Choosing a Defra Approved Woodburner
Defra approved stoves are becoming more popular. You can avoid a significant fine if you live in a zone that has smoke control. They also provide additional advantages.
The majority of woodburners approved by Defra come with an altered top-air control that prevents you from shutting it completely and thereby cutting off oxygen supply to the fire. This stops the fire from smoldering or generating smoke.
What is a DEFRA approved stove?
It is crucial to choose a stove which is DEFRA-approved before purchasing a multifuel or woodburning stove. This means that the stove has passed rigorous tests designed by DEFRA. These tests are designed to ensure that an appliance abides by laws regarding smoke emissions. DEFRA approved stoves have been found to emit less smoke than other woodburning or multifuel stoves, which is the reason they are able to be employed in Smoke Control Areas.
A Defra approved stove is also known as a Smoke Exempt Stove and in many instances, these models are marked with the letter ‘SE’, which means Smoke Exempt. This signifies that the stove has passed a test that was developed by the UK government’s DEFRA and the test is designed to measure emissions levels as well as the amount of smoke that is produced during normal operation. The stoves that are Defra Exempt can be used within a Smoke Control Area and can be equipped with a 5 inch chimney liner to facilitate the burning of wood (provided that the manufacturer doesn’t insist on a bigger diameter) when it is in line with Building Regulations.
The choice of the Defra approved stove is a good idea even if you don’t live in a Smoke Control Area since they tend to be more eco-friendly and neighbour friendly. They produce less emissions that can cause nuisance smoke in the air. Your chimney and flue will also remain cleaner for longer because they are only able to use dry wood that is not cut or split recently.
Bowland Stoves offers a range of stoves that are Defra-approved and available in a variety of designs. These stoves are ideal for those who want to heat their homes in an environmentally sustainable manner. We also have models that are dual-fuel, meaning you can use them to heat your home and produce domestic hot water simultaneously.
If you live in a large town or city that has been designated as a Smoke Control Area then the chances are you will need to use an approved Defra Stove or Smoke Exempt Stove in order to comply with the law and avoid heavy fines. These stoves have been modified to meet the ultra low emission standards set out by the UK government and they will typically have a second stage of combustion which ensures that the waste products in the form of gases are burned for greater efficiency.
Stoves Approved by Defra Are Eco-Friendly
When you select a DEFRA-approved wood burning stove, you’re choosing an eco-friendly and efficient heat source. This is because the second phase combustion re-burns the flue gases which results in a low emission. DEFRA approved stoves are also cost-effective because they make use of fuel more efficiently, thus reducing energy consumption in the long run. They are also available in various styles to fit every style of home from contemporary to traditional.
Smoke Control Areas in the UK are another great location to buy Defra-approved stoves. These are generally large cities and towns where smoke emissions can pose an issue. You can burn wood or other fuels not allowed in your home and not risk fines if you use a DEFRA-approved stove.
The top DEFRA approved stoves also feature a range of additional eco-friendly features to further reduce their environmental impact. For instance, many of our stoves are SIA Ecodesign compliant and feature a cutting-edge cleanburn technology that maximises the efficiency of combustion and reduces emissions. The stoves also come with an airwash system that keeps the glass clean, so you can enjoy your fire. They are multi-fuel, Defra Stoves Price Range so you can choose from a variety of fuels.
Another way a DEFRA approved stove is environmentally friendly is that they are constructed to provide the minimum amount of oxygen required for the wood to be able to burn effectively. This ensures that the wood doesn’t smoke or release excessive smoke. This is important in Smoke Control Areas as it can cause fines.
Apart from the advantages of using a wood burning stove in a Smoke Control Area, DEFRA approved stoves are better for the environment and most importantly, for your health. This is due to the fact that a significant portion of the pollution from solid fuels, like wood, is ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can be absorbed into the lung. It can cause a variety of negative side effects, including asthma symptoms and a feeling being sick.
Defra Approved Stoves Are Neighbourly
A DEFRA approved stove is essential when you live in a smoke control zone since it allows you to burn wood and a variety of other approved smokeless fuels. They can pass strict emissions tests that limit the amount of fumes they release when they are in normal operation. If you are using an non-approved stove in a smoke-controlled area you could be in violation of the law. You could also be subject to an enormous fine.
A stove that is Defra-approved is more eco-friendly and friendly to neighbors. They don’t create a nuisance smoke and if they are maintained properly, they will run smoothly for a long time, which means your chimney and flue system will remain more clean for a longer period of time.
Stove manufacturers are constantly advancing their clean burning technology. new stoves now offer a wide variety of innovative features that make them environmentally friendly. This includes advanced secondary and third-party combustion systems that help to ensure that all the gases that ignite are completely consumed. This results in more efficient burning that reduces emissions and waste.
A DEFRA-approved stove will also have a high burning rate, which means less fuel is wasted and more is used. This makes them more efficient than earlier models and leads to savings for homeowners.
Defra approved stoves are also more sustainable than traditional open fires or log burners. They release significantly less carbon dioxide emissions than fossil fuels, which aids in achieving the UK’s climate change goals. By burning DEFRA certified stoves-approved stoves, homeowners can reduce their carbon dioxide emissions up to 5 percent.
A DEFRA approved appliance can typically achieve extremely low emission levels that are much lower than Ecodesign requirements. In 2022, new stoves must comply with Ecodesign regulations that set minimum efficiency levels and introduce ceilings for NOX and OGV (not in place currently) as well as emission limits for all woodburning devices. These limits will be more stringent then the DEFRA exemption ceiling currently in place.
Stoves that are Defra-approved are Smoke-Free
It is important that you ensure that your new wood stove is Defra-exempt, if you live or plan to move to an area that is a Smoke Controlled Area. This is because the law does not allow smoke emissions from a stove unless it burns an approved fuel. The use of a fuel that is not approved in a Smoke Controlled area can result in fines up to PS1000.
A Defra stoves Price range-exempt stove is a multi-fuel wood stove that has complied with the Defra regulations (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs). Defra, the UK government department responsible for all policies and regulations relating to rural issues, food and the environment.
The stove manufacturers produce models that are DEFRA-approved as well as non-DEFRA. The DEFRA stoves have been altered to ensure that the air vents are not able to be shut. This stops a stove from’slumbering,’ which is when a stove reopens its air intakes at night in order to allow fuel to burn slowly. This reopening of the air vents causes the combustibles that have been burned to be sent back out into the room in the form black smoke.
Many people are unsure whether a non DEFRA approved energy-efficient stoves approved stove can be installed in an area which is smoke-free. Yes but you can only legally use it to burn a list of Defra approved smokeless fuels which is highlighted on the official website of the government here. Unfortunately, wood isn’t listed on this list, therefore if you wish to be capable of burning wood in your new stove you must purchase an DEFRA approved stove.
Another benefit of a DEFRA exempt stove is that it is much more efficient than non-Defra approved models. This is because DEFRA approved stoves are made to use a higher proportion of the fuel they are fed. This allows you to get more heat from your logs and other types of wood.
It is essential to keep in mind that, even though a DEFRA approved stove is better than non-DEFRA ones but it still needs to be properly maintained to ensure that it is operating efficiently. This includes cleaning the firebox, flue and checking that the chimney is free of obstructions.