Neighbour getting smells from our extractor fan?

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Hi all

Hoping for some advice.
Our next door neighbour, terraced house was saying he's getting all the smells from our extractor fan when we cook in his upstairs bedroom.
Even though our extractor fan is at the opposite end of the kitchen to our joining house walls. He let me smell in his kitchen and it does seem like he's right? But hiw can this happen? The smells travel all the way along the whole length above of our kitchen ceiling then through the wall into his upstairs bedroom?
He ofcourse wants a solution.
We just moved in a few months ago.
There's no pipe going out to the outside from the extractor fan but maybe this extractor fan doesn't need one?
Any advice appreciated .
Please see attached photo and it's a

Indesit H 561 IX​

 

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In theory ductless extractors with carbon filters work. You need to duct the fumes to a suitable location on an outside wall. At the moment they are probably finding their way into the neighbours bedroom via joists in the ceiling and through gaps/cracks in the party wall.
 
In theory ductless extractors with carbon filters work. You need to duct the fumes to a suitable location on an outside wall. At the moment they are probably finding their way into the neighbours bedroom via joists in the ceiling and through gaps/cracks in the party wall.

Thanks. So guess up to me to have to get someone in a electrician or a DIY man? And have them get a pipe connected to the top of it and drill a hole in the wall to allow the pipe to go outside for the cooking smells to come out. So that's going to cost me probably £200 or so.
Is it something I have to get done.
Could I not just say that he needs to find the gaps or cracks in party wall and fill them up to stop any smells.

Shouldn't a ductless reticulated extractor with carbon filters not be enclosed so the fumes don't leave it? As how are they escaping out of it and then all the way along above the kitchen ceiling and through gaps and cracks in party wall into my neighbours bedroom?
 
Thanks. So guess up to me to have to get someone in a electrician or a DIY man? And have them get a pipe connected to the top of it and drill a hole in the wall to allow the pipe to go outside for the cooking smells to come out. So that's going to cost me probably £200 or so.
Is it something I have to get done.
Could I not just say that he needs to find the gaps or cracks in party wall and fill them up to stop any smells.
Its probably not a statutory nuisance that tne council would get involved with but may be a private law nuisance. It depends on tne nature and extent of it. Fumes can get tnrough plaster mortar and even wood, and even if blocked off might find another way through. Have any works been carried out by the neighbour to their kitchen or bedroom as that might account for any seepage through of the “smells” assuming its a recent thing. Was it a problem they had with your Seller ?
Shouldn't a ductless reticulated extractor with carbon filters not be enclosed so the fumes don't leave it? As how are they escaping out of it and then all the way along above the kitchen ceiling and through gaps and cracks in party wall into my neighbours bedroom?
It recirculates air as I understand it but Ive not come across one that is a hundred per cent effective. Extraction is tne most efficient way. If you have a clear path for the ducting to the outside wall and are handy with electrics, you could try it yourself including tne core drillling
 
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As its a recirculating extractor fan isn't it the case that its enclosed so it's not possible to attach a pipe to it anyway. I would have to replace with a extraction fan if I want to have the fumes go outside and not recirculate inside the fan.

How can the fumes be leaving the extractor fan as isn't it an enclosed system and not open at the top ?
 
The fumes are coming out of the hood through the vents at the bottom of the chimney. Unless the grease filters are regularly cleaned and the charcoal filter replaced (although I see they are no longer availible) all you will be doing is blowing fumes around. They are a bad idea. Ideally it should be replaced with a vented hood. Have you tried not switching it on and opening a window/door to the outside?
 
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If you have just moved in and started using this extractor that perhaps your predescessor did not, then I think that unless you get the fan vented through the wall you will start getting black mould forming on your walls and ceiling in the kitchen due to condensation. As others have said the recirculating type are useless. If you look at it from your neighbours point of view then it is you who are causing the nuisance and you that should rectify it, even if it was because it was not installed properly from new.
 
£200 is a small price to pay for having decent neighbourly relations. Having a dispute with a neighbour can ultimately prove far more costly
 
Surely the OP's own house must smell of recirculated cooking fumes? Di both yourself and your neighbour a favour and change it for a vented extractor hood.
 
As its a recirculating extractor fan isn't it the case that its enclosed so it's not possible to attach a pipe to it anyway. I would have to replace with a extraction fan if I want to have the fumes go outside and not recirculate inside the fan.

How can the fumes be leaving the extractor fan as isn't it an enclosed system and not open at the top ?
The air has to get out if it has come in, unfortunately the system isn't efficient at removing tne smells. You may heed a new extractor, although there may be space for a back to wall stand alone extractor nearby if you have a typical terrace/rear addition layout
 
Surely the OP's own house must smell of recirculated cooking fumes? Di both yourself and your neighbour a favour and change it for a vented extractor hood.
With experience I can only agree - what is so bad you won't smell yourself but others will - ON YOU.

With many people keeping windows closed more and better sealing of opening windows there is less through flow of air which reduces condensation (and hence damp and mould).
If your extractor hood is a dual purpose one (extractor or recirculate) firstly check it is set to recirculate. Looking at the pretty poor manual it would seem that it needs a director vent to be recirculate. I wonder if the previous owner or installer let the extractor vent into the cavity - a concern as that will promote damp in the most unexpected of areas.

The best move you do in my book is get a duct to the outside fitted even if it does cost you a few quid.
 
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There's no pipe going out to the outside from the extractor fan

Then it is not an extractor.

A recirculating hood is just an expensive ornament.

How far is it from an external wall?
 
As far as I know all extractor fans can be either recirculating or can extract externally.

I don't believe they make recirc only. All extractor fans have a hole in the top "some you can vent out immediately at the rear with some jiggery pokery" but most have either a 4/5/6 inch hole on the top behind the metal cowl that hides all the gubbins.

Your extractor only works for external extraction if its fixed to an outside wall.

An alternative is to put a flying shelf on top of the wall units, lower the extractor to achieve 750mm from top of gas burners if gas or 650 if induction. You can then cut a hole in the flying shelf that's smaller than the cowl instal ducting from extractor across the top of the wall units to the outside world and fit cowl between extractor and the bottom of the flying shelf.

Recirculating mode is only meant for kitchens where venting outside is impossible or the kitchen fitter is lazy.
 
...lower the extractor to achieve 750mm from top of gas burners if gas or 650 if induction. ...

Those are the minimum heights, you can have it higher if convenient.

I like them high enough that I can't hit them with my head.

Depending on the kitchen layout, you can sometimes run a duct along the top of the wall cabinets. You can paint rigid duct to match the wall, and it will not be very noticeable.

Edit
As chirpy said
 
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