I live in a 2 story apartment. Whenever the tenants directly upstairs turn on their range hood exhaust fan, I get whatever they are cooking/burning in my apartment. I have pulled down the range hood and there is no inline damper. 1. Can an in-line damper be installed safely and legally (fire code?) 2. Is it possible past landlords (It's almost 60 yrs old) replaced range hoods (this range hood is about 8 yrs old) and INTENTIONALLY left out damper to save on maintenance/insurance costs? 3. Is it possible that the entire exhaust system for both upper and lower kitchens is designed to work without in-line dampers, and there is another problem in the system. (Clogged at the roof? Single in-line damper upstairs missing/defective?)
PS. The last landlord suggested putting in a new range hood with a simple air return back into the kitchen (which is probably illegal.) The new landlord's super suggested I simply turn on my exhaust fan when I start to smell something. (What I've been doing for the last six years except when I'm not home). I'm kinda on my own.