Hi all,
I live in a traditional brick semi - 1960s build. We have a fireplace in each of the downstairs rooms located on the common shared wall. Our neighbour has the same and all four fireplaces come out on the ridge in a common chimney stack with four pots. his front pot and mine are literally inches apart.
My neighbour has just had the new upgraded double gazing fitted and says his house is now draught free and "Lovely and warm"
So all was peace and harmony until we had our first fires of the winter in our inset woodburner in late November.
After a few days we got a knock on the door. "I'm smelling smoke in my lounge" says the neighbour. "You just had your chimney swept didn't you?"
The sweep used a rotary nylon thing a bit like a strimmer, powered by a battery drill. There was no signs of any falling debris - just soot. Then he smoke tested, gave us a "Certificate" and left with a load of my money !
Now, we had a cowl on our lounge chimney, which the sweep told me was "not recommended" for solid fuels. It was basically a half round drain channel upside down, on a sleeve which slotts into the existing pot. However it was apparently not "outlawed" but "not recommended" - He was very happy with the draw on the chimney though and we thought no more of it, until the neighbour spoke of this "smoke smell". When I looked, half of my exhaust was directed towards the cowl on top of his chimney.
We tried a few tests, because I felt that the fumes were being drawn DOWN his chimney and he was telling me "His daughter said" and spoke of poorly laid bricks etc "between the floor and ceiling". My position is/was that the only thing which had really changed was his double glazing having "Tightened " his house - The woodburner is a good make, four years old and we have used it constantly during the winter for three winters with no problems at all.
He has a gas boiler (balanced flue) a gas stove and a gas fire in the lounge, which he says they rarely use.
So I said can you leave a window near the boiler ajar tonight ? which he did and did not smell smoke that night. The next night he did ! But the air was still that night and there was a breeze the first night.
Some nights he smelled smoke, others it was "not as bad" occasionally he didn't at all and this seems to relate to when there is a breeze or not.
Anyway, There was a "Double glazing van" in his drive the day after and I though "Ah good he's having Vents fitted" (There are No Trickle Vents in his new glazing) and we both have cavity fill insulation.
The next day - he's saying "It was the worst ever last night" which surpprised me and I asked him about the vents to which he said "No, they hadn't got the right door when we had the glazing fitted, so they've just fitted it. - I said "Oh so you've just made the house Even more airtight then - the only way the poor house can breathe is down the chimney !"
This was Xmas Eve and we stopped using the fire. The missus spent Xmas wrapped in blankets and we have reluctantly used the gas heating.
I then had the Cowl removed and we lit the burner again. Thee first 2 nights were fine, then I saw him in the garden and asked - He said they never smelled a thing. Then he came around next day "we smelled it again last night " - Still air ! Apparently, it was nowhere near as bad as it had been before and "It came on about 6 pm then it went away and it was pretty strong when we got up this morning" - I think they cook a meal around 5pm and they go to bed at 9pm.
Well that's it then - I have been trying to find "Building Services Engineer" who can give us a definitive answer, but am struggling - If anyone knows of one - please let me know - we are in central England.
I feel I have done what I can and that my chimney is being used for the purpose it was designed for. The fire is Class A+ (80.9% efficient) fitted by a Hetas registered fitter and the flue was smoke tested.
I just want to know whose problem this is ! He wants it to be mine, but I think it should rightly be the problem of the Window fitter. (Who is related apparently)
Over to you people for discussion and recomends please ?
I live in a traditional brick semi - 1960s build. We have a fireplace in each of the downstairs rooms located on the common shared wall. Our neighbour has the same and all four fireplaces come out on the ridge in a common chimney stack with four pots. his front pot and mine are literally inches apart.
My neighbour has just had the new upgraded double gazing fitted and says his house is now draught free and "Lovely and warm"
So all was peace and harmony until we had our first fires of the winter in our inset woodburner in late November.
After a few days we got a knock on the door. "I'm smelling smoke in my lounge" says the neighbour. "You just had your chimney swept didn't you?"
The sweep used a rotary nylon thing a bit like a strimmer, powered by a battery drill. There was no signs of any falling debris - just soot. Then he smoke tested, gave us a "Certificate" and left with a load of my money !
Now, we had a cowl on our lounge chimney, which the sweep told me was "not recommended" for solid fuels. It was basically a half round drain channel upside down, on a sleeve which slotts into the existing pot. However it was apparently not "outlawed" but "not recommended" - He was very happy with the draw on the chimney though and we thought no more of it, until the neighbour spoke of this "smoke smell". When I looked, half of my exhaust was directed towards the cowl on top of his chimney.
We tried a few tests, because I felt that the fumes were being drawn DOWN his chimney and he was telling me "His daughter said" and spoke of poorly laid bricks etc "between the floor and ceiling". My position is/was that the only thing which had really changed was his double glazing having "Tightened " his house - The woodburner is a good make, four years old and we have used it constantly during the winter for three winters with no problems at all.
He has a gas boiler (balanced flue) a gas stove and a gas fire in the lounge, which he says they rarely use.
So I said can you leave a window near the boiler ajar tonight ? which he did and did not smell smoke that night. The next night he did ! But the air was still that night and there was a breeze the first night.
Some nights he smelled smoke, others it was "not as bad" occasionally he didn't at all and this seems to relate to when there is a breeze or not.
Anyway, There was a "Double glazing van" in his drive the day after and I though "Ah good he's having Vents fitted" (There are No Trickle Vents in his new glazing) and we both have cavity fill insulation.
The next day - he's saying "It was the worst ever last night" which surpprised me and I asked him about the vents to which he said "No, they hadn't got the right door when we had the glazing fitted, so they've just fitted it. - I said "Oh so you've just made the house Even more airtight then - the only way the poor house can breathe is down the chimney !"
This was Xmas Eve and we stopped using the fire. The missus spent Xmas wrapped in blankets and we have reluctantly used the gas heating.
I then had the Cowl removed and we lit the burner again. Thee first 2 nights were fine, then I saw him in the garden and asked - He said they never smelled a thing. Then he came around next day "we smelled it again last night " - Still air ! Apparently, it was nowhere near as bad as it had been before and "It came on about 6 pm then it went away and it was pretty strong when we got up this morning" - I think they cook a meal around 5pm and they go to bed at 9pm.
Well that's it then - I have been trying to find "Building Services Engineer" who can give us a definitive answer, but am struggling - If anyone knows of one - please let me know - we are in central England.
I feel I have done what I can and that my chimney is being used for the purpose it was designed for. The fire is Class A+ (80.9% efficient) fitted by a Hetas registered fitter and the flue was smoke tested.
I just want to know whose problem this is ! He wants it to be mine, but I think it should rightly be the problem of the Window fitter. (Who is related apparently)
Over to you people for discussion and recomends please ?
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