The Benefits of DEFRA Exempt Wood Burners

DEFRA approved wood burning stoves are an excellent option for homeowners who live in smoke control areas. These particular stoves have been tested thoroughly and are operating in accordance with strict regulations.

Stoves that are approved will usually be identified with the letter "SE" which means Smoke Exempt. They are able to be used in smoke controlled areas but only when burning Defra Approved Fuels including wood and manufactured smokeless fuels.

Smoke Exempt

DEFRA exempted wood burning stoves or Defra-approved stoves are designed to be in compliance with the Department of Environment (DEFRA's) regulations. The stoves have been tested and inspected to ensure that they burn fuel more efficiently and produce little or no smoke. They emit low levels of carbon dioxide, and their combustion efficiency is so high that part-burnt combustibles like ash and soot are reburned before they can escape down your chimney and into the air.

If you live in a city or large town that is classified as Smoke Control Area then it's crucial that your stove is DEFRA exempt and can be used with fuels that are authorised. It is illegal to emit smoke from your chimney if you are not using an exemption appliance or fuels that are authorised. Exempt Defra stoves are better for your chimney because they burn fuel cleaner and produce less smoke. The chimney and flue will last longer and remain cleaner.

We offer a wide range of Defra exempt stoves from the top manufacturers in the world including Stovax and Arada. We only sell the best quality products, DEFRA accredited stoves so you can be confident that your new stove will be a safe and efficient addition to your home.

There is a common misconception that you have to purchase a Defra exempt stove if you reside in a smoke control area but this isn't the situation. You can still put an un-DEFRA stove in your house provided that it is fitted with a 6" (150mm) flue liner, and only use it with authorised briquettes or other smokeless fuels.

We recommend that you choose an Defra approved model if you wish to be sure that you can burn wood legally in a DEFRA-exempt stove. The stoves we offer were designed to meet UK environmental standards. They have been tested and approved as DEFRA exempt. This means they produce minimal smoke. They are also more efficient than the older models, meaning you can heat the property with fewer wood logs. You can choose from a selection of Defra models in a wide variety of colours and styles.

Clean Burn

Wood-burning stoves and open flames emit smoke that could cause harm to the health of those living in your home and those living close by. This is because the fine particles in the smoke are known to cause respiratory issues such as asthma. Fortunately, modern DEFRA exempt stoves have been designed to significantly reduce these negative impacts.

These clean burning wood burners, often called SE or Defra approved stoves They have been thoroughly checked and tested to ensure that they comply by the Department of Environmental's regulations. They also have been designed to burn fuel more efficiently so that they emit fewer pollutants. These stoves also show the clear smoke coming out of the chimney instead of the dark smoke that is associated with older log burning stoves and open fires.

The reason that the smoke particles in these modern DEFRA exempt stoves are so much lower is because they have been constructed with secondary and third airflow systems. This means that the air in the combustion chamber is constantly being circulated, which makes it much more difficult for these particles to escape the chimney.

This also means that you can only burn fuels that are authorised on your DEFRA exempt wood stove (such as dry seasoned firewood). The airflow system in these modern stoves also helps keep the combustion chamber clean, so that the buildup of soot is reduced, and gas can easily escape from the flue.

According to Defra, a new DEFRA-approved wood stove fitted with an EcoDesign baffle is capable of producing around 500 times less harmful emissions than a traditional log burning stove or open fire. Installing one of these efficient, modern stoves in a Smoke-Control Area is vital to safeguard your health as well as the health of your neighbors.

Alternatively, you can install an DEFRA Approved multi-fuel stove and utilize a variety fuels including peat, briquettes and other kinds of manufactured solid fuels that can be purchased at the supermarket. However, it is advised to only use dry 'Ready burn' seasoned wood and do not burn treated or painted timber because they will create more pollution than untreated wood.

Easy Maintenance

A DEFRA-exempt stove for wood burning is easy to maintain. Regular maintenance and cleaning checks will assist in extending the lifespan of your stove. These types of stoves also are very efficient, offering cost savings on your heating bill and cutting down on the amount of fuel you use by up to 50%. The emissions produced by these stoves are also much lower than other kinds of stoves, and they offer a greener alternative to fossil fuels.

These types of wood stoves are very easy to install and are suitable for most homes especially if you reside in an urban area. They have passed DEFRA accredited stoves tests, which means you can legally use them in smoke control zones without breaking the law and the risk of a large fine.

Defra approved wood stoves are often more affordable than other models of stoves due to their advanced combustion technology that makes sure that the fire burns efficiently. This means that there are fewer particles and carbon monoxide releasing into the air, which is great news for your health and the health of your family members.

In addition, the DEFRA exempt stoves have been inspected through various initiatives, such as the Clearskies scheme and Ecodesign which means that they meet rigorous emissions and efficiency requirements. You may see these certifications displayed on the stoves we carry, and they give you peace of mind that you are purchasing a safe and environmentally responsible model.

There is a wide range of Defra exempt stoves here at Stoves Direct, including many traditional styles that are perfect for an inglenook fireplace or a fireplace chamber. We also offer modern, sleek options that go well with an easy mantle or surround. If you're considering purchasing one of our Defra-exempt wood burning stoves, you need to think about the style you want for your home, and how it'll fit with the interior decor.

A Defra exempt stove is the only kind of log burner that you can legally burn in a Smoke Control Area, and it will save you from having to pay a fine if find yourself in the middle of a illegal wood-burning fire. It's also a great alternative for those who wish to reduce their carbon footprint as the tree that the wood comes from absorbs CO2 as it grows and returns this back into the atmosphere when burned in the stove.

Smoke Control Areas Suitable

Many UK cities and towns are classified as Smoke Control Areas, so a wood burning stove that has been DEFRA certified is essential. This means that the stove has passed strict tests and can be legally used in these areas. These tests ensure that the air isn't contaminated by the combustion particles produced by the stove. These toxins are the reason for the dark smoke frequently seen from chimneys in areas of smoke control and can have a negative impact on health, as well as making neighbors uncomfortable.

In response local councils have enacted laws that ban the use of open flames and non-DEFRA exempt appliances in these areas to manage the issue. The good news is that you can still use your stove in your home so long as it is DEFRA-exempt and you only use approved fuel.

Stoves that have been approved for use in a Smoke Control Area will be marked as such and have been tested to ensure they meet or exceed strict emissions and efficiency standards. The stoves that are exempt from Defra are more eco-friendly than other kinds of wood burners because they feature advanced secondary and tertiary systems of combustion which help reduce their carbon footprint.

The easiest way to find out whether you live in a smoke control area is to contact your local council and ask for more details. You can also look up your property's address online. However, it's recommended to contact your local council for more details.

Even if you don't live in the Smoke Control Area a Defra-exempt wood burning stove can be a wise investment. It is more environmentally friendly and also more considerate of neighbors. A stove that is Defra-approved will also produce less smoke, which keeps your chimney and flue cleaner for longer. Because of this, many major stove manufacturers like Arada, Burley, Parkray and Stovax offer smokeless models that are DEFRA exempt and will not be affected by the new regulations.