Carbon Monoxide Safety and Your Wood Burning Stove

A wood burning stove can transform a room, bringing warmth and character that no radiator can match. But like any appliance that burns fuel, a stove produces combustion gases, and if something goes wrong with your flue, chimney, or appliance, carbon monoxide can become a serious hazard. The good news is that with the right installation, regular servicing, and a working carbon monoxide alarm, the risks are well within your control.

What Is Carbon Monoxide and Why Does It Matter with Stoves?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas produced when fuel burns without enough oxygen. A correctly installed and properly maintained wood burning stove channels combustion gases safely up the flue and out of your home. Problems arise when something interrupts that process.

Common causes of CO build-up linked to solid fuel stoves include:

• A blocked or damaged flue or chimney that prevents gases from escaping
• Bird nests, debris, or a collapsed liner restricting the flue draw
• A poorly fitted stove door or rope seal allowing gases to leak into the room
• Burning wet or unseasoned wood, which produces far more smoke and incomplete combustion
• Running the stove with the air vents closed too far, starving the fire of oxygen

None of these scenarios are inevitable. They are, however, entirely preventable with a professional installation and an annual service. Our team carries out stove servicing and sweeping to catch exactly these kinds of issues before they become dangerous.

Carbon Monoxide Alarms: What You Need and Where to Put Them

Current building regulations in England require a carbon monoxide alarm to be fitted in any room where a new or replacement solid fuel appliance is installed. This is not optional, and our installers will not sign off a job without one in place.

Here is what to look for when choosing an alarm:

• Look for alarms that meet British Standard EN 50291
• Choose an alarm with a digital display showing CO levels in parts per million, so you can see low-level readings as well as emergency alerts
• Electrochemical sensor alarms are generally considered more reliable than cheaper biomimetic types
• Check the manufacturer's replacement date, as CO alarms have a limited lifespan, typically five to seven years

Position the alarm on the ceiling or high on the wall in the same room as the stove. CO is roughly the same weight as air, so it does not pool low like some other gases. Keeping it near the stove but away from direct heat is the right approach. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for the exact position.

Test your alarm every week using the test button, and replace the batteries as soon as the low-battery warning sounds. Do not assume a silent alarm means no CO is present. A faulty or out-of-date alarm gives you no protection at all.

The Role of a Professional Installation

The single most effective thing you can do to reduce CO risk is to have your stove installed correctly in the first place. A properly lined flue, correctly sized for your appliance, with all joints sealed and the stove positioned to draw effectively, removes combustion gases reliably every time the stove is lit.

Our stove supply and installation service covers everything from choosing the right appliance for your room size and chimney configuration through to fitting the hearth, lining the flue, and commissioning the stove. Every installation we carry out follows current building regulations and HETAS standards.

Where your chimney requires lining, our team handles that as part of the same visit. A correctly lined chimney is essential for safe and efficient operation. Unlined or deteriorating chimneys are one of the most common causes of flue gas spillage, and we will not install a stove without addressing the flue first.

HETAS Registration and Building Regulations

In England, Wales, and Scotland, installing a solid fuel appliance is a notifiable building work. That means either your installer must be registered with a competent persons scheme such as HETAS, or you must submit a building regulations application to your local authority before work begins.

Our installers are HETAS registered, which means they can self-certify the installation on your behalf. You receive a HETAS certificate as proof that the work meets building regulations, which your insurer may ask to see and which will be required when you sell the property.

You can find out more about what HETAS certification means and why it matters on our HETAS certification page. If you are unsure whether your existing stove was installed to the right standard, our team can carry out an inspection as part of a service visit.

Keeping Your Stove Safe Year After Year

Even a perfectly installed stove needs regular attention. We recommend an annual service and flue sweep before the main burning season begins, ideally in late summer or early autumn. During a service visit, our team will:

1. Sweep the flue to remove soot and creosote deposits
2. Check the flue liner for signs of damage or deterioration
3. Inspect and replace door rope seals if they have hardened or compressed
4. Check the baffle plate and internal components for damage
5. Carry out a visual inspection of the stove body and any external connections
6. Test the draw of the flue

Beyond the annual service, good habits make a real difference day to day. Burn only well-seasoned or kiln-dried wood with a moisture content below 20 per cent. Avoid burning household waste, treated timber, coal in a wood-only stove, or any fuel that is not recommended by the stove manufacturer. Keep the air vents open enough for the fire to burn cleanly. A slow, smouldering fire is far more likely to produce CO and tar than a bright, well-aerated burn.

If your carbon monoxide alarm sounds, act immediately. Get everyone out of the property, leave the doors open as you leave, and call 999. Do not re-enter until the emergency services have given the all-clear. Once the immediate danger has passed, contact us to inspect the installation before you use the stove again.

If you have any questions about CO safety, installation standards, or servicing, our frequently asked questions page covers many common concerns, or you are welcome to get in touch with our team directly.