Steam blowing onto house wall

LJC1981

Hi

We moved into our current home in August 2023 and prior to this the house had been let out since 2017.

We have been experiencing damp issues in our bedroom and have been using a dehumidifier to help with this.

We have however noticed in this cold weather than our neighbour's boiler flue is directed at our bedroom external wall and is therefore blowing steam/carbon monoxide onto our wall during every use.  

We are now concerned that this may also be adding to our damp issues and wanted to know what rights we have to approach our clients and ask for their flue to be moved so that its output doesn't touch our property.  They only bought the property in April 2023 and are probably not aware that this is happening.

Thanks

twopenny

Can you not put a small barrier just your side of the fence line to divert the steam?
I have one either side of my property. The steam mostly goes out a bit and up.
This can vary with wind direction but constantly varies.

So is their exhaust flat to the wall or is there a pipe outlet to take it away from the guttering and therefore your wall?
Does it blow at your wall all the day?

Asking a new neighbour to alter their house at their expense for your maybe benefit sounds a bit radical.

FreeBear

LJC1981 said: We have however noticed in this cold weather than our neighbour's boiler flue is directed at our bedroom external wall and is therefore blowing steam/carbon monoxide onto our wall during every use.  

We are now concerned that this may also be adding to our damp issues and wanted to know what rights we have to approach our clients and ask for their flue to be moved so that its output doesn't touch our property.  They only bought the property in April 2023 and are probably not aware that this is happening.

Some photos & measurements would help.

As long as their flue is more than 600mm from the boundary, there isn't much you can do. And to be honest, I doubt that the vapour from their flue will be contributing to your damp problems to any discernible degree. Condensation & lack of ventilation are more likely to be the cause.

ThisIsWeird

If their flue is too close, then a plume kit should sort it for them, quickly and cheaply.

barbuda

Hi,
The flue can be to manufacturers regs, but if the discharge is causing an environmental nuisance then Gas Safe or the local authority could suggest remedial work. 
600mm is the minimum distance to the closest wall as far as the manufacturer is concerned for safety, but they take no account of nuisance value.
If your flue discharged at 600mm on to your wall then you would put up with it, but if it is a neighbours wall, and it is causing a nuisance, then like any other nuisance it will need sorting.

LJC1981

photos taken this evening showing the steam hitting my wall

400ixl

3 options really from those images.

Ask them to put a flue kit on the outlet to direct it upwards, ask them if you can put one on for them, or put some sort of deflector on your side of the fence.

Mr.Generous

I'd guess that's at least 1 mtr from your wall and very easy to divert with a taller fence panel or something added to the panel - but I very much doubt a boiler flue would cause damp. Something about the size of an eggcup of water can fill a normal size room with steam, so if this is causing damp what happens when it rains? 

Eldi_Dos

You could ask for flow temperature to be adjusted to reduce visible vapour, if that does not work to your satisfaction a plume kit should.

Do not be tempted to put anything on the fence as deflection could be judged obstruction at those distances.

For peace of mind a CO monitor in the bedroom might not be a bad thing.

FreeBear

That terminal is not fitted in accordance with Building Regulations - It should be at least 600mm back from your fence. But it was probably installed a long time ago, so getting the council to take enforcement action will be pointless (and make an enemy of the neighbour in the process). Negotiation is the way to go, and whilst a plume kit will get the vapour higher, there is a limit to how much of an extension can be added.

At least your walls are rendered, so that will limit the amount of moisture being absorbed. A fresh coat of paint during the summer will help.

markin

It won't harm the wall, i would be more worried about it getting in the loft, just divert it up from the fence if you really think its doing anything, but if the wood roof sofit is fine then its probably not doing anything worse than a foggy day. Do get a C0 alarm.


The is no drip loop on that cable or sealant around the entry points !

Take the trellis down, seal the holes and clear the gutter.

The are 3 steps at the front gate, Is the render not breaching the DPC, if the was one?