fumes from boiler flue nauseating- please advise

[Trisha88]

Hi

Hope someone can help!

The flat below me has a boiler flue near to my living room window. Sometimes I hear a very loud pumping/whirring type noise from the flat below and it coincides with the most awful acrid smell- similar to a motor bike revving it's engine- coming from the flue into my livingroom. The smell is so strong it makes no difference if the window is shut.

The flat is let and the previous tenant said that the boiler was rarely checked in 5 years. The landlord is very unreasonable and difficult.

Can anyone tell me if these fumes are harmful?

I should point out this is not the normal condensation/steam which comes from the flue. I see that daily & it's odourless & I assume it's linked to the hot water being used in the flat. These pungent nauseating fumes only occur when the noise from the flat's central heating/boiler (?) occurs...

I look forward to hearing from someone. :juggle:

 

[Dotty]

Hi Trisha and welcome. Any appliance that burns a fuel to produce heat emits fumes which are inherently dangerous. A regular servicing regime ensures that the most dangerous elements of these fumes are kept to a minimum. My first question would be how far from your window is the flue end? How well do you get on with the new tenant? I would begin a paper trail, get an ambient air check done in your premises, one of us may be local to you and could help with that, write to the landlord expressing your concerns, contact your local CAB. Landlords, whether they like it or not, have certain responsibilities which include the maintenance and upkeep of heating appliances.

And get yourself a good CO detector!

 

[REDSAW]

and for now, keep the window shut!.

 

[Trisha88]

Hi.

Just to expand this problem started in 2007. I used a CO2 detector at the time and it was clear. I contacted the landlord several times and he was quite unpleasant about the situation. He wouldn't even confirm he had a gas safety certificate. (I run our residents association and sadly the directors have had numerous issues with him)
Shortly afterwards a new tenant arrived and the problem eased enormously. This tenant didn't use the system very much as he said it was too noisy.

I'm baffled as to why the flue smell problem only occurs when the noise is present- it must be linked? Also- the smell isn't contunal, it's only when the noise occurs which means it would be very difficult to analyse...

 

[Dotty]

Suddenly got scary and yet very easily solved. Is the boiler likely to be gas rather than solid fuel or oil?

 

[diamondgas]

What distance is the flue from the window ? 300mm is general rule of thumb for minimum!!!

Regards analysing, it would be difficult to do if the appliance isn't yours! How well do you know the tenant? Maybe they could help out in assessing any potential danger?

 

[Dotty]

Unless it's oil DG, in which case minimum distance is 600mm. But then Trisha mentioned gas so I'm now thinking of getting her to talk to her neighbour below and calling the carrier in.

 

[diamondgas]

Interesting that CO from oil can be less toxic than gas ...LOL .... Different bodies have differing rules mate! Just goes to show its all CARP unless someone snuffs it! IMHO

 

[Dotty]

Dunno there. CO's CO. Just more unpleasant niffs with oil fumes, but you're right about the bow locks bit.

 

[Trisha88]

Hi again,

The previous tenant has just told me that the boiler wasn't serviced while he lived there (around 5 years) but there was a gas safety check done earlier this year.
The tenant had a CO tester too and it was clear, but was convinced there was something wrong with the boiler because of this intermittent noise.
We're pretty sure the original boiler installation (about 10 years ago) was done by a 'mate' of the landlords who was not Corgi/Gas safety.

I doubt it's Carbon monoxide...although i'm not an expert...however I am confused as to whether it's normal for me to smell exhaust type fumes?

The flue is half way between my kitchen and living room window. Definitely over 30cm

 

[REDSAW]

call it in for inspection.

 

[Dotty]

Trisha. Call 0800 111 999 That's the emergency line for the national grid. They will send someone out to you to check everything over and to make sure you and your neighbour are safe. It won't cost either of you a penny. Plus they can and will put pressure on the landlord if there is something wrong.

And it's free!

Then begin your paper trail. I'll make the assumption that the 'Directors' you refer to own the freehold and everyone else owns a lease. The director's in that case would and, imho, should have a vested interest in the health and well being of everyone in the building.

 

[Dotty]

Can a mod shift this thread into the central heating forum please? It'll get a wider audience there. Ta muchly!

 

[mountainman]

Hi again,



I doubt it's Carbon monoxide...although i'm not an expert...

I love that statement!

What is the point of asking a question on this forum regarding safety issues and then ignoring the answers.
Has anyone got the phone number for the publishers of the Darwin Awards?

 

[WHPES]

Rented properties are supposed to have at minimum a safety check done annually on a boiler.

Are you sure the boiler is an oil boiler? Sounds more like gas to me.