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The Most Significant Issue With Defra Approved Woodburner And How To Fix It
Choosing a Defra Approved Woodburner

Defra-approved stoves are becoming increasingly popular. You will not have to pay a huge penalty if you live in a zone that has smoke control. They also have additional benefits.

Most Defra-approved woodburners have an altered top-air control that stops you from closing it all the way down and thereby cutting off oxygen supply to the flame. This stops the fire from smoldering or producing smoke.

What is a DEFRA Approved Stove?

It is crucial to choose a stove that has been approved by DEFRA when purchasing a multifuel or woodburning stove. This means that the stove has passed the rigorous tests conducted by DEFRA. These tests are developed to ensure that the stove is compliant with the laws governing smoke emission. DEFRA approved stoves have been shown to emit less smoke than other multifuel or woodburning stoves, which is the reason they are able to be used in Smoke Control Areas.

A Defra approved stove is also known as a "Smoke Exempt" Stove. In many instances the models are marked with a 'SE', which means Smoke Exempt. This means that the stove has passed an examination conducted by DEFRA the UK government. The test is designed to measure emissions levels and the amount of smoke generated during normal operation. Exempt stoves from DEFRA are permitted to be used in a Smoke Control Area and may be equipped with the chimney lining of 5 inches for wood burning (provided the manufacturer doesn't demand having a larger diameter) provided that this is in accordance with Building Regulations.

Even if you do not reside in a Smoke Control Area and you are not in a Smoke-Control Area, a Defra- stove is a good choice. They are more eco friendly and neighbor friendly. They have been shown to emit less emissions that could cause nuisance smoke in the air. Additionally, your chimney and flue system will remain cleaner for longer as they can only be used with dry seasoned firewood that hasn't been cut or split in recent times.

At Bowland Stoves we offer a large selection of Defra approved stoves that come in a variety of designs and are perfect for those looking to heat their homes in a sustainable manner. We also have a selection of stoves that are dual fuel so you can use them to heat your home as well as producing domestic hot water at the same time.

If you live in a city or town classified as a smoke control area in which case you will need to make use of a Defra-approved stove or a smoke exempt stove to ensure that you are in compliance with the laws and avoid hefty penalties. The stoves have been redesigned to meet the ultra low emissions standards that are set out by the UK government. They will typically have a second stage of combustion that ensures that waste products in the form of gases are burned for greater efficiency.

The stoves that are Defra-approved are eco-friendly.

If you select a DEFRA approved wood burning stove you are selecting a heating source that is not just environmentally responsible, but also extremely efficient. This is due to the second stage of combustion which is re-burning flue gases which results in a reduction of emissions. DEFRA approved stoves are also cost-effective because they burn fuel more efficiently, reducing energy consumption in the long term. They are also available in different styles to suit any home aesthetic from contemporary to traditional.

Defra approved stoves are also an excellent option for those living in Smoke Control Areas of the UK. These are typically big cities and towns where smoke emissions are a major issue. You can burn wood or other fuels not permitted in your home without fearing fines if you have an approved DEFRA stove.

The best DEFRA approved stoves also come with a range of additional eco-friendly features to reduce their environmental impact. A majority of our stoves, for example that are SIA Ecodesign compliant and come with a sophisticated cleanburn system that increases the efficiency of combustion while decreasing emissions. They also feature an airwash system to keep the glass clean so that you can enjoy a good view of your fire, and they are multi-fuel so you can burn a broad variety of fuels.

fireplacesandstove.com approved stove also provides the necessary amount of oxygen for the wood to burn. This means that the wood won't ignite or release excessive smoke, which is especially important in the Smoke Control Area because this could lead to fines.

Apart from the advantages of using a wood burning stove in a Smoke Control Area, DEFRA approved stoves are more sustainable for the environment and most importantly, for your health. This is because ultra-fine particulate (PM2.5) can penetrate deep into the lungs, and is part of the air pollution caused by solid fuels like wood. This can lead to a variety of harmful side effects such as asthma symptoms or a feeling of discomfort.

Stoves that are Defra approved are friendly to neighbours.

A DEFRA approved stove is essential if you reside in a smoke-free area as it will allow you to burn wood as well as a range of other authorised smokeless fuels. They can pass strict emissions tests which limit the amount of fumes they emit operating normally. If you do not use a DEFRA approved stove in a smoke-controlled zone, you could be breaking the law and being punished with a substantial 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 be more clean for a longer period of time.


Stove manufacturers are constantly improving their clean burning technology and new stoves are now equipped with an array of new features that help them be more eco-friendly. This includes advanced secondary and tertiary combustion systems that help to ensure that all the gasses that are combustible are consumed completely. This results in an efficient burning process which reduces emissions and waste products.

A DEFRA-approved cooktop will also have a high burning rate which means that less fuel is wasted and more is utilized. This makes them far more efficient than older model stoves, and results in savings for homeowners.

Defra approved stoves are more eco-friendly than traditional open fires or log burners. They emit much less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels, which can contribute to the UK's climate-change goals. By burning DEFRA-approved stoves, homeowners can reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by up to 5 percent.

A DEFRA approved appliance will also typically achieve extremely low levels of emissions, which are much lower than Ecodesign requirements. In 2022, new stoves will have to comply with the Ecodesign regulations, which establish minimum efficiency, introduce ceilings for OGV and NOX (not currently in place) and emission limits for ALL woodburning appliances which will be much stricter than the DEFRA Exempt ceiling currently applies.

Defra Approved Stoves Are Smoke Exempt

It is essential to check if your new wood stove is Defra-exempt, if you are planning to live in or move to an area that is a Smoke Controlled Area. The law forbids the emission of smoke from a wood stove, unless it is burning a certified fuel. Utilizing a fuel that is not approved for use in a Smoke Controlled area could lead to fines of up to PS1000.

A Defra exempt stove is a multi-fuel wood stove that has complied with the Defra regulations (Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). Defra, the UK government department, is responsible for all regulations and policies related to rural issues, food and the environment.

The stove manufacturers produce models that are approved by DEFRA and non-DEFRA. The DEFRA stoves have been altered to ensure that the vents are not able to be closed. This stops a stove from'slumbering that is when a stove opens its air intakes at night to allow the fuel to burn slowly. The re-opening of the air vents causes the combustibles that have been burned to be released back into the room as black smoke.

Many people are unsure whether a non DEFRA approved stove is allowed to be installed in a space which is smoke-free. You can use it legally however, only if you use the list of Defra approved fuels. This list is available on the government's website. Unfortunately, wood isn't listed on this list, therefore if you wish to be able to burn wood in your new stove, you need to get yourself an DEFRA approved stove.

A DEFRA exempted stove is more efficient than models that are not DEFRA approved. DEFRA approved stoves are built to use more fuel. This means that you will be able to draw more heat from your logs or other kinds of wood, which in turn can reduce the cost of heating.

Although a stove that is DEFRA-approved is superior to non-DEFRA models in terms of efficiency, it still needs to be maintained properly to ensure it continues to work effectively. This includes cleaning the firebox, flue and ensuring that the chimney is free of obstructions.

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