CO is a colourless, odourless, tastless toxic gas produced by fuel burning appliances or vehicle engines.  Mild doses can cause headaches, nausea and flu-like symptoms, higher doses can cause collapse and death.   

Your Capital Retailer can order the perfect portable, AA battery powered (batteries are included) CO Detector Alarm.  Ideally you should have a CO Dectector Alarm in every room that contains a fuel burning appliance.

HETAS is the official body recognised by the government to approve solid fuel domestic heating appliances, fuels and services. Approving products such as boilers, cookers, open fires, stoves and room heaters.

Their useful website can help you find a chimney sweep, tell you about appliance efficiencies and has leaflets available to download including the Solid Fuel Association Leaflet (solid fuel is also known as multifuel) and a Carbon Monoxide leaflet outlining the concerns, (carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased from your local fireplace stockist).

Sirius 405 Stove

The National Fireplace Assosiation recently released this article:

Many internet retailers fail to point out to their purchasers that the installation of their new wood-burning stove is governed by the Building Regulations. To paraphrase Approved Document J of the Building Regulations 2002, purchasers of solid fuel stoves (those burning wood fuels or coal based fuels) must either apply to their local authority building inspectorate for a Building Notice or use a registered member of a ‘Competent Persons’ scheme for solid fuels. The only competent persons scheme for solid fuel is run by HETAS, a not-for-profit company which approves solid fuel appliances and fuels as well as operating this ‘Competent Person’s’ scheme in England and Wales. The HETA web site  at www.hetas.co.uk.

With little or no information received by purchasers from internet stove sellers, many try to install these stoves themselves unaware of the Building Regulation requirements or the possible danger of fire or carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning if these products are not installed properly. The National Fireplace Association, which is the trade body for the fireplace industry (fires, fireplaces and stoves powered by all types of fuel), would like to see each stove accompanied by a sheet spelling out the purchaser’s duty to have the stove installed safely in line with both the Building Regulations and the manufacturer’s instructions.

Keeping your chimney clean especially in winter is important. A blocked chimney does not only create a lot of mess from soot fall and stop the fire working efficiently it can result in a chimney fire and contribute towards carbon monoxide poisoning.

If you are not sure who to contact you may find this link to The National Association of Chimney Sweeps useful.

If you do keep your chimney swept, but still experince a few problems with downdraft, soot and rain fall than there is something you can do. Installation of a rain cap or chimney cowl will help protect the chimney from extreme weather conditions.

Most of us would know who to call in this situation and the majority of us have a service contract for our gas boiler, but don’t forget that your gas fire requires a service once a year too. To ensure your warranty is valid for the up and coming years and that your fire is going to be working on those cosy Christmas mornings you could contact homeserve or British Gas.

Also to find out about gas safety and why you should always use a Gas Safe engineer for fitting and servicing gas appliances it is worth taking a look at the Gas Safe website.

The BBC Home website says:

‘Make your Fireplace your focal point’

• Consider painting the chimney breast to contrast with the walls and to highlight the feature, or for a more subtle effect paint the walls and chimney breast with the same colour or tone as the fireplace.
• Mantel shelf – de-clutter. If you are lucky enough to own a Stone fireplace or Marble fireplace then the mantle is a style focal point and not a magnet for keys, loose change or post.
• Accessorise – if there is an open fire, or open fireplace then a coal scuttle, log basket and poker (Fireplace Accessories) may automatically theme a traditional fireside area. If you have an unused hearth or an electric or gas fire and are looking for a modern, minimalistic look, a collection of large church candles will provide light and atmosphere. In summer, fresh flowers draw the eye.
• Artwork/Mirrors – to reinforce the fireplace mantel as a focal point, hang your best artwork over the fireplace  or place a mirror on top, but be aware of the safety implications of viewing your reflection close to an open fire!