Neighbour Complaint About Gas Flue

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 19:51

We had a new combi boiler fitted at the end of last week by British Gas. We live on the ground floor of a set of flats. We're on the end, next to a semi detached house.

I've just had a polite note dropped through the door from these neighbours asking if the flue can be directed upwards as it currently points out over where they sit in the garden. (I'm not sure if perhaps they might be a bit higher up than our ground level)

I've tried to google it, but I seem to get information about having the flue itself adjusted. What I want to know, can I literally attach something to the wall at an angle of 45° in front of the flue to direct the gasses skyward?

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 19:59

flea.rider said:
no .. you will get water/rain back into your system ..
it should be going straight out ? and the heat/fumes should only travel a foot or so before dispersing.
is there a foot or 2 between you and there property line ?

Yeah, there's a path down the side of the building, then their house.

NoobCannon said:
Dont think you can personally mess with the flue as you need to be gas registered.

May be wrong tho.

Yeah, I was thinking of calling British Gas on Monday and asking them about it. I know I said 'can I' but I likely wouldn't attempt it myself, more about can it be done I guess.

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 20:04

It's part of the flats property.

Tbh, if we can do anything, I would prefer to. I'm a good neighbour like that. If nothing can be done, so be it and I would have a chat with them to say I've looked into it... etc...

On a side note, what would people think if there is a cost, that we ask them to pay?

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 20:27

Delta3D said:
Personally I'd ask to go halves on it depending on the amount

Yeah, I was toying with that, but also part of me thinks if it meets all regulations at this point, why should I spend money on it? I guess it would be interesting to see what they say if I said 'it will cost £300, I would like you to pay half'. I would perhaps then see how big an issue it is for them. I did wonder if I should just ask them to add a little bit to their fence, which I assume would solve the problem too?

b0rn2sk8 said:
What changed between this one and the old one?

I guess maybe the power of it? We did go for quite a powerful one to ensure we always have plenty of hot water available

(Probably overkill for two in a small flat!)

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 20:32

Actually, maybe because it's smaller? The air pressure would be higher, right? Like when you cover over the end of a hose with your finger?

The brickie is yet to come to finish the hole in.

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 20:49

NvidiaDan said:
if they are really fussed you could have a plume diverter fitted to angle it to the left or right but they will still see it regardless

Something like this would be a relatively cheap fix I guess... I suppose I need to measure the flue to check for compatibility.

Will still give British Gas a call and see what they say.

AndyCr15 · 12 May 2019 at 21:03

NvidiaDan said:
That flue in the picture looks like a Worcester to me? If so then this would be what you are after https://www.screwfix.com/p/worcester-bosch-plume-management-kit/90277

Yes it is. Great, thanks.

AndyCr15 · 13 May 2019 at 09:52

Having thought about it, given regulations say it must not be a nuisance, maybe I can get British Gas to correct it as part of the install with no further charge? I would be saying it was not a satisfactory installation, given it doesn't meet requirements as it apparently is a nuisance?

AndyCr15 · 14 May 2019 at 10:26

if it's £100, no. What if British Gas want £400?

AndyCr15 · 14 May 2019 at 11:05

robj20 said:
£400 to for a plume kit. Lol
They cost about £50 and take a couple of minutes to fit.

Because British Gas normally just charge for parts when they do work? (And I'm sure they source the cheapest parts too)

AndyCr15 · 14 May 2019 at 11:08

robj20 said:
£350 to fit a plume kit is some going even for British Gas.

Who knows though. I never said it would, I asked what if it did.... The point being, where do you draw the line. I didn't think I needed that much explanation, sorry.

AndyCr15 · 14 May 2019 at 11:12

I do, and I want British Gas to fit it, and here we are.

AndyCr15 · 14 May 2019 at 18:26

It's their fence.

I'm waiting for British Gas to come back to me at the moment.

AndyCr15 · 15 May 2019 at 20:00

My brother called the guy that installed it all today, he's coming back on Saturday to install the kit which raises it by 40cm. They are doing free as it is a 'nuisance'...

I've text the neighbours to let them know. Hopefully this will please them! If not, there's probably not a lot more that can be done.

AndyCr15 · 15 May 2019 at 20:03

robj20 said:
If they still don't like it, tell them to get a taller fence.

Yeah, basically. I think at that point they would definitely be being unreasonable.

AndyCr15 · 15 May 2019 at 20:39

Ha ha, nah, they have no access to the bike

AndyCr15 · 16 May 2019 at 11:44

UberTiger said:
I wouldn't request money from the neighbour to fix a poorly thought out install.

Neither would I. I would also not say this was a poorly thought out install.

AndyCr15 · 16 May 2019 at 15:07

Again, I would disagree. That outlet is maybe 8 or 9 feet up and maybe 60-90cm to the fence. Personally I don't think it's right to expect that would be an issue for most people. (Judging by some reactions in this thread, I think there are many others of the same opinion.)

AndyCr15 · 16 May 2019 at 15:52

Its not that loud standing right next to the boiler.

Anyway, it's not about if I think it's acceptable and it looks like we're getting a fix that they will hopefully be happy with. As someone suggested, I'll ask if he can divert it down the path too.

Thanks for all the tips and opinions

AndyCr15 · 16 May 2019 at 19:51

LoadsaMoney said:
******* hell!, could you not have just gone and knocked on the ******* door!

I could. Like when they came and dropped the note through the door, I was home and it would have been handy to be able to actually discuss what the issue was. Me letting them know what was happening was one way communication, so why go round and disturb them when I could just drop them a text? To me that's the polite thing to do.