FUMES FROM LOG FIRES IN APARTMENT BUILDINGS

I live in a 2 Level Apartment in a 3 Storey Apartment Block on the 1st Floor. I am getting the Fumes from my Neighbours Log Fire next door as well as from an Apartment downstairs on the Ground Floor through an Airvent on the top level of my Apartment . Can anybody advise what the problem could be and how it can be resolved.

Thank You

Sounds like the chimney stack is not high enough and not fitted with a cowl it should be atleast 1.5 mtr above the apex of the roof a atleast 1.5 mtrs away from any Windows or air vents also make sure that they have lined the stack contact the managers of the block you are breathing in  carbon monoxide fumes stop using the appliances immediately get a expert in to rectify.

Have these elements be added by neighbours or are them part of the original building design?

Hi Maria

These Elements are part of the Original Building Design.Fireplaces and chimneys built over 44 years ago.

I live in a 2 Level Apartment in a 3 Storey Apartment Block on the 1st Floor. I am getting the Fumes from my Neighbours Log Fire next door as well as from an Apartment downstairs on the Ground Floor through an Airvent on the top level of my Apartment . Can anybody advise what the problem could be and how it can be resolved.

Hi Nigel.

Are you sure that the fumes are coming in via your air vent? yes I know pretty easy to check....But

As you said the fireplaces and chimneys are over 44 years old have you considered that these chimneys and flue's are not now a tight fit, I don't know how these are built in Spain but in the UK its like a terracotta tube placed on top of each other, sealed in the joints with cement, which over the years basically wears out / falls out,  and fumes enter the fabric of the building, and rooms, through these gaps.

Believe it or not one of the biggest builders in the UK some years ago built many houses with a chimney flue leaking, short of pulling the end of the house down it was a nightmare to cure, until one of my friends came up with a very simple idea on how to fix them with no dismantling at all, it worked and cured the problem 100%. It even worked on a straight brick built old chimney.

Is it possible to seal of the air vent and slightly open a near by window to check if the fumes still come in, if so it's most likely from outside chimneys, if not then it would seem to be from somewhere else.

Just a thought.

There are of course legal actions for that. I would need pictures for being more clear on how to proceed. Please feel free to send them to my email

Legal action costs money and may be inconclusive. If the miscreant has no money you are unlikely to get your costs back win or loose.

I had your problem, I moved. Cost a bit, but then we could have paid a lot in legal fees got nowhere and still had the same neighbours and smoke.

I recently put a woodburner in a UK house - there was already a fireplace, but the woodburner needed a flue seated and sealed into the top of it. My builder just dropped a new flexible stainless steel flue down the chimney and terminated it at each end  - it took an hour. 

The woodburners need to be fitted by a registered installer in Scotland..

You also need to fit a CO2 detector as per manufactuers instructions and the battery needs to be checked weekly..

The flue has to be Installed correctly and sealed .. I installed my own woodburner in my home here in Aberdeen but I'm a registered gas eng.they are a great addition to any home that can have one.