More than one million British families warm their homes with a wood-burning stove during the winter months. If you’re thinking of joining them with a new stove of your own, then you’ll want to be aware of changes coming in 2022 to future proof your stove.
The Government have developed a Clean Air Strategy which is scheduled to come into force in 2022. This will outlaw the sale of the most polluting fuels and ensure only the cleanest stoves are sold from 2022. Many stove manufacturers have already included special features in their designs, creating stoves which have been subject to rigorous tests and have been proven to reduce particulate emissions by 90%. These stoves will now carry an SIA (Stove Industry Alliance) approved Eco-design Ready Stove quality assurance.
But owners of wood burners must be aware that not all wood burning is the same and that reductions in particulate emissions isn’t just about buying an Eco-design Ready stove, it also means burning the right type of wood. Only certain types of wood are suitable for burning and the wood must be dry. This means it should have a moisture content of less than 20%. It’s very difficult to tell how dry a piece of wood is, so you could either invest in a moisture meter or ensure your wood is ready to burn by purchasing it from a bona fide supplier.
For more information on the current changes to the legislation, advice on the Eco-design Ready stoves we sell, or advice on the correct fuel to burn please contact us.
