Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

[tdibratt]

Hi, I have a question about outdoor ovens. I have built 2 outdoor woodburning ovens in my time and am looking to embark on building a new one at my recent home. I spoke to the building dept and they said no issue but suggested I speak to the fire dept. The fire dept said as long as I was building a fire for the purpose of cooking outdoors it is OK, BUT..

The BUT is if the neighbours complain of nuisance smoke they can force me to put it out. What a dilemna. Do I go thru the trouble of building one only to eventually find myself shutdown? So I thought what about Gas?

Thx

[asudavew]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Gas has been debated on this site many times.

I think the consensus is - just say no.

Due to safety issues, heat up time, etc.

A dome full of unburnt gas could explode.

Commercial gas ovens come with many safety features. You might check in to a commercial burning system. They aren't cheap, but might work for ya.

Dave

[Groves]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

I would talk to the neighbors first

[Ken524]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

The BUT is if the neighbours complain of nuisance smoke they can force me to put it out. What a dilemna. Do I go thru the trouble of building one only to eventually find myself shutdown? So I thought what about Gas?

I get very little smoke out of my oven; only during the first hour of fire - if even that long. Although my neighbors aren't close to us, I doubt they would complain if they were nearby. We all get along very well and the smoke is no worse than a big BBQ.

Talk to your neighbors. Tell them what you are building and ask them if a little smoke from a BBQ would bother them. Tell them they will get pizza!

Good luck.

[tdibratt]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Good points. Thanks for the response.

Not sure how I can get around the nuisance smoke issue. Has anyone else encountered this and done anything to help minimize?

Thx

[Ken524]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Not sure how I can get around the nuisance smoke issue. Has anyone else encountered this and done anything to help minimize?

Dry, well seasoned firewood makes a big difference. That will go a long way in cutting down the smoke. Also, the "Top Down" fire-starting method is supposed to have very little smoke.

Here's a link to Top Down starting.
Top down

There are also a few threads about it here on FB.

[asudavew]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Dry, well seasoned firewood makes a big difference. That will go a long way in cutting down the smoke. Also, the "Top Down" fire-starting method is supposed to have very little smoke.

Here's a link to Top Down starting.
Top down

There are also a few threads about it here on FB.

Definitely use well seasoned wood.

As for the top down method.. I just can't seem to make it work.

I don't know why.

[Ken524]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

As for the top down method.. I just can't seem to make it work.

I sort of gave up on it too... I just throw in a few big logs, some kindling and 2 "fatwood" sticks and I have a roaring fire in 15 minutes.

[DrakeRemoray]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Top down is working for me, but I think of it as front to back. I put big logs in the back (3 or 4) then some smaller wood, then some very small wood and newspaper under it all...

Mine smokes for 15 minutes max.

I have my neighbors trained like Pavlov's dogs...they smell the smoke and they start drooling...

[n2iko]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

If you have a decent height chimney and position/site the oven with respect to the prevailing winds the smoke is shifted above living spaces. Neighbors don't mind the Italian style BBQ I have here and my nearest is 38 feet.


--mr.jim

[Frances]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Do you have any difficult neighbours living nearby then?

A WFO doesn't produce more smoke than a regular BBQ, so I think any normally friendly kind of neighbours shouldn't have cause to complain.

[SpringJim]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

What? Someone doesn't like the smell of woodsmoke and WFO food?

Just add some aromatics to the fire (smoking chips or rosemary branches) and woo them with aromatherapy.

Really though, I'd say you should already have an idea of how your neighbors will react based on living there. Is it an uptight rules based group or are they more laid back?

You could always invite the neighborhood for a block party....the problem is getting rid of them.

Dry wood and a quick startup method...and it should not smoke for too long.

[CajunKnight]

Re: Anyone ever fit an outdoor oven with Gas - Nuisance Smoke Bylaw

Cooking fires do not fall under that clause. Unless it really poorly done. BBQ with coal or real wood is permitted and WFO falls under that category. Properly seasoned wood and good fire management is the key. Feeding the neighbors is always a plus.