The Best Woodburners

The relaxing, blood pressure-reducing benefits of a wood stove have been well-documented. What about the tiny soot particles released by the wood burners?

Fortunately, the latest stoves are built with the EcoDesign directive in the back of your mind. You can enjoy an inviting and cozy home without compromising on your environmental commitments.

1. Ekol Edge

The Ekol Edge is a simple-looking wood burner that doesn't skimp on performance. It's a fantastic choice for those who live in smoke-controlled areas, since it comes with ClearSkies Level 5 certification. This means it can be used to burn dry and seasoned wood logs or approved solid fuels. The high heat output makes it a great choice for large rooms. The generous fire glass also allows you to enjoy the flames.

It is made of modern steel, so it is able to be used in traditional inglenooks as well as freestanding spaces. It has an integrated air wash system that keeps the glass clear and helps prevent the build-up of soot. The stove is a great seasonal efficiency, meaning that a significant portion of the heat produced is being transferred into your home rather than going up the chimney.

Wood burners have been the subject of a lot of criticism recently, as it has been demonstrated that they contribute to tiny sooty particles in the air known as PM2.5, which has been linked to lung and heart problems. However, the latest models that comply with the Eco design Regulations are much less likely to produce these particles. They are just a small part of the overall pollution produced by burning fossil fuels like gas and coal, however there is no doubt that wood burners are the primary source of this pollutant.

It is important to choose the appropriate wood for your stove to ensure the best heat output and the best combustion. There are a myriad of wood that can be burned, including eucalyptus, ash, hazel and beech. Eucalyptus is an excellent choice due to its rapid burning and provides a lot of heat, but it needs to be well prepared. Beech is also a good alternative, but it's hard to manage due to its thorns.

The Ekol Adept is designed to meet the new regulations. It's clearSkies-rated and Defra-exempt, which means you can use it so it is if you follow the guidelines. It's a powerful burner that's built to last, featuring solid construction and a 10-year body warranty, which is backed up by its incredibly impressive heating performance.

2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen

Wood burning stoves remain very popular and despite the directive muddle that surrounds them and their use, they're going to stay. Some groups have pushed for tighter regulations and a log burner ban. It's worth checking out our guide on the pollution of stoves and regulations before you decide on a new multifuel or log fire.

One company trying to keep the popularity of woodburners high is Arada Stoves. They have recently launched a widescreen model of their renowned Holborn 5 Multifuel/Wood Burning stove wood burning. It's a DEFRA approved, SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready stove with a wide door glass, which gives you an impressive flame image and an airwash system to avoid soot from accumulating.

With a power output of 4.9kW, this is a fantastic stove for most rooms and it's also extremely easy to use and maintain. Its curving lines and classic style makes it a great choice for both traditional and modern style. This model is easily fitted into smaller recesses due to its flat back design. It is also easy to install direct air systems with this model, which will increase the efficiency.

The stove also comes with an ash dump built-in that makes it simple to clean ashes and remove them up regularly. This helps reduce the risk of odours and dust getting out of the room. There are two types of flue adaptors, depending on your chimney type. It also comes with a wireless remote control.

As the debate rages about whether wood burning stoves are good for your health We can all agree that they create a wonderful ambience in our homes. It is important to think about the health consequences of indoor pollution and particulate matter. If you are installing a woodburner, it is recommended that you close the door when you are not working on the flame. You should also regularly clean the stove to keep the air as healthy as it can be.

3. Go Eco 5kW Plus

A woodburner provides a beautiful ambience to a room, it's not just relaxing to watch the flames flicker but it can also help to lower blood pressure. But there's not a lot of good news. Research has shown that older stoves are dangerous due to the tiny particles of soot that can get into your respiratory system. New regulations have been enacted to ensure that log burners meet higher standards. This reduces creosote build-up, smoke leakage and, most important, harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.

New woodburners have to comply with a brand new standard and this is where the Go Eco 5kW Plus stands out. This multi-fuel stove not only meets, but surpasses the new standards. It features a large-screen glass viewing window that gives you a great flame view, and woodburners is kept clean with an air wash system that is powerful. The stove boasts an impressive 80% energy efficiency rating and is DEFRA exempt meaning that it is able to be used wood burning stoves in smoke-free areas. It is also SIA Ecodesign-ready. This means that it is already in compliance with European emissions restrictions for wood burning stoves that will come into effect in 2022.

This stove comes with a complimentary air vent kit. It's now simpler to install than ever. It's a robust little appliance constructed with high-quality steel. The finish is a classic matte black. It's easy-to-clean as the body has been sprayed with an enamel that repels dirt.

The clearSkies label on this stove indicates that it has been independently tested and confirmed to be environmentally friendly and efficient, this is above and over the minimum requirements laid out by Ecodesign. This is one of the stoves on our list that carry the entire five-star ClearSkies rating.

4. Chilli Penguin Defrost

Chilli Penguin is a feisty Welsh wood burner brand that has a unique style that should not be missed out on. They specialize in small, do-it-all multi-fuel stoves that have achieved cult status thanks to their low flue-draught requirements, integral ovens and hotplate tops and a variety of sizes and features. This 4.7kW model is a prime example of their brand focus and also shows that they can still deliver a superior product at a cost that isn't too costly. This DEFRA-approved woodburner is suitable for use in Smoke Control Areas, and is fully compliant with the current emission limit of 5g/hr. It also has the level five ClearSkies certification. It's the ideal choice for those who aren't sure what the directive will be and want to feel secure that their log burners will remain exempt from smoke control regulations.