Chimney problems

jstvj

Greenfires wrote: »

Easy to say sitting here - but weird or not - gassing your neighbours isn't really on!!

Wife has taken cardboard down and the paraffin fumes are very strong now.

I thought chimneys were separate, so it would suggest there is a hole in the dividing wall. Am I right and if so, wouldn't it equally be our responsibility ?

muckybutt

jstvj wrote: »

Wife has taken cardboard down and the paraffin fumes are very strong now.

I thought chimneys were separate, so it would suggest there is a hole in the dividing wall. Am I right and if so, wouldn't it equally be our responsibility ?

Chimneys are seperate - seperate fire seperate chimney they should never be shared.

As I see it theres either a breach in the mid feathers as greenfires says, the other alternative could be a down draught from the chimney next door - unlikely but possible.

If it is a breach then your neighbours need to get their chimney relined either with refactory cement or with a liner. This being the case of fumes from your neighbours property you really need to get transco involved if its a gas fire - they will serve a prohibition notice on nextdoor telling them not to use the appliance, or you need to get environmental heath around as an emergency, these fumes could well be spewing deadly carbon monoxide into your house.

You CANNOT ignore this and you really need to act on it pronto.

If its a gas boiler then phone Transco now on 0800 111 999, not wanting to be melodramatic but it could save your life

jstvj

Thank you Muckybutt for your advice, which is very clear and I take on board everything you have said. As I have said our neighbour will not open his door and apparently has never spoken to anyone on all the years he has lived there. However, I shall post a letter through his door today and if I don't get a response, I shall contact Environmental Health for urgent advice.

It's a strong paraffin smell, so we don't think it is gas. However, as soon as we receive our CO2 alarm, we shall set it up to see. My wife and I have had headaches and amongst all my other health problems, I have COPD, so it's crucial to me.

jstvj

My wife now tells me that she has seen Seagulls on our chimney stack and that bits of nest have fallen into the fireplace. I therefore suspect one or more chimneys are blocked and somehow causing the neighbours fumes to leak into our lounge. I have emailed a chimney sweep whose away until Monday, but hopefully they will contact us then and I can get their on site advice.

My wife has said that the smell of cooking has been long standing but she could never track it down and thought it was a ghost lol. It's only since just before Christmas the paraffin smell started and being so strong she has tracked it down to our lounge fireplace.

muckybutt

JSVTJ please please call someone out today ! if you are getting headaches whilst in the same room as the fireplace that is a classic sign of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

I cant stress enough just how important it is you get help immediately, simply placing a piece of cardboard in front of the fire place is not enough.

http://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/learn/carbon_monoxide_kills.aspx lists the effects of co poisoning.

Transco will not charge you even if its a false alarm, but at least they will be able to test for co once again their number is 0800 111 999, leaving it till Monday honestly is not an option.....to be blunt Monday may never come if you or your wife gets overcome by fumes.

Leif

muckybutt wrote: »

JSVTJ please please call someone out today ! if you are getting headaches whilst in the same room as the fireplace that is a classic sign of Carbon Monoxide poisoning.

I cant stress enough just how important it is you get help immediately, simply placing a piece of cardboard in front of the fire place is not enough.

I can't argue about the dangers of CO. Is the cardboard not a sufficient barrier, even if taped? Or a piece of MDF, taped? Obviously the correct approach is to get someone to sort the problem out ASAP i.e. now.

To be honest I'd drive to a B&Q or Argos, and buy a CO monitor, and put it in place right away. That way you know to evacuate the house if need be. Even if CO does not kill, it does reduce the ability of the blood to absorb oxygen, so it must be doing damage even if present at non lethal levels. Also I'd buy one that shows the level i.e. has a digital display, as a low level does not always trigger the alarm. I think they need 30ppm for a fixed duration, and I prefer a direct reading. That way you know if there is some CO, and after all, it might be while you are asleep that the levels increase.

jstvj

Wife knocked next door and although his radio was on he would not answer. She left a letter through his door.

Good news, CO2 alarm received, so she is fitting it now.

hethmar

Please contact Environmental Health about this - dont delay, get your wife to ring them urgently tomorrow!