Neighbours Flue opinion needed

[Colin Humphreys]

Hi there,

I'm looking for advise as I'm a little too close to this issue and need an impartial eye.

Last year my neighbours installed a new boiler with a flue that terminates vertically at roof level.

Initially I wasn't to concerned, but when it started to plume I noticed that it was blowing downwards towards my two rear bedroom windows rather than away.

When I spoke to my neighbour about this he said there was nothing that can be done unless he swapped to a horizontal flue and ran a diverter. I wasn't kean on this idea as that would mean the horizontal flue was cross the boundary and effectively be on my property. (he installed the boiler himself as he's a gas safe engineer)

He said he would look at it and get back to me, which he never did.

Now that it's winter again I can see how the gasses are reaching my windows again.

Could someone offer their advice on this installation? I've posted two links below, one leads to a gallery to the flue from one of my second story windows, the other leads to a video of it pluming (not as bad as it can get but was the best I could capture)

Flue1

Plume video

To clarify the extension you can see is my neighbours, the windows and everything to the 'left' of it is mine.

I want to make sure I'm not overreacting (or be told that I am lol) before I go to Gas Safe or the Environmental health about this as im concerned that if my windows are open that exhaust gasses from that flue could enter my property.

I'm sorry if this isn't the right forum to ask for this kinda advise but I thought I'd come direct to people in the know.

 

[Riley]

I’d say potentially distance wise it’s ok but it falls into the grey area of nuisance

 

[Scott_D]

Looks to regs for distances.
Do you have your windows open much in winter.
Get a carbon monoxide detector for peace of mind.

 

[gmartine]

Looks to be tall enough, 600mm? Bare in mind you can only see the flue gases now the temperature has dropped when in actual fact they have been produced all year round and when your windows are more likely to be open. I don't think you have much of a case tbh.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

i would say that was ok / would be happy with

be more concerned about the missing tiles in the roof

 

[Sharp Point]

You may have a plume(water vapour) blowing over, but I’ll pretty much guarantee you’ll have zero fumes coming in the window. As soon as the nasties leave the flue, theyre instantly diluted within a matter of inches to a safe level.

 

[king of pipes]

I would say it's ok these installs are always tricky and I agree that the roof is more of a worry . Kop

 

[Eyes]

Bear in mind, what you are seeing is water vapour and it just looks worse when air temperatures are colder, the products of combustion are well diluted when they hit the air, all min measurements look good, but for your own piece of mind fit a CO alarm in the room to the left and the room you took the video, fit the detectors where the instructions tell you to, don't just set them on a sill or shelf, roughly 40 pounds will give you piece of mind, automatic alert if there is a problem and you can forget about it for 5 years until CO alarms need replaced.

 

[Welder]

Can certainly understand your concerns.

Although I am not a GSR engineer, I do understand physics. The water vapour is heavier than the carbon monoxide (CO) that naturally concerns you.

There is a myth that CO is heavier than air too, which might then obviously concern you. The fact is CO is lighter than air (slightly) the fact however that it is much warmer than the surrounding air as it leaves the flue means it will immediately rise, and vitally, disperse. Over the distance to your neighbours flue, it would need to be piped to within approx. 300mm to your open window, and the wind blowing horizontally towards your window, be of significant risk.

The human mind is however littered with unreasonable, unfathomable emotional responses so you have to deal with those yourselves. Personally I would, as advised and for simple peace of mind, install a CO detector appropriately in that room. Perhaps asking your neighbour if he could fit some kind of kit to extend it upwards (perhaps you pay for the kit itself?) would then reassure you too?

 

[Mike Pinard]

Can't say for sure if it applies but a new chimney must be at least 2.5m away from a roof measured horizontally or above the ridge. May not be the same for this though.