Choosing a Defra Approved Woodburner
Defra approved stoves are becoming more popular. You can avoid a heavy penalty if you live in a smoke-control area. They also offer other advantages.
The majority of Defra approved woodburners will have an altered top air control that stops you closing it all the way down, which will cut off the oxygen supply to the fire. This stops the fuel from smouldering and generating smoke.
What is a DEFRA approved stove?
It is crucial to choose a stove that is DEFRA-approved before purchasing a multifuel or woodburning stove. This means that the stove has passed rigorous tests conducted by DEFRA. These tests are designed to ensure that an appliance abides by laws regarding smoke emissions. DEFRA accredited stoves approved stoves have been found to emit significantly less smoke than other woodburning or multifuel stoves. This is why they are able to be employed in Smoke Control Areas.
A Defra approved stove is also known as a Smoke Exempt Stove. In many instances, these models will be marked with the letter ‘SE’, which is a reference to Smoke Exempt. This signifies that the stove has passed a test that was developed by the UK government’s DEFRA approved sustainable stoves and the test is designed to measure emission levels and the amount of smoke that is produced in normal operation. Defra exempt stoves are allowed to be employed in a Smoke Control Area and may be fitted with an insulated chimney of 5 inches for wood burning (provided the manufacturer doesn’t insist on having a larger diameter) when it is in accordance with Building Regulations.
Even if you do not reside in a Smoke Control Area selecting a Defra-approved stove is a great option. They are more environmentally friendly and friendly to neighbors. They emit less carbon dioxide which can create to a nuisance smell in the air. Your flue and chimney will stay cleaner longer as they are only able to use dry wood that is not cut or split recently.
At Bowland Stoves we offer a wide range of DEFRA approved clean burning stoves approved stoves in a variety styles. They are ideal for those who want to heat their homes in a sustainable manner. We also carry models that are dual-fuel which means you can use stoves to warm your home and generate domestic hot water simultaneously.
If you reside in a town or city classified as a smoke control area and you live in a smoke control area, you should use a Defra-approved kitchen or a smoke exempt stove to comply with laws and avoid hefty penalties. The stoves are modified to meet the strictest emission standards established by the UK government. They will often include a second phase of combustion that ensures waste products in the forms of gases are burned for even greater efficiency.
defra stoves Ratings Approved Stoves Are Eco-Friendly
If you select a DEFRA approved wood-burning stove, you are selecting a heating source that is not only environmentally sustainable but also extremely efficient. This is because the second phase of combustion re-burns flue gases resulting in minimal emission. DEFRA approved stoves are also cost-effective because they burn fuel more efficiently, which reduces energy consumption in the long run. They also come in a variety of styles to fit any style of home from contemporary to traditional.
Defra approved stoves are also an excellent choice for those living in Smoke Control Areas of the UK. These are generally cities and towns that are large enough that smoke emissions can be a problem. If you have a DEFRA approved stove in your home you can legally burn wood and other banned fuels without facing fines.
The top stoves that are DEFRA stoves ratings and reviews-approved come with a variety of eco-friendly features that reduce their environmental impact. For instance, many of our stoves are SIA Ecodesign compliant, and feature a cutting-edge cleanburn technology that increases combustion efficiency and reduces emissions. The stoves also feature an airwash system that ensures the glass is clean, so you can enjoy your fire. They are multi-fuel, meaning you can use a variety of fuels.
A DEFRA approved stove also has the required amount of oxygen for the wood to burn. This ensures that the wood doesn’t smoke or release excessive smoke. This is crucial in Smoke Control areas as it could lead to fines.
In addition to the advantages of using a wood-burning stove within a Smoke Control Area, DEFRA approved stoves are better for the environment and more importantly, for your health. This is because a large portion of the pollution from solid fuels, including wood is ultra-fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can penetrate deeply into the lung. This can trigger a range of harmful side effects, including asthma symptoms and a feeling being unwell.
Stoves Approved by Defra Are Neighbour Friendly
If you reside in an area where smoke is controlled, a DEFRA-approved stove is required. It will allow you to burn wood and other smokeless fuels. They can pass rigorous emissions tests which restrict the amount of smoke they emit operating normally. If you use an unapproved stove in a smoke-controlled space, you may be breaking the law. You could also be facing an enormous fine.
A Defra-approved stove is also more sustainable and friendly to the environment. They don’t create a nuisance smoke and if they are properly maintained, they will run efficiently for a long time, meaning that your chimney and flue system will be cleaner for longer.
Stove manufacturers are constantly improving their technology for clean burning and new stoves now offer an array of new features that make them green. These include advanced secondary and third-generation combustion systems, which work to ensure that all combustible gases are consumed. This leads to a more effective burn that reduces emissions and waste.
In addition to these technological advancements, an DEFRA approved stove will generally have a high burn rate which means that more fuel is used up and less of it is wasted. This makes them more efficient than older stoves and can result in cost savings for the homeowner.
DEFRA approved efficient stoves-approved stoves are more eco sustainable than open flames and log burners. They release less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, and thus contribute to the UK’s climate-change targets. In fact, burning DEFRA approved stoves, homeowners can reduce their CO2 emissions by nearly a fifth.
A DEFRA approved appliance will also typically achieve extremely low levels of emissions, which are even lower than the Ecodesign requirements. In 2022 new stoves will need to be in compliance with the Ecodesign regulations that set minimum efficiency levels, and introduce ceilings for OGV and NOX (not currently in place) and emissions limits for ALL woodburning appliances that will be more stringent than the DEFRA Exempt ceiling currently applies.
Stoves Approved by Defra Are Smoke-Free
It is crucial to ensure that your new wood stove is Defra-exempt, if you reside or plan to move to an area designated as a Smoke Controlled Area. The law prohibits the release of smoke from a wood burner unless it is burning an approved fuel. The use of a fuel that is not approved in a Smoke Controlled area can result in fines of up to PS1000.
A Defra exempt stove is a wood-burning multi-fuel stove that has been tested and passed the Defra (Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) regulations. Defra is the UK department of the government that is responsible for all policies and regulations relating to rural issues, the environment and food.
The stove manufacturers produce models that are approved by DEFRA and non-DEFRA. The distinction is that a DEFRA approved stove has been modified to prevent the air vents from shutting down. This stops the stove from’slumbering’, which is when the stove opens its air vents at night to allow the fuel to to burn slowly. This opens the combustibles which have been partially burned to go out into the air as black smoke.
Many people are in confusion about whether a non DEFRA approved stove is allowed to be installed in an area that is smoke-free. The answer is yes but you can only legally use it to burn the list of Defra approved smokeless fuels which is highlighted on the official website of the government here. This list does not contain wood and if you are planning to burn wood on your new stove, you will need a DEFRA-approved stove.
A DEFRA exempted stove is also more efficient than models that aren’t DEFRA approved. This is due to the fact that DEFRA approved stoves are made to burn a greater percentage of the fuel that they are fed. This means that you will be able to draw more heat from your logs or other types of wood, which in turn will reduce your heating costs.
Even though a DEFRA-approved stove is superior to non-DEFRA models in terms of efficiency, it still must be maintained in a proper manner to ensure that it continues to perform efficiently. This includes cleaning the firebox, flue and ensuring that the chimney is free of obstructions.