Discuss fumes from boiler flue nauseating- please advise in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Status
Not open for further replies.
T

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:
 
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!
 
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...
 
Suddenly got scary and yet very easily solved. Is the boiler likely to be gas rather than solid fuel or oil?
 
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?
 
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.
 
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
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Dunno there. CO's CO. Just more unpleasant niffs with oil fumes, but you're right about the bow locks bit.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
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
 
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.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Can a mod shift this thread into the central heating forum please? It'll get a wider audience there. Ta muchly!
 
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?
 
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.
 
Hi all

Many thanks for the replies

I just want to clarify a few things....

The old tenant below had a CO detector for years and it was clear.
I had one for years and it was clear. (a new one is on its way in the post)

The smell only happens maybe once every day or so and lasts for about 3-10 minutes when the noise starts up

What i'm trying to establish is if it's NORMAL for flue fumes to smell bad & what might they be? I wondered if they were harmful in the same way as perhaps car exhaust fumes are harmful. Could it be just down to lack of boiler servicing?
The reason I assumed they not CO was due to the fact that the detectors not detect anything.

The boiler is Gas..

I really appreciate the replies- I guess I'm hoping someone will either say:

1. I shouldn't smell anything at all from a flue....
or
2. Pungent smell is normal at times.

Either of these would be helpful

however no one seems to have said this yet....

In the meantime I will ring the no given and chat with them.....
 
1. Boiler fumes do not smell pungent

2. CO does not smell at all

3. Your last post was 40 odd mins ago so you have had plenty of time to contact the gas emergency services.
What did they say??
 
You mention a lot about CO detectors. How can you rely on these? You do realise they have a lifespan whereas if u get a qualified engineer out who knows what they are looking at can tell you and provide results on paper exactly if its dangerous or not inc. CO/CO2 levels.

Strongly advise you take the other members advice and call the number to get transco to come out and investigate!!!! 0800 111 999
 
If someone put me into a room full of CO, the only way I'd be able to confirm it's CO without an analyser would be if I woke up dead,, Oh hang on, Doh,, or is that D.O.A?

Hopefully the O.P is stuck in a queue to N-Grid, and not on a slab.
 
co2 alarms only work if a hi reading happens for 20min and is rising
 
Emailed landlord (again) but no reply.

Today I decided to report the matter to transco & I informed the tenants of their visit (as requested by transco.) The tenants told me he also has serious concerns about the boiler and had also reported it to the landlord.

Within minutes the landlord rang me and hurled verbal abuse & insults at me and said he was not letting engineers into his flat. Ten minutes later he shot onto the premises and jumped out of the car and is now in the car port downstairs awaiting Transco and glaring up at my window...!

perhaps now some of you are aware of why i was hesistant reporting this matter...
 
Your landlord is subject to laws and must comply for your safety. I'm sorry that you feel intimidated by him but his actions clearly prove that he has something to hide.

All he has to to is act responsibly and legally and everybody would be safe and happy. the last thing he wants is a dead tenant, several years in prison and a massive fine.

You have done the right thing, Bravo.
MM
 
"Your landlord is subject to laws"

Hi Mountainman-

I've just realized that you may have misread the thread. He's not my landlord. It's not my flat. I am a neighbour...I live in the flat above...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Update:

Transco did their emergency visit this morning.

I rang the freephone number back to inquire re: the result and they put through to local engineer- I was told since the boiler is not currently working the engineer could not assess for any gas leakage. I asked about the horrid fumes but they said their only responsibility is to ensure that the premises are safe, which they are.

They told me when they visited there was an EDF engineer present changing the meter (sheer coincidence) and that he had capped the outlet pipe...apparently the landlord has booked an engineer to repair the boiler later today


I told Transco I was concerned by the fact that previous tenants said the landlord used rather dubious 'mate' engineers and they told me to ring Gas safety for advice.

Gas safety advised me to tell the tenant that he should NOT allow an engineer to enter the premises today without a Gas safety ID number. I did this but the tenant wasn't too happy as he has a family and they have no hot water/heating & he just wants the boiler fixed....he admitted he wasn't that bothered about the gas safety issue.
I asked him to at least request the Gas safety engineers ID number for me so i could report back to Gas safety office.
I hope he does!
 
i did this but the tenant wasn't too happy as he has a family and they have no hot water/heating & he just wants the boiler fixed....he admitted he wasn't that bothered about the gas safety issue.
[/QUOTE]

Which is why people keep dying of co !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
"Your landlord is subject to laws"

Hi Mountainman-

I've just realized that you may have misread the thread. He's not my landlord. It's not my flat. I am a neighbour...I live in the flat above...

Apologies Trisha, I did indeed misread or misinterpret the thread.

Where to go from here??

It seems that you could be a victim of criminal negligence but none of the enforcement bodies are interested.

Hopefully one of the more legislatively informed members will be along soon.

I know what I'd do, but I couldn't recommend it to anyone else.
 
I rang Transco once, never again.

I thought i smelt some fumes, possibly from the boiler. I expected them to come along with a fume detector, but they had nothing. Also, the fumes had gone when they arrived.

They did NO INVESTIGATION AT ALL, just slapped a "do not use" notice on it and turned off the gas.

I had to have a GSR in, there was no problem whatsoever with the boiler. In fact, I later found that a tin of something in the garage had leaked and was the cause of the fumes, until the liquid had evaporated.

All Transo did was tell me that if I even thought I had smelt fumes, whether I was right or not, they just condemmed the boiler as a matter of course, without doing anything at all.
 
I rang Transco once, never again.

I thought i smelt some fumes, possibly from the boiler. I expected them to come along with a fume detector, but they had nothing. Also, the fumes had gone when they arrived.

They did NO INVESTIGATION AT ALL, just slapped a "do not use" notice on it and turned off the gas.

I had to have a GSR in, there was no problem whatsoever with the boiler. In fact, I later found that a tin of something in the garage had leaked and was the cause of the fumes, until the liquid had evaporated.

All Transo did was tell me that if I even thought I had smelt fumes, whether I was right or not, they just condemmed the boiler as a matter of course, without doing anything at all.


what do you want from a free emergency service?

they are there to make sure your safe not find and fix every problem for free. The came and made safe, YOUR ALIVE! simple.
 
Update:

Gas safety advised me to tell the tenant that he should NOT allow an engineer to enter the premises today without a Gas safety ID number. I did this but the tenant wasn't too happy as he has a family and they have no hot water/heating & he just wants the boiler fixed....he admitted he wasn't that bothered about the gas safety issue.
I asked him to at least request the Gas safety engineers ID number for me so i could report back to Gas safety office.
I hope he does!

you should have said "whats the point of having hot water and heating if your lying on the floor dead from fumes?"

some people are so stupid, sadly and cant see the big picture.
 
They could have used a fume detector to prove whether or not any fumes were coming from the boiler.

It was a complete waste of time calling them in, and it was nothing to do with my boiler.
 
Trisha, after the repair if the noxious fumes continue, you could always try the Environmental department of your local council. If it can be proved that the fumes are a nuisance, even if the boiler is installed to manufacturer's instructions, then the council may deem it a statutory nuisance and could force the landlord to move it.

Most importantly though, you keep talking about your CO detector being clear. Do you mean a spot card detector? If so, then this is not a suitable form of CO protection. Instead you should have an audible CO alarm, that is installed to manufacturers instructions and routinely tested.
 
They could have used a fume detector to prove whether or not any fumes were coming from the boiler.

It was a complete waste of time calling them in, and it was nothing to do with my boiler.

you reported fumes right?

what if you did not call them and you dropped dead that night? your property was made safe and you got a qualified person in to take a look. Do you think you should get work done for free? they are there to provide a service to make sure your safe not come and check your appliances for free.

they also dont carry analyser's as far as i know.
 
Last edited:
JHC,
Where has the Professionalism and Duty of Care in our Profession disappeared to?

All I seem to encounter nowadays are managers of all levels who have the rule book strapped to their hearts and who are more fearful of their own job security than ensuring the safety of their customers and the quality of service that their engineers are trained and able to provide.

What can we do; other than moan about it? there must be SOMETHING!

We are qualified, licenced, many of us muchly experienced and honourable professionals, our decisions can be challenged and tested in a court of law, and as such we are expert witnesses.

I despair at this awful buck-passing society sometimes!

Rant over (for now) my chill pill is calling me...
 
you reported fumes right?

what if you did not call them and you dropped dead that night? your property was made safe and you got a qualified person in to take a look. Do you think you should get work done for free? they are there to provide a service to make sure your safe not come and check your appliances for free.

they also dont carry analyser's as far as i know.

By the time he arrived, there was no trace of any fumes whatsoever. And the fumes had not even been a gas smell. I thought they would have had something to check for fumes, and whether or not they were from gas.

For all the good he did, I may as well have called in my local street sweeper and asked him to tell me to get a GSR to come.
 
And by the way, about a mile from my house, a gas smell in the area was reported by several people.

Nothing was done about it.

A house blew up and was completely destroyed.

A girl of about 9 was killed, she just happened to be walking past.

"Lessons will be learned" they said.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Gas safe is a joke. No1 listens or communicates until someone dies. My faith has gone with gas safe
 
Sometimes i think it does not matter how many times you advertise and promote the dangers of co,gas leaks etc.... to many people dont care untill it happens to them, trouble is its too late in most cases. Even when they are told theres a fault they still dont want to have things turned off, people can die for all i care but dont commit murder and take your family and neighbours with you.
 
Last edited:
They could have used a fume detector to prove whether or not any fumes were coming from the boiler.

It was a complete waste of time calling them in, and it was nothing to do with my boiler.


i think they stopped using canaries years ago!.

a call to your local environmental health department is now needed as you are now laying the paper trail.
they should take a week and will act on your behalf. i have done this recently and now on the verge of court proceedings with the 'landlord' of a tennant of mine for dodgy work.
 
Hi again

Last night at 7.30pm I was pleased to see a big van arrived with a large "Gas safety" logo on it. Definitely not the landlord's regular guy.
The tenant downstairs had been up to see me again saying he was fed up as they'd had no heating/hot water for 3 days.
This morning the boiler was running as normal....making the usual loud whirring noise and produced the usual acrid/pungent exhaust type fumes....

I've achieved nothing by phoning Transco as all they did was antagonize the owner who then hurled abuse and sent me numerous unpleasant emails saying he was going to sue me for loss of income!!

they couldn't test as the boiler wasn't working-


"Trisha, after the repair if the noxious fumes continue, you could always try the Environmental department of your local council. If it can be proved that the fumes are a nuisance, even if the boiler is installed to manufacturer's instructions, then the council may deem it a statutory nuisance and could force the landlord to move it."

I think this may have to be the next step.

I just WISH somehow someone could just tell me what these fumes are cos if they aren't harmful then I'll let the matter drop.

Re: CO detector, the one arriving today is a good electric one...




 
the landlord atitude is not your problem, he/she is a douch.... angry people tend to blame everyone but themselves for everything, whos fault is it the boiler has not been checked for years? yours i guess lol.

as regards your neighbour hes an idiot to for putting his comfort above his, his familys and your safety.

i hope you get somewhere with the EH.
 
Thanks everyone.

New CO detector currently sitting on window sill.

Have window open as it's a nice day and am contemplating what to do next- have a feeling EH will want to test the fumes and they probably cant do this as they are only present for short periods of time at random intervals.
So as soon as the central heating is turned on downstairs and the awful mechanical grinding noise starts (which woke me at 6pm this morning!) I'll just shut the window as usual to avoid the smell!

Oh well....if anyone has any more clues on this please let me know!
 
Most importantly though, you keep talking about your CO detector being clear. Do you mean a spot card detector? If so, then this is not a suitable form of CO protection. Instead you should have an audible CO alarm, that is installed to manufacturers instructions and routinely tested.

My new one is quite flashy...it has various lights and lots of detailed instructions and stickers with "what to do if..."
I have it on the window sill as that's where the fumes come in from...although lots of fresh air does too (as it's often open).
:)
 
My new one is quite flashy...it has various lights and lots of detailed instructions and stickers with "what to do if..."
I have it on the window sill as that's where the fumes come in from...although lots of fresh air does too (as it's often open).
:)

Please fit the detector to manufacturer's instructions. I'm pretty sure it doesn't say 'sit on window sill'! I don't mean to be pedantic, but if you have it in the wrong place, it may not do its job.
 
yes i agree you need to fit the detector to the manufactures instructions for it to work and protect you correctly.

the EH may be able to leave a air testing device which takes sample at intervals throughout the day, you need to speak to them. Even if the flue is fitted ok and the boiler works as designed if its causing foul air to come into your property then you are entitled to complain. You entitled to be safe and healthy in your own home. Please dont give in and phone them.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Reply to fumes from boiler flue nauseating- please advise in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net

Similar plumbing topics

I live on the 3rd floor of a 6-story block of flats. (26 flats in total). During the evening when all people are inside their flats and using...
Replies
1
Views
1K
Hi, I have a Worcester 34cdi boiler and it has started making a droning noise when it comes up to temperature or cycles. The sequence appears to...
Replies
1
Views
655
I
Dear All, Please kindly advise, i don't know what else to do! Had new boiler Vaillant 424 heat only open vent boiler installed with new flue and...
Replies
53
Views
5K
Deleted member 120897
D
R
I have an intermitent buzzing noise that is coming from my boiler. The sound is coming from behind the door panel in the vicinity of where the...
Replies
1
Views
1K
eddie81
E
Hi guys, Really hoping for a hero to help out as I'm at my wits end. I am a first time home owner & have just moved into an old council flat...
Replies
15
Views
2K
Back
Top