Local authorities in England have started issuing fines for illegal log burner use. These new powers come after a change in regulations on domestic burning to reduce levels of pollutants from smoke, which are harmful to human health.
But it’s not just your health you could be risking with a log burner. You could also risk a fine if you don’t follow regulations. Here’s what you need to know as well as how to switch to other ways of heating your home.
Are wood burners being banned?
No, there are no plans to ban wood burners outright in any part of the UK. The UK government’s Environmental Improvement Plan says:
“The UK Government recognises that some households are reliant on solid fuel burning as a primary source for heating, hot water and cooking, with this in mind government is not seeking to ban burning.”
In Scotland specifically, Scottish Government’s New Build Heat Standard that came into force in April 2024 says:
“There is no blanket ban on solid fuel burning stoves. These can continue to be used in existing buildings.”
As of 19 September, The Scottish Government has temporarily paused the requirement for new build houses to install low carbon heating systems like heat pumps. For more information, visit the Scottish Government website.
What are the wood burner regulations?
If you live in a smoke control area, new wood burners can’t emit more than 3g of smoke per hour.
If your log burner is on the list of Defra-exempt appliances that produce fewer smoke emissions, you can apply for an exemption.
You must use an approved fuel, which varies depending on where in the UK you live. See the full list of approved fuels on the Defra website.
Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on fuel packaging. This means the fuel has less than 20% moisture and complies with Defra’s regulations.
All new log burners must adhere to Ecodesign rules to reduce smoke and pollutant emissions. Check with the manufacturer if a wood burner adheres to Ecodesign rules.
Local authorities in England have the power to issue fines starting from £175 for people breaking these rules. But the fines can go as high as £300.
You could also get a fine of up to £1,000 for using unauthorised fuel in an appliance that’s not on the Defra-exempt list.
If the situation goes to court, fines could be as high as £5,000 for repeat offenders.
Why have these regulations come in?
Burning biomass like wood – especially wet wood – is a source of pollutants like particulate matter PM2.5. The World Health Organization has identified these particles as being particularly harmful to human health. This is because they’re so small (less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter), and can travel through the bloodstream, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs.
Wet wood is less efficient than seasoned (naturally dried) wood because more energy is wasted in turning the moisture in the wood into vapour.
If you have wet or unseasoned wood, you should dry it out for at least a year before using it – wait until it has less than 20% moisture. You can buy a moisture meter from your local DIY shop for around £25 to measure this and they’re easy to use. They have two metal pins that you press against the wood, and a digital display tells you the moisture content as a percentage.
Five top tips to using a wood burner safely
Use dry fuel – the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo helps you find fuel that has less than 20% moisture, which reduces smoke and harmful emissions. Also, never burn anything other than dry, seasoned wood.
Install a flue liner to help reduce the risk of smoke leaking through your chimney structure. It also improves the draw of the chimney, making your wood burner more efficient.
Make sure your stove is serviced annually to keep it working well.
Consider burning less to reduce the amount of smoke produced.
Install a carbon monoxide monitor close to the wood burner. This will alert you to any dangerous fumes.
If you’re thinking about changing your heating system, it’s worth considering cleaner, low carbon alternatives to wood burners.
For example, electric heating can be considered a low carbon heating option as renewable energy sources are powering more and more of the electricity grid.
Another example is heat pumps, which are one of the most efficient heating systems available. This is because for every unit of energy you use to power the system, you get three units back in heat.
Compare this to a modern wood burning stove, where you only get around 0.8 units of heat for every unit of fuel.
If you have solar panels installed in your home, you can help power the heat pump using the free energy from the sun.
