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Our block of flats has been designed with an internal utility duct in the kitchen which carries water to and from the flats. The problem with this is that there is pipe running between the three flats, and therefore, because it has been poorly sealed in building, air can freely flow up from the ground floor flat (we are in the middle flat). Downstairs are heavy smokers and, guess what, our flat reeks of smoke. It took us several months to work out where it was coming from!
As we are not smokers, we think this is really disgusting! Why we should have to suffer with someone else's smoke in our own home - but anyway don't get me started...
The DIY aspect of this question is what people's recommendations are for providing a semi-permanent seal.
Considerations:
- It's not a straight hole down all the way (as far as I can tell) - ie if I dropped something non-liquid down the hole it wouldn't drop into the flat below, but it might go a fair way down. It's rubbly stuff maybe six inches down.
- The duct would need to be sealed as well as possible at floor level as the stopcock is located higher up
- It's awkward to get to - there are worktops/cupboards built in front of it. I tried cutting cardboard to size with holes left for pipes, which would work if I could get the cardboard in there in the first place.
- obviously whatever is used needs to be fairly flexible but also provide a good seal (even if it needs to be replaced periodically)
My wife went to B&Q and had a variety of suggestions including
* papier-mache (I think this would make the kitchen damp?)
* wood or cardboard template to cover the hole (access problems, see above)
I had ideas like bubble wrap or loft insulation that can be moulded around the pipes and stuffed in the hole. If it's porous then the smoke may eventually penetrate the material and this would need to be replaced - this is OK so long as it's not every week! I have some sealant which can be used safely around pipes, but obviously this only works on small gaps so could be used in conjunction with other material.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated – it’s really irritating me now!
As we are not smokers, we think this is really disgusting! Why we should have to suffer with someone else's smoke in our own home - but anyway don't get me started...
The DIY aspect of this question is what people's recommendations are for providing a semi-permanent seal.
Considerations:
- It's not a straight hole down all the way (as far as I can tell) - ie if I dropped something non-liquid down the hole it wouldn't drop into the flat below, but it might go a fair way down. It's rubbly stuff maybe six inches down.
- The duct would need to be sealed as well as possible at floor level as the stopcock is located higher up
- It's awkward to get to - there are worktops/cupboards built in front of it. I tried cutting cardboard to size with holes left for pipes, which would work if I could get the cardboard in there in the first place.
- obviously whatever is used needs to be fairly flexible but also provide a good seal (even if it needs to be replaced periodically)
My wife went to B&Q and had a variety of suggestions including
* papier-mache (I think this would make the kitchen damp?)
* wood or cardboard template to cover the hole (access problems, see above)
I had ideas like bubble wrap or loft insulation that can be moulded around the pipes and stuffed in the hole. If it's porous then the smoke may eventually penetrate the material and this would need to be replaced - this is OK so long as it's not every week! I have some sealant which can be used safely around pipes, but obviously this only works on small gaps so could be used in conjunction with other material.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated – it’s really irritating me now!