Carbon monoxide detectors are so important in the home
I remember many years ago when I first looked at the cost of installing a woodburning stove there were no regulations such as those associated with carbon monoxide detectors but things have changed over the years. Personally I would never be without a Honeywell Carbon Monoxide Detectornext to my woodburning stove because quite simply the downside, potential fatalities, far outweighs the upside which is the saving of just a few pounds.
Is carbon monoxide really the silent killer?
If like me you thought the above phrase was perhaps overemotional and aimed at pulling at your heartstrings, upon further investigation it appears that carbon monoxide is known as the silent killer for that very reason. It is a gas which is odourless, colourless and almost impossible to detect without a carbon monoxide detector. I believe that the regulations introduced by the government are both relevant for today and do put our safety at the forefront.
Is carbon monoxide a common problem?
One issue which I have looked at in great detail is the occurrence of carbon monoxide in relation to woodburning stoves and indeed multifuel stoves. It does seem as though carbon monoxide is a problem but it is only a problem if we try to cut corners in relation to the maintenance and the installation of our stoves. We have all seen the TV, we've all seen the commercials and while some of them seem to be a little over the top it scares me to think that this potentially lethal odourless and colourless gas could have been escaping from my stove undetected.
Even though it is unlikely that you will ever experience carbon monoxide in your home I believe that my carbon monoxide meter is literally worth its weight in gold and could be a lifesaver in the future. In the rare event that my woodburning stove, or multifuel stove, was to release any of this gas into the atmosphere I would be alerted very quickly and able to take action.
Don't cut costs on installation!
If like me you have been tempted to cut the cost of installing your woodburning stove as much as possible by perhaps buying low-grade materials and even crossing the carbon monoxide meter off your list, I strongly recommend thinking again. You have probably read the stories in the press about people having miraculous escapes from carbon monoxide although I do have to think that these situations can on the whole be avoided for a relatively low cost of any where up to £30.
After I did some investigation myself I found there is absolutely no justification in cutting back on simple safety procedures to save just a few pounds. It is also worth mentioning that I would personally be liable for any fines if my stove was installed and I had specifically requested that no carbon monoxide meter, for example, was to be included in the installation process. In reality I would also have great difficulty in getting any HETAS approved engineer to follow my instructions!