For many decades a wood-burning stove has been one of the most popular and productive ways to heat a home. These traditional stoves provide a warm and cosy ambience. However, soon to be introduced government legislation will significantly impact the industry and the homeowner who uses a wood burning stove or who burns wood in a multi fuel stove.
So, whether you currently own a wood burner or are thinking about purchasing one, it's a good idea to familiarise yourself with the upcoming changes.
What Is the Law on Wood Burning Stoves?
Global warming and climate changes are no laughing matter, and many industries must look for approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is of great importance for stove manufacturers, as wood burning stoves currently account for a whopping 38 percent of all air pollution. So, it is clear new rules need to be introduced.
Therefore, the future of wood burning stoves will be affected, and new models must have more eco-friendly designs that create fewer airborne particles.
The UK government recently launched a missive to emphasise stoves with a green design using an "Eco-Design" sticker. The sticker shows the stove meets environmental standards.
The use of eco-friendly wood burning stoves should become widespread within large cities, as these are "smoke-controlled" areas. You can only burn 'smokeless' fuels in a smoke-controlled area unless you use an exempt appliance.
If you have owned a wood burning stove for more than a decade, it is likely an upgrade will be required. Most modern stoves generate far less smoke than older models, sometimes as much as 90 percent less compared to open-fire heating. The problem here is that is often expensive and difficult to fit new parts onto an older model. However, you may be able to fix an electrostatic filter into the flue. These filters can decrease emissions by as much as 92%.
Even if you own a modern stove but have not changed the filter for a substantial time, you will likely need to replace it.
Gallery Helios Inset Clean Burn Wood Burning Stove
And the Wood?
We need to consider the regulations of wood-burning stoves are not only focused on the stove's design. The wood also needs to meet specific standards. When it comes to the amount of smoke and particle produced when burning wood, moisture plays an important part. Wood that is not adequately dried gives off much more particulate matter than dried wood. For this reason, it is now common to see wood retailers advertising "ready-to-burn wood", and this wood could soon become the only type legally permitted. If you chop your own timbre to burn, it is recommended you dry it for a minimum of two years before using it.
So, in short, the government is putting new regulations to cut wood burning stove emissions from 38% to no more than 30% by 2030.
Homeowners will need to comply with new laws by buying an eco-friendly stove recognised by a sticker, or installing a filter to an older stove, or upgrading it to meet new greener standards.
Only wood with less than 20% moisture content should be used.
Bearing this in mind, is a multi-fuel stove a better option than a wood burning stove?
Multi fuel and wood burning stoves look very similar to one another but have somewhat different designs. Unlike wood burners, multi-fuel stoves have a grate at the base and a removable ash pan beneath the firebox. However, the main difference is that a multi fuel stove can burn smokeless fuels, which is very important considering the environmental issues we face today.
As the government plans to ban regular house coal and other fuels with more than 2% sulphur content, consumers need to look for smokeless alternatives. Most smokeless fuels contain natural anthracite.
The best thing about multi fuel stoves is they can burn different fuels, meaning although you can use wood in a multi fuel stove, you can also look for more eco-friendly fuels.
Wood burns most efficiently when placed on a layer of ash taking air from above. To burn wood well in a multi fuel stove, it's best to buy a wood burning accessory for the stove, with which it will burn logs just as efficiently as a wood burner. Without the accessory, other fuels will work better than wood in a multi fuel stove.
If you live in a smoke-controlled area or want to do your bit for the environment and plan on using mainly smokeless fuels, then a multi fuel stove is the better option.
Flavel Arundel Multifuel Stove
What is the best smokeless fuel for multi fuel stoves?
Not to be confused with regular coal, which will be phased out by 2023, anthracite or "hard coal" is one of the most popular smokeless fuels used in the UK today.
Anthracite is much harder than conventional house coal. It has very few impurities, and burns much cleaner, and gives out more heat than softer coal. It also produces few pollutants, making it an ideal fuel to use in a multi fuel stove.
Furthermore, smokeless fuels like anthracite are permitted in smoke-controlled zones.
What about other smokeless fuels?
It's not only anthracite that is a suitable fuel for a multi fuel stove. There are other smokeless fuels with the same benefits that burn cleanly.
You can buy fuel made from ground anthracite or coal, which is converted into smokeless briquettes. These are sometimes called "ovals" and are easier to light and cheaper than solid anthracite.
When choosing a smokeless fuel for your stove, you should look whether it is DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) or HETAS (Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme) approved. This means it is certified as safe to use and produces emissions low enough for a smoke control zone.
To summarise, the most significant benefit of a multi fuel stove you can use different fuels. This means you can change the fuel you use depending on cost and availability.
You don't quite have that advantage with a wood burning stove, but a wood burner is the best option if wood is your preferred fuel. You shouldn't have a problem finding a firewood seller who supplies properly dried wood to meet new government requirements.
