My neighbour recently installed an "eco friendly" Raeburn. Unfortunately the fumes given off are not so neighbour friendly.
The existing chimney and the one used for the Raeburn is on the east gable of the single story next door house, however, our house is a two storey and this chimney is situated a couple of metres west of the gable end. The street was developed at least 150 years ago and this just seems to be one of those quirks that inevitably occur from time to time. As the prevailing winds are westerly, we unfortunates suffer the smells and fumes for about 50% of the day. At the moment the neighbour burns smokeless coal, however, there is often a sulphurous odour to our house, which sometimes causes me to feel sick. My wife and I have never been in worse health, with sties (eye infections) and sore throats now seemingly, the norm.
I have volunteered my services, to help build the chimney higher; however, the neighbour does not seem to want to take me up on this citing that we are in a conservation area and any alterations to the house would have to go through planning and would likely be rejected (not too mention the expense, hassle etc).
According to my neighbour someone had complained of smoke going out onto the street (probably when he was burning damp wood which I have witnessed before). Consequently, the council has visited, but with the area not being in a smokeless zone and with the neighbour burning “smokeless” fuel, presumably there was nothing the council could do?
My wife is four months pregnant and I am worried about her breathing in the fumes from the smokeless coal which I note from previous forums can eat though stainless steel. This can’t be healthy for a newborn either, not to mention yours truly. I seem to be reaching a dead end, does anyone have any suggestions?
tony
8 Oct 2009, 1:55 PM
Beware wood smoke contains lots of nasties including carcinogens.
There are some threads on this subject on the green building forum.
Unfortunately things are only going to get worse until we get measurable health problems or smogs.
Of all the fuels that one can use in a stove, wood must the best, after all, it is a renewable. If dry, there is no smoke at all in the modern day stoves, where they have second and third stage combustion. But then there are always people who will burn painted wood, old pallets, pressure treated wood etc etc, these are the poeple who are giving others a bad name.
valjun
4 Dec 2009, 1:43 PM
I have exactly the same problem with smoke from my neighbours wood burning stove blowing in my direction and penetrating my ventilation ducts, the smell is strong in my kitchen and as I open the door it leaks to the rest of the house, there is now a permanent stale smell in the kitchen and I am suffering from sore throats cough and sore eyes, either I have to put up with it or move which seems so unfair as I was happy here before he put it in on October 27th 2009, trouble is I already have health problems which will only get worse, it is causing me a lot of stress as well.
People say that the CO2 released is only what the tree has already absorbed but that has taken years, on burning it will release it all at once and in one place on me. I'm afraid I cannot suggest anything as I am looking for suggestions myself.
one interesting site I found was Burningissues.org you may find it interesting too.
tony
5 Dec 2009, 12:46 PM
I suggest that you get your local environmental health officer round
