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We moved here past September. It's a 2 story duplex w/ basement. We pay utilities, BR are in upper floor.
In Oct. we decided to turn the heat on to check that everything was in working condition before the real cold arrived. Some 20 minutes later the smoke alarm in the basement goes off. We went down to check and discovered the basement was full of smoke because the stainless steel flue from the boiler has disconnected from the chimney at the top (it is about 5' from boiler to chimney).
Called the landlord who came the next day and fixed it.
Well, it happened again last Thursday, the flue broke off in a different place than last time . This time one of the middle sections fell to the floor. He came later, put it back together and said he would come the next day to fix it... until today he hasn't.
DH wants to do something about it, even breaking the lease, saying this is unacceptable and dangerous for our kids (all under 6) and us. The LL both times has been very dismissive of our concerns from CO poisoning. Luckily it has happened when we were awake and in the first floor. I am not sure if we would have heard the smoke alarm from the basement while sleeping on the second floor. Living in northern New England, heat is a necessity.
Is there something we could do? Any agency to involve to be sure it doesn't happen again?
Smoke detectors are only good for smoke. Make sure there is a Carbon Monoxide detector on each floor. You have a serious potential for a catatrophic effent. Like dying from CO poisoning. It is odorless, clorless and creeps in from leaking chimneys and furnance.
Call a plumber or HVAC person to repair the flue and service the unit to be sure it is safe. Be damned the cost. It will be cheaper than a funeral. You can demand the repayment from the LL later. Get it done now.
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