Smoke from next door's chimney
Discussion
Old 1890s terrace house. We're doing ours up, next door is an old hermit type fella with a rundown house (don't think it has been touched since 60s at least). Came home from a stint away with work to find that smoke has drifted into our house from next door's chimney. Our new skirting and carpet in the back bedroom upstairs are stained black around chimney breast.
Missus remembers while I am away some sort of noise going on in chimney in the back bedroom as if next door tried to scrape or sweep it. He must use some of the fireplaces as I've seen coal delivered. Unfortunately that chimney on our side is plastered over in bedroom and living room downstairs so we have no access to it at present.
Just moved some things around in front bedroom to fit wardrobes and possible evidence of similar although in the alcove next to the chimney but in the opposite corner to the fireplace - as if the smoke drifted along under flooring from back room and popped up in the corner nearest to it in the front room. Not as definite, but slight discolouration of skirting, etc. makes me think some residual evidence. On our side, this chimney is open downstairs (front room) but we've not used it.
Obviously next door needs to sort their side out - I can but ask. But what can I do my side? I assume the mortar has gone in the chimney allowing smoke to run through. I was going to open the back chimney to reinstate the fireplace downstairs and put a flue through to potentially install a wood burner. This will at least get me access to this chimney at the bottom. But no plans to do anything further with upstairs room. Will now install CO meters on both floors of course.
Any suggestions?
Missus remembers while I am away some sort of noise going on in chimney in the back bedroom as if next door tried to scrape or sweep it. He must use some of the fireplaces as I've seen coal delivered. Unfortunately that chimney on our side is plastered over in bedroom and living room downstairs so we have no access to it at present.
Just moved some things around in front bedroom to fit wardrobes and possible evidence of similar although in the alcove next to the chimney but in the opposite corner to the fireplace - as if the smoke drifted along under flooring from back room and popped up in the corner nearest to it in the front room. Not as definite, but slight discolouration of skirting, etc. makes me think some residual evidence. On our side, this chimney is open downstairs (front room) but we've not used it.
Obviously next door needs to sort their side out - I can but ask. But what can I do my side? I assume the mortar has gone in the chimney allowing smoke to run through. I was going to open the back chimney to reinstate the fireplace downstairs and put a flue through to potentially install a wood burner. This will at least get me access to this chimney at the bottom. But no plans to do anything further with upstairs room. Will now install CO meters on both floors of course.
Any suggestions?
Thanks all. Yes, I am assuming that the mortar/ wall has gone in the party wall. It fits with the time line of while I was away Jan/Feb and the missus heard scraping in the chimney - I assume next door must have had some issues and tried a DIY sweep. When I came back home I moved some document boxes that I placed temporarily against our blocked up fireplace immediately before I left and found the soot evidence behind them. It definitely wasn't there when I left or I would have seen it when I placed boxes.
As we were thinking of opening up the bottom fireplace on our side anyway(underneath the room with the soot in it), I will just expedite that (will try do it this weekend - otherwise next week). We have had a quote in for checking our own stack and putting in a flue ready for a wood burner anyway - this was done before I went away a couple of months ago. So I will call the chimney sweep back and get him sorted to come over as well. I will also ask next door when I next see him, if he will let the same sweep in to do his side. I do chat the old guy next door from time to time - get on ok - but I doubt from the way he lives there is spare money for additional works on his side. So, it will probably be my expense.
My issue I suppose is, if is the issues originate from his side and he continues to use his chimney without a liner then it will forever infiltrate my house unless I rip it apart again to try and seal it. Or offer to install a flue his side. Maybe for the best but I'm not overjoyed on the idea. How else do I force action? Very annoying...
As we were thinking of opening up the bottom fireplace on our side anyway(underneath the room with the soot in it), I will just expedite that (will try do it this weekend - otherwise next week). We have had a quote in for checking our own stack and putting in a flue ready for a wood burner anyway - this was done before I went away a couple of months ago. So I will call the chimney sweep back and get him sorted to come over as well. I will also ask next door when I next see him, if he will let the same sweep in to do his side. I do chat the old guy next door from time to time - get on ok - but I doubt from the way he lives there is spare money for additional works on his side. So, it will probably be my expense.
My issue I suppose is, if is the issues originate from his side and he continues to use his chimney without a liner then it will forever infiltrate my house unless I rip it apart again to try and seal it. Or offer to install a flue his side. Maybe for the best but I'm not overjoyed on the idea. How else do I force action? Very annoying...
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