STOVES: what you need to know

ARE WOOD-BURNING STOVES BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

According to figures from DEFRA, wood-burning stoves and domestic fires were the biggest source of small particle air pollution in the UK during 2019, being responsible for 38 per cent of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). However, experts believe that Ecodesign-compliant stoves that are used and maintained correctly will generate very low emissions.

ARE WOOD-BURNING STOVES BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH?

PM2.5 pollution is emitted whenever you burn wood. It’s small enough to pass through your lungs, enter your bloodstream and can damage your organs. According to the British Lung Foundation’s Taskforce for Lung Health: ‘exposure to PM2.5 can cause illnesses like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer’, among other serious conditions. So it’s worth considering whether or not you’ll want your stove on for prolonged periods before you invest .

WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR SMOKE CONTROL AREAS?

A Smoke Control Area is a location where you cannot emit a substantial amount of smoke from a chimney. The fine for breaking this can be anything from £175 to £300. You can use a stove in a Smoke Control Area but it must be a DEFRA-Exempt model and you can only burn authorised types of fuel (or face a fine of up to £1,000). Find out more about Smoke Control Areas at gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules

ANYTHING ELSE?

Only burn dry wood in a wood-burning stove. If you’re buying wood, look for wood that carries the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo. Recently chopped wood needs to be seasoned (dried) before it can be burnt as the moisture will create more smoke and reduce your stove’s efficiency. You can check wood’s moisture content with a moisture meter (wood with less than 20 per cent moisture is classed as dry). Install a carbon monoxide monitor to alert you to dangerous fumes and have your stove and chimney regularly maintained. And never burn treated wood.