Cooking smells from neighbour - looking for someone to investigate structure

Remind Me Tomorrow

I live in a mid terrace timber frame house and both myself and neighbour have extractor fans on the boundary wall. We have a problem where cooking smells are coming through the extractor fans from the neighbours side and vice versa. So when my neighbour is cooking the smells vent into our kitchen through our fan.

I'm looking for advice as to how we can separate the two. Removing the fans completely is possible from our side but not from theirs as the property is rented and owners are not cooperating.

Is there a way for me to seal off the gap from my side? Ideally I would like a professional to come in, investigate and repair.

There is a kitchen extension on our end which likely the source of any gaps.

Any advice or offers of service appreciated.

Thanks.

BryanF

Get an air-tightness test.

Are the floors suspended timber?

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

Get an air-tightness test.

Are the floors suspended timber?

No they're concrete. Will an air tightness test also suggest a remedy? We already know its not air tight. We both have extractor fans on the dividing wall. Ours vents into the extension roof, which has vents. I suspect theirs vents into their wall cavity. Wherever they are venting to there is an obvious connection between both kitchens. The smells are coming through our extractor fan.

Houses are timber framed.

Thanks.

Remind Me Tomorrow

I've redone my original posted to hopefully clarify the issue.

sydthebeat

Where in the country are you?

MicktheMan

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

No they're concrete. Will an air tightness test also suggest a remedy? We already know its not air tight. We both have extractor fans on the dividing wall. Ours vents into the extension roof, which has vents. I suspect theirs vents into their wall cavity. Wherever they are venting to there is an obvious connection between both kitchens. The smells are coming through our extractor fan.

:eek:
Extractor ducting should go directly to the external and not through voids such as attics etc!

Remind Me Tomorrow

sydthebeat wrote: »

Where in the country are you?

I'm in Dublin.

Remind Me Tomorrow

MicktheMan wrote: »

:eek:
Extractor ducting should go directly to the external and not through voids such as attics etc!

Ok, is there anything I can do to fix it? I'm happy to remove my fan but I also want whatever gap exists between our walls sealed so their smells don't come through. Its not just about smells, I'm worried that if they have a fire my house will fill with smoke. Likewise carbon monoxide.

BryanF

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

No they're concrete. Will an air tightness test also suggest a remedy? We already know its not air tight. We both have extractor fans on the dividing wall. Ours vents into the extension roof, which has vents. I suspect theirs vents into their wall cavity. Wherever they are venting to there is an obvious connection between both kitchens. The smells are coming through our extractor fan.

Houses are timber framed.

Thanks.

Ok.. search air-tightness test and look at how they find leakage paths, then ask yourself could one of these 'air-paths' be the source of unwanted odours from your neighbours. This will also help to review fire separation. An Architect or surveyor would also do this tipe of assessment

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

Ok.. search air-tightness test and look at how they find leakage paths, then ask yourself could one of these 'air-paths' be the source of unwanted odours from your neighbours. This will also help to review fire separation. An Architect or surveyor would also do this tipe of assessment

My concern here is that its not specifically focused on the problem and solutions will be superficial. For example they will undoubtedly find a leakage path at the extractor fan, with the solution being sealing the point of entry rather than plugging the source, do I have that right? I'd prefer the gap sealed at the source, getting in behind the plasterboard and closing the gap in the wall if possible. Is this something within the scope of an air tightness test?

Hope that makes sense.

TiMe2PaRtYYYYY

This new neighbour has moved in beside me and I am convinced I am smelling burning/cooking
flesh ...... any tips or advice ??

BryanF

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

My concern here is that its not specifically focused on the problem and solutions will be superficial. For example they will undoubtedly find a leakage path at the extractor fan, with the solution being sealing the point of entry rather than plugging the source, do I have that right? I'd prefer the gap sealed at the source, getting in behind the plasterboard and closing the gap in the wall if possible. Is this something within the scope of an air tightness test?

Hope that makes sense.

is the extractor the problem? or is this an example you are giving?
I would expect an air-tightness tester & arch/eng or surveyor on-site to close this out.

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

is the extractor the problem? or is this an example you are giving?
I would expect an air-tightness tester & arch/eng or surveyor on-site to close this out.

Really the problem is my neighbours extractor fan which appears to be venting into our boundary and coming into the house through our extractor fan but also we get very strong smell in an upstairs en suite bathroom, again through the bathroom extractor. Which is why id prefer the gap plugged at the source.

When you say you'd expect them to close it out do you mean they could close the gap between the boundary?

BryanF

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

Really the problem is my neighbours extractor fan which appears to be venting into our boundary and coming into the house through our extractor fan but also we get very strong smell in an upstairs en suite bathroom, again through the bathroom extractor. Which is why id prefer the gap plugged at the source.

When you say you'd expect them to close it out do you mean they could close the gap between the boundary?

Can we see a picture of these extract vents?

Remind Me Tomorrow

Again, if anyone can recommend a professional to investigate and repair the problem it would be much appreciated. Hope its not against the guidelines? Feel free to PM me.

Remind Me Tomorrow

aplologies, I cannot post images or urls.

Kitchen extractor fan, showing ducting that goes in behind plasterboard.

Www.img.ie/images/vaf8h_thumb.jpg

Here is the path the ducting takes, running to the extension it goes up over the steel beam and vents into the extension roof:

Www.img.ie/images/tjy2b_thumb.jpg

En suite bathroom extractor fan. This had a vent on external wall but no guarantees there is actually any ducting of that it extends all the way to the vent:

Www.img.ie/images/7zzvr_thumb.jpg

Thanks.

BryanF

A Picture from th outside , where you say the extracts mix with windows etc?

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

A Picture from th outside , where you say the extracts mix with windows etc?

No the smell comes through the internal wall. Its a terraced house with kitchens back to back. Neighbour does not have an external vent for their fan. Mine goes into the roof of my extension and the roof has external vents:

Www.img.ie/zyz35.jpg

kkelliher

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

No the smell comes through the internal wall. Its a terraced house with kitchens back to back. Neighbour does not have an external vent for their fan. Mine goes into the roof of my extension and the roof has external vents:

img.ie/zyz35.jpg

These vents are not for extracting food odour they are for venting the roof void. If your extractor pipe is just open into your roof void and your neighbours is the same then that is completely incorrect and a vent tile should have being installed on both. Its also the reason you have the smell from your neighbour but I would worry about a firebreak between the two properties in the attic space

Remind Me Tomorrow

kkelliher wrote: »

These vents are not for extracting food odour they are for venting the roof void. If your extractor pipe is just open into your roof void and your neighbours is the same then that is completely incorrect and a vent tile should have being installed on both. Its also the reason you have the smell from your neighbour but I would worry about a firebreak between the two properties in the attic space

Neighbour does not have the same extension but I suspect they are venting into the wall or possibly could be venting into my roof.

I do worry about a fire outbreak. Who should I call to get this fixed?

BryanF

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

Who should I call to get this fixed?

I already told you

Based on what you've stated this far, I'm not convinced it's the extractor, cavity or roof void that's your problem.

Best of luck with what ever you decide, and please comeback and tell us what the problem was

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

I already told you

Based on what you've stated this far, I'm not convinced it's the extractor, cavity or roof void that's your problem.

Best of luck with what ever you decide, and please comeback and tell us what the problem was

Thanks Bryan. I guess you are not allowed to recommend a company or professional? I will google air tightness testing as you recommended. Thanks everyone for your help.

BryanF

is the wall plasterboard or block (where the extractor fan runs behind) ie how easy a job is it to inspect the fan duct.
Also what year was the house built/extractor installed?

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

is the wall plasterboard or block (where the extractor fan runs behind) ie how easy a job is it to inspect the fan duct.
Also what year was the house built/extractor installed?

The wall is plasterboard. House was built in 2003, kitchen was extended in 2010 and both mine and neighbours extractor fans were fitted in 2010 by the same builder while extension was being built.

BryanF

Remind Me Tomorrow wrote: »

The wall is plasterboard. House was built in 2003, kitchen was extended in 2010 and both mine and neighbours extractor fans were fitted in 2010 by the same builder while extension was being built.

did you have an engineer/architect sign off & certify the works to building regs?Can you ask the certifer to inspect?

Get the builder back in. Insist they inspect the ducts to ensure they are both entirely separate and that fire proofing is adequate between the two extensions.

Remind Me Tomorrow

BryanF wrote: »

did you have an engineer/architect sign off & certify the works to building regs?Can you ask the certifer to inspect?

Get the builder back in. Insist they inspect the ducts to ensure they are both entirely separate and that fire proofing is adequate between the two extensions.

The builder has gone bust and mobile is disconnected. That's why I'm trying to find someone else to do it. There is no cert. The problem was not apparent until a year ago when new tenants moved in next door.