Defra Wood Burning Stoves
Stoves are more environmentally friendly than open fires and can heat rooms more efficiently. They also produce less pollution because the majority of smoke is emitted up the chimney rather than in the room.
You might not be allowed to use a stove that burns wood when you live in a smoke-control area. To avoid this, search for an DEFRA approved stove.
Clean Combustion
A Defra wood burning stove is a premium appliance that provides an environmentally responsible and clean method of heating your home. These kinds of stoves are designed to burn authorized wood and fuels like smokeless coal, without producing unnecessary emissions. Modern combustion technology reduces the amount of combustible gas that is produced during the burning process.
This technology allows these stoves to be used in Smoke Control Areas in the UK. These areas are usually well-populated cities and towns where the release of particulate matter is limited.
They are extremely efficient. This means you will make use of less fuel to reach the same heating level. They can help reduce the cost of energy.
In addition to the environmental benefits, these stoves are extremely safe to use. They are built with durable and sturdy components that guarantee they can withstand extreme heat and massive loads of logs. This ensures that your wood-burning appliance is always safe and reliable to use, which is crucial to ensure your safety.
Defra approved stoves are typically described as ecodesign ready or 'Smoke Exempt' and can be used in Smoke Control Areas of the UK. These stoves have passed a stringent test to ensure they meet the strict standards for emissions. They can legally burn wood or other fuels in these areas. This is accomplished by providing the minimum amount of air for combustion and resulting in virtually no smoke.
Many people have misconceptions about the emissions produced by open fires and stoves. Many believe that wood burning appliances are a major source of fine particulate in the UK. But the truth is that domestic combustion is only 13 percent of the total. The largest source is bonfires and incinerators.
There have been suggestions that Sadiq Khan may implement a ban on the use of traditional open fires and older stoves in London. If this plan were to be implemented it would make the city an entirely smoke-free zone. Although this proposal is unlikely to be successful however, it does highlight the need for the government to adopt measures to minimise particulate emissions in urban areas.
Reduced Emissions
Wood burning stoves are the most popular choice for home heating in the UK. However, they can produce significant levels of harmful air pollution including particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other contaminants. These emissions can cause illnesses like heart disease and lung cancer. Modern log burners with
DEFRA stoves installation approval utilize advanced combustion technology to limit the emissions. They also come with secondary and tertiary combustion system that dramatically reduces primary PM secondary PM precursors, toxicity and NOx, and they have been designed to ensure full combustion to attain this.
They are more environmentally green than open fires and are suitable for areas that have smoke control zones or restrictions on wood burning. These zones are usually densely populous areas in cities and towns, where excessive smoke could be a source of irritation for residents. If you decide to use an open fire, you may be penalized by the local authority. However, homeowners who install a defra-approved stove or wood burner are not subject to these penalties.
The Defra-exempt stove range that are made by brands such as Arada, Parkray and Burley, boasts the latest in clean-burning technology, reducing harmful emissions to a minimum under stable combustion conditions. These
DEFRA approved contemporary stoves Stoves are also SIA Ecodesign Ready, which means that they meet strict emission limits for VOCs and particulates and also have increased efficiency targets for energy use.
It is important to remember that Defra stoves are only permitted in areas that have smoke control if they are specifically designed for this purpose and if you can prove that you live in one. If you live in a place that is smoke controlled and you want to use a stove which is not in compliance with the rules, you will require an adaptor or retrofit your stove with the chimney cover.
It is crucial to keep in mind that
DEFRA approved low emission stoves stoves may not be immune to the same wear and tear as other wood burning appliances, so it is crucial to perform regular maintenance to keep them in good condition. Regularly cleaning the flue and chimney, as well as checking for obstructions are a part of this maintenance. Maintaining your stove in good shape will allow it to function efficiently for many years, and will also prolong its lifespan.
Energy Efficiency
The
Defra approved stoves we sell utilize the most modern combustion technology to give the highest heat output with minimum emissions. A majority of these stoves feature pre-heated secondary and tertiary air to reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions. PM is created when wood and other solid fuels burn and can lead to a variety of health issues, including respiratory problems. The good news is that SIA Ecodesign ready stoves (often called DEFRA-exempted stoves) can reduce the amount of PM by 55% compared to open fireplaces as well as basic stoves.
Stoves can be more than just aesthetically pleasing. They can also save you money and keep your home warm. They can increase the warmth of a space faster than radiators. They can also reduce heating costs by as much as 40 percent.
Defra approved stoves are particularly advantageous for those living in a Smoke Control Zone which covers most of the UK's cities and towns. In these areas, it's illegal to use a non-approved multi-fuel or log burner unless you have DEFRA approval or have a stainless-steel twin wall chimney liner that is in compliance with regulations regarding smoke control.
DEFRA approved stoves are likely to be identified as "DEFRA Exempt" or "SE which means they have been tested by the government to ensure they can legally be used to burn approved fuels without generating smoke in the home. The tests guarantee that these stoves emit minimal levels of pollutants and have enough combustion air to stop smoke from escaping the flue.
There are a number of factors that can lead to smoke when burning wood or other solid fuels such as using unseasoned or wet firewood, which can cause more smoke and emissions than dry kiln dried wood or closing the top air vent too tightly, which hinders airflow and hampers the combustion process, or starving your stove of oxygen by leaving the door open overnight which can also generate more smoke and emissions. The
best DEFRA stoves solution to this is to always use seasoned, dry and correctly sized firewood and make sure you have a functional and clean flue system, with an airtight seal.
Aesthetics
A wood stove is a popular feature in many homes and provides a variety of advantages, including cost savings, clean combustion, reduced emissions and the possibility of renewable energy. They can also add aesthetic value to a room.
Wood stoves are not all made to be equal. A new study has shown that some wood stoves even those marketed to be eco-friendly, produce 750 times as much tiny particles of pollutant than a modern HGV. This is a huge amount of pollution, and is enough to make your home unsafe for your family especially in the case of elderly relatives or children living with you.
The positive side is that many older stoves can be modified to be much more eco-friendly by ensuring that the wood is properly and seasoned or kiln-dried.