HETAS installers plz advise

phoenix76x

I have recently moved in to my property(At my previous property I did have an extremely efficient log burner and it was professionally installed), a neighbouring property has a solid fuel installation, when first lighting or refuelling I am aware they can smoke a little more but the property close to me are burning only what I can assume is very wet wood and the installation seems to terminate very low.  In turn this creates a huge swirling effect on the smoke and if I have a window open or let the dog out it fills my house with the smell.
I have included a picture so you can see where it exits(very close to the neighbours window!!).  Is this a legal installation and if anything what can I do about it?
I don't like to moan but it is hard to explain just how bad this can be and its not even close to winter yet!

FreeBear

As long as the top of the flue is at least 1m above the gutter & window (which it looks as if it is), it is compliant with the regs. That said, it has caused serious discolouration to the gutter/fascia - That will be costly to repair.

If you really wanted to make an official complaint, your only real route would be Environmental Health at the council. They may look at it as a statutory nuisance, but don't hold your breath. They probably won't do anything about it.

alleycat`

The height isn't, probably, in issue - regardless of if i think the positioning is stupid.

I seem to recall it must be at least 1 metre above an opening window. I don't recall it stating a horizontal distance.

The proximity to combustible material (and the state of the guttering/fascia) suggests the serious hazard is an actual fire to the building itself (assuming it's not reflection).

It would appear there isn't at a minimum 40mm clearance from the (i'm hoping twin wall/insulated) chimney.

If they're burning on a non complaint device and/or you are in a smoke control zone then it is reportable to the council.

https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules

stuart45

Have you checked to see if there is a.leak anywhere in the flue?
It would take quite a downdraught to send it back into the windows from the top.

Bendy_House

I'd be surprised if the guidelines are as simple it being acceptable as long as the terminal is a min of 1m above the gutter or window. If the prevailing wind is approaching from the back of that house, I can well imagine a virtual down-draught taking place, where the flue quite likely doesn't draw properly, and the exiting smoke is driven downwards to cause a nuisance - surely that cannot be acceptable?

What on earth is causing that discolouration?! Surely not heat damage! That looks like twin-wall, so the temp on the outer skin should be well below what could discolour PVC. It isn't just a shadow, is it?

If that is genuinely discolouration - either by heat or by a downdraught - that setup surely cannot be acceptable?

alleycat`

Document J is pretty "woolly" in regards to exact distances but 1M is a specified value in examples of clearance from a window (albeit a dormer in the example). The example makes no reference to the chimney having to "clear" the roof apex. It does make suggestions about stall, wind directions, etc but it's not specific in a "you must" kind of way.

It does also mention 40mm minimum clearance from the outside of the chimney to combustibles which it doesn't appear to meet but pictures can be misleading.

I do agree that the discoloration is serious, if it's not a reflection due to angle of the picture.

It's also unclear which side is the "neighbour" mentioned from the picture. I originally assumed the chimney was for the house window closest to the chimney and not the neighbour but the assumption may be invalid. Either way it's not really relevant unless they have issue with it.

I'd expect the majority of the issue is "what" people burn though, either through lack of education or, just as likely, don't give a stuff (that's assuming that it doesn't sort itself out after 10 minutes of getting it warmed up properly - which is the suggestion by the OP).

The only real recourse is to ask the council to look at it from the perspective of checking the stove is of a variety allowed, they're burning the right "stuff" and it's a smoke control area.

lemondrops69

The flue looks discoloured, like its getting hot, my twin wall doesnt look like that.

Regards termination, below is what I used