response from RfY.

"I have already reported the problem to the construction company to proceed with identifying the origin of the problem. As soon as we know when going to fit. I will contact you.
Thanks,"

So that's promising.

Hi Everyone

I received a similar answer from Maria yesterday and will be in touch again if I hear any more.  I am glad that the problem is being investigated.

Visited Duquesa last weekend with friends and the first thing one of them said when she went in the kitchen, near to the sink was 'where is the smell of cigarettes coming from? wonder if we have it coming up through the plug holes

Hi Everyone

I've just received a reply from Maria at RyF saying that the builders went into our apartment on 2 occasions last week but were unable to smell any cigarette smoke.  Maria went in on one occasion and could not detect any smoke and has suggested that we get in touch when we are next in DV if this problem occurs again.  I've responded to her saying that if my neighbours are out then obviously they will not be able to smell smoke when the heating is on because it must be coming from their apartment.  If they are out then nobody will be in there smoking which is when the problem occurs.

We have also had a reply from Maria and she has arranged for them to go in when we are there on the 27th, but if our Spanish neighbours are not in below and smoking they will not smell anything.  The other thing is I just hope they speak some English as our Spanish is very limited at the moment.  Carleen & Phil Eastbury

Hi Carleen

The builders don't speak any English I'm afraid.  We can't speak any Spanish yet and do intend to take lessons but my husband couldn't make himself understood when the builders came to do some grouting in the ensuite bathroom.  I don't know how we are going to get this problem resolved.  Obviously the builders come in during the day and our neighbours are working then.  If enough of us have problems then surely they have to take our word for it and make sure the apartments are sealed poperly as the smell seems to be drawn into the apartment with either the heating or air conditioning on.  A lot of the apartments are being let by holiday companies so are mostly only occupied in the summer season.  Let us know how you get on.

Hi All,

Lesley and have been in DV for a week and we get the cigarette smoke all the time in the ensuite bathroom even when the air con is off.

We think it originates from a neighbour below.   We are here for another week so I'll also get in touch with Maria.

regards,
Paul

Hi All,

Ihave had the builders round, but they want do anything unless they can actually smell the smoke them selves.  Our nabours are not here so we don´t stand much chance.  But Maria has said if I can get intouch  with Paul who has the same problem she will arrange for herself and the builders to go round to his.

If anyone has a contact number for paul and could text it to me it would be great as he hasn´t replied to my PM and none of the internet caffs are open againn till the 2nd. text 00447966683410.

Thanks

Carleen

 

Carleen,

 

My number is 44 7703 397045 and I’m in residence at DV this week.

 

Our problem is there this week.

However I’m not keen on the builders taking my apartment apart to trace the smell.

The only occupants of my stair are diagonally above  (two smokers but who only smoke on their balcony) and below - another smoker who is permanent resident but goes out to work on normal weekdays.

 

The origin is very obviously coming from the flat diagonally below.  But it’s an irregular problem and more irregular over the holiday period. Often its there first thing in a morning sometimes late in the evening.   It’s will be very hit and miss for the builders to call and catch it.  Although when it is present, it is most apparent. Short of a builder taking up residence I’m not sure how we convince AEA

I certainly don’t want builders taking my bathroom apart or entering my premises when I’m not there. 

 

This morning at 2:00am we had the smell of frying (chips) in the bathroom.

The apartment below had had a New Year party and I suspect it was a consequence of that.

 

My plan is to tape up the vent on the wall to see if that stops the problem.

It is does stop the problem then I will press AEA with that evidence and request how they propose to fix it.  

regards,
Paul