Choosing a Defra Woodburner
To ensure compliance with the law, anyone living in a smoke-control area must use a DEFRA-approved cooking stove. These are stoves that have been independently tested and proved to burn wood and authorised smokeless fuels in a way that is compliant with legislation.
From the outside, there is no difference between the appearance of a DEFRA approved stove and an unapproved one. Many modern stoves can even be altered to become DEFRA approved with the help of the manufacturer of the stove.
Clean Burn Technology
A stove that is Defra-approved will employ clean burning technologies to reduce the amount of waste that is produced when burning fuels. This technology allows pre-heated, filtered air to be injected into the combustion chamber. The air is mixed with gaseous emissions from the fire and burns hydrocarbons that are not burned. This decreases the amount of smoke escapes from fireplaces and also has a positive impact on asthmatics with respiratory issues.
A lot of modern wood stoves and burners use this technology, which is one reason why they are more eco sustainable than older stoves and fires. If you reside in a smoke control area in order to legally burn wood on a wood-burning stove you'll require a DEFRA exempt appliance that has passed the stringent emissions tests for smoke to qualify as a 'clean burn'.
If you have a DEFRA approved stove, then to take full advantage of the emission reduction technology, it is recommended to burn only low moisture content wood. Ideally, it should have been seasoned for two years to make sure that the wood has been reduced to less than 20 percent moisture. You can check the moisture content of your wood by using a moisture meter.
Clean Burn technology in a DEFRA-approved stove can aid in saving money on your energy bills and keep the environment cleaner. The patented clean burn system reduces the amount of smoke particles released and this can have a positive impact on those suffering from respiratory problems. Regular maintenance of your stove and flue system is important to ensure that it is operating at its maximum efficiency and to keep it from becoming blocked.
If you're an owner of a business and you want to cut down on energy bills then you should consider installing an oil heater made from waste from Clean Burn. There are a range of boiler and furnace models that can be used to generate heat from your own waste oil. Each unit uses Clean Burn's patent-pending Heat Recovery Technology which will recycle the waste oil, turning it into a sustainable renewable energy source. Clean Burn has a large network of dealers who provide excellent customer service prior to and after purchase. They also provide a comprehensive warranty that covers the heat exchangers and combustion chambers of their equipment for a period of 10 years or 15000 hours.
Smoke Exempt Appliances
To qualify as Defra Exempt an appliance must pass a strict test designed by DEFRA, the UK Government Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. This guarantees that it can be used in smoke-free areas. A Defra Exempt stove may be known as a DEFRA stove or an SE stove and will have passed the tests to allow you to burn both wood and approved manufactured smokeless fuels in the UK Smoke Control Areas.
You can avoid paying a penalty and breaking the law if you own a Defra-approved woodburner. This is because a stove that burns wood is only legal to use using a Smoke Control certified appliance and certain approved fuels.
A Defra-exempted stove can also keep your chimney and flue cleaner for longer as it does not emit a lot of nuisance smoke. Even if you do not reside in a smoke control area or smoke control zone, an Defra approved stove is an excellent choice. It will be more sustainable and friendly to your neighbors because it produces less smoke that is noxious than a stove that is not Defra approved.
Regular maintenance is the best method to ensure that your stove performs at its highest level and improves its energy efficiency. This includes cleaning the flue and chimney regularly. Clean and well-maintained stoves will perform better, which will allow you to save more money over time.
There are a lot of things to take into consideration when selecting the right stove. From defra exempt stoves of the heater, to the kW output it will provide, there are a lot of variables to take into account. It is also important to consider the type of fuel you will be using and whether you'll have to operate it in a Smoke Control Area.
Eco-Friendly
Ecodesign wood burning stoves are made with the environment in mind. They achieve this by using secondary and tertiary combustion methods which help reduce harmful particle emissions and conserve fuel. Additionally, they also burn wood at higher temperatures than other stoves, which results in the logs burning more thoroughly and producing less pollution. These eco-friendly stoves may also be a lot more efficient than older models, thereby saving you money on heating bills.
The Ecodesign logo that you see on many of our woodburners indicates that the stove meets new regulations set by the European Union, as well as UK laws on environmental protection. These Ecodesign log burners are designed to be efficient and can achieve an efficiency of 70 percent over the season. They also have a second clean burn system, which is controlled by a chrome lever at the base of the stove. This system allows and closes a vent that pulls air over the fire, re-burning any initial smoke produced by the fire. This helps reduce emissions and keeps your chimney and flue clean for longer.
We would recommend all of our customers to check out for these Ecodesign stoves when searching for the best woodburner. They are not only more efficient and cleaner, but also have lower emissions. They are also more economical than other models, and come in different styles to suit the aesthetics of your home.
Defra Approved Stoves
Back in the day there was a time when people could choose whatever they wanted to put on their fires. This resulted in massive amounts of smoke being pumped into cities and towns across the nation. The government recognized that this was a serious issue and acted. This led to the development of Smoke Control Areas, which restricts any emission from homes for residential use unless they are using an approved stove or fuel.
A Defra Smoke Exempt Woodburner is the only way to legally burn wood in a smoke-control zone, so if you live in an area like this, you must buy a Defra Smoke Exempt Stove if you wish to have an authentic wood-burning stove. If you don't do this, you could be breaking the law and being punished.
Neighbourly Friendly
Wood-burners are becoming increasingly popular in the UK particularly with the recent influx of people moving to the country from cities. It is essential to comply with the laws governing log-burners to avoid legal actions. This can be accomplished by using a DEFRA-approved stove that meets strict emissions standards. There are a variety of ways to identify whether the stove is DEFRA approved, including checking the label or looking at the specifications on the manufacturer's website.
The DEFRA stamp on a stove signifies that the appliance has been rigorously tested and has passed strict emission standards, allowing it to be used within smoke control zones. The stove will also burn less fuel and produce less harmful pollutant. This is an important feature to look out for when purchasing an appliance. It will ensure that you get the most from your purchase, and that you can use it legally in smoke-control zones.
To lower emissions from your stove, it is also important to only use kiln dried or seasoned wood. Kiln drying decreases the amount of moisture in the wood which reduces pollution when it is burnt. Wood can dry for up to two years without any intervention. If you're burning wood in an area where smoke is not a problem, it's best to employ a chimney sweep, or utilize a log storage unit to dry your wood. Check for the Woodsure Ready to Burn logo when buying wood since it indicates that the wood has a low moisture content.
Smoke control laws in the UK are designed to minimize harmful particulate matter that is result of coal and wood fires. These tiny particles can trigger respiratory issues, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Studies have shown that wood-burning stoves contribute between 23 and 31% of PM2.5 pollutants in London which is why it is crucial to adhere to the guidelines when purchasing a new stove and to take care when using it in smoke controlled zones.