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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Smoke causing issues

45 replies

Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:35

What would you do if a neighbour complained that your log burner was causing smoke to go into their house and it was completely unbearable for them?

What if you used the log burner to save on heating bills which would otherwise nearly double?

What concessions, if any, would you make?

OP posts:
BlueUggs · 25/10/2018 11:37

I'd be speaking in more detail to the neighbour to find out where the smoke is getting into their house? Is there a leak between the chimneys? Is the glue safe? How long has it been installed? Does it need cleaning out?

BlueUggs · 25/10/2018 11:37

Flue.....not glue!!! 😂

YesIDidNameChangeForThis · 25/10/2018 11:38

You can't have something you do impacting on the air quality/living conditions of your neighbour. That is deeply unfair. You will have to fix it I'm afraid, even if it costs you money (assuming your neighbour is telling the truth)

Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:39

The houses aren’t attached so not shared flue or anything.

OP posts:
Fridaydreamer · 25/10/2018 11:39

If your log burner is causing them issues you need to sort it. It could have health implications for them so you should speak to them and find a solution, not a concession.

kenandbarbie · 25/10/2018 11:39

How is it getting into their house?

kenandbarbie · 25/10/2018 11:40

I think if is just through windows or vents in their detached house, then it's up to them to sort that out.

Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:40

How would you fix the problem?

The flue comes out ‘their’ side but in our property the houses aren’t attached.

OP posts:
SharpLily · 25/10/2018 11:41

Surely you need to find out how and why it's getting into their house to be able to do anything about it?

Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:41

I have absolutely no problem dealing with it for them and can completely understand how awful it must be to be subjected to our smoke but I’m not sure what to do.

OP posts:
SharpLily · 25/10/2018 11:42

OK, aren't there regulations about where flues can go for this exact reason? Can you check yours is correctly placed?

blueskiesandforests · 25/10/2018 11:42

It depends whether your neighbor is being totally truthful. How is smoke getting into their house if they're not attached?

If it's your fault you need to fix it, but it sounds odd if the houses aren't attached

SharpLily · 25/10/2018 11:42

For example if your flue is lower than their windows, can you get it extended?

YesIDidNameChangeForThis · 25/10/2018 11:43

My neighbour (who is lovely) has a wood burning stove in a garden building. When they use it the smoke comes into my house, and affects any washing I have hung up. I can tell you that it's deeply unpleasant.

Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:44

I don’t want to completely out myself.

Both houses are detached by about 30 meters or so.

The flue is in our property coming out from the wall and going up.

The smoke is getting in their doors and windows maybe down their chimney, basically anyway that could allow in the smell of smoke so vents etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:45

Our house and flue is a lot higher than their house.

I absolutely believe that the smoke is affecting them but not sure what to do about it other than have no fires which is going to cost us a fair bit more in heating.

OP posts:
Houseonahill · 25/10/2018 11:50

I don't understand how the smoke is getting in there house if the flue is higher than their house? Confused

blueskiesandforests · 25/10/2018 11:50

Your house is 30 meters from theirs? Do you definitely mean meters not feet? If so it's surprising that much smoke can get into their house! Are you lower down a hill than them, or consistently doen wind due to a geographic quirk?

Everyone around here has woodburners - absolutely everyone. I am struggling to imagine how smoke would get into a detached house 30 meters away. You'd be able to smell wood smoke if windows were open, that's about it and not the same as smoke coming in!

fourquenelles · 25/10/2018 11:51

I live in a smoke free area but people have fires and wood burners. The attached may be useful. It does mean that you may have to replace your stove with a DEFRA approved one though.

www.stovefittersmanual.co.uk/articles/smoke-control-areas-and-wood-burning-stoves/

JustOneCornettoooooo · 25/10/2018 11:55

Oh, do you mean they can just smell it? So the smoke isn't directly going in there house but they can just smell it in the air?

I'd say that was just tough. When we live near others, we just have to suck things like that up. That would be like moaning to a farmer that you can smell cowpoo when they do the fields!

Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:57

No I mean meters. We are above they are below.

The smoke can be quite think from that wood burner as it seems to be a really bulky powerful thing.

Only burning normal wood.

Had all the seals etc checked and all in working order.

Not sure if trying to get a longer flue with a dogleg bend in it? But it’s still going to be higher than them so but sure if it’s the smoke blowing down into them?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bobbybear10 · 25/10/2018 11:58

They have said the smoke is unbearable and getting into their house through doors and windows etc even with them all closed and with double glazing.

I don’t want their home to feel unbearable to them.

OP posts:
Thehop · 25/10/2018 12:00

I’d ask to go and see

BadderWerewolf · 25/10/2018 12:13

I had this. The (very nice) neighbour had no idea how horrible it was. I'd wake up in the night spluttering (no windows open, smoke just gets in everywhere) and dreaming the house was on fire ConfusedGrin. It was absolutely gross. The direction of wind was a factor, apparently. We were uphill, about the same distance apart as you.

They didn't use it very often, maybe 5 times a month during winter so we tolerated it, but only because we knew they didn't have a gas connection tbh. It made our house stink. If it was continuously burning and they refused to stop it then I'd have involved environmental health...it was like having a bonfire in the garden. Sorry OP, awkward for you and I hope you get it resolved.

SharpLily · 25/10/2018 12:17

They have said the smoke is unbearable and getting into their house through doors and windows etc even with them all closed and with double glazing.

That seems very unlikely given the geography you have described. At my parents' house, for example (not in UK), every house has a log burner and all the other houses are slightly lower. My parents don't use their own log burner, don't have double glazing and don't really feel the cold so often have doors and windows open. When all three of their neighbours have fires going you get a lovely whiff of woodsmoke but no sign of any visible smoke.

Can you get your fire going and then go over to visit their house to see what's happening at the time?