Neighbour complaining about new boiler flue

pawdee

We recently had a boiler house built for a new condensing boiler, tanks, pumps etc in my garden.

The boiler house is built against a boundary block wall (the wall is approx 2m high).

The boiler house is flat roofed with torch on felt. The flue is fixed to the wall, projects vertically through the flat roof and terminates approximately 700 mm above it.

The flat roof is at the same level as the boundary wall.

The flue can't be seen from any window in my neighbour's house nor is it within about 8m of any window or door on her property.

It is however visible from her back patio area.

Today she complained about the smoke from the flue blowing into her back yard.

She also complained that it looks awful and wants it taken down or moved.

Does anyone on here know what the regs say about positioning of flues like this?

I told her politely that I'll speak with my plumber to see if anything can be done.

This is likely to be expensive and my budget is stretched as it is.

I emphasised that I don't want to fall out with her but I get the impression that she has no problem with falling out with us.

Does anyone have any experience of a situation like this?

For what it's worth, she has an old non-condensing oil fired boiler with the flue projecting out the back of her house at waist level and into her patio area.

Wearb

From a Firebird installation manual:

CONDENSATE PLUME DISPERSAL

When choosing the location for a condensing boiler,

special consideration must be given to the positioning of

the flue terminal. Care should be taken to locate it so as to

prevent either the end user or their neighbours perceiving

the plume to be a nuisance.

It should be noted that the normal statutory clearances

required around low level flue terminals (ref. T45

T1/135)may not be sufficient to cope with plume dispersal

from a condensing boiler. The following points should be

considered: -

1. Plumes can extend out horizontally and can also drift

out to the sides and above the terminal. Care needs to

be taken, therefore, to avoid the plume reaching

adjacent surfaces, particularly windows and

neighbours dwellings.

2. Flue terminals need to be located where air can pass

freely across them to disperse vapours.

3. The effect of the moisture generated must be

considered in relation to the possible corrosion of

metal parts it might reach and to the possible

formation of ice on pathways in freezing conditions.

4. Keep flue terminals a minimum of 1 m (horizontally)

from openings in the building.

5. Do not install flue terminals directly below a window.

6. Do not install flue terminals next to a door.

7. Do not install flue terminals within 1 m of ventilated

soffits or eaves.

8. Keep flue terminals at least 1 m away from a surface or

boundary facing the terminal.

9. Follow the appliance manufactures instructions.

--------------------------------------------------------------

I would contact the manufacturers for advice on this.

Also your neighbour needs to be informed that this is not smoke, but water vapour from the condensing process. The fact they consider it smoke could be their biggest worry.

what_traffic

OP - is this just a visual issue? Not environmental/health based on your Neighbors own flue setup.

Probably unaware they are breathing in far more pollution from own non-condensing flue setup than yours which is dispersing from a height (and mostly vapour).

pawdee

Thanks for your replies. Having spoken with my neighbour again this afternoon her concerns are firstly visual and secondly environmental / health. I've tried to reassure her that it's steam and not smoke but she keeps referring to smoke. I'm aware that it's not 100% pure steam and that there is a noxious element to what's being emitted. That said it's nowhere near any window or door opening and according to my plumber well within the guidelines.

She's now talking about getting an independent engineer to look at it. I'd be delighted for her to do so provided she pays his fee! As a goodwill gesture I'm willing to offer a contribution towards erecting a fence or some other type of screen on top of the wall. I get the impression that nothing short of full removal of the flue from her view will appease her.

The funniest thing about it is the state of the back of her own house. To put it kindly it's a holy show........a haphazard arrangement of once white uPVC fascia, soffit and guttering covered in algae. How that doesn't offend her sensibilities and my new chimney does is beyond me. I'll just have to wait and see what her next move is.

what_traffic

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118119955#Comment_118119955

Best of luck. The way you describe her own boiler situation is far worse, she just cannot see the steam from the old boiler she is using. If engineer is any good they will be telling her to copy your setup. While you can get the flue to be installed at a lower level for your condenser boiler, its far better to have it at an elevation IMHO. The way your plumber has installed it would be the recommended way.

jimf

id let it settle and see what her next move is

i can understand not wanting to fall out with neighbours

but sometimes you have to stamp your feet a bit harder