How to get ready and avoid a fine during wood burning stove season

Councillors in Wakefield voted for new measures in December last year to allow environmental health officers to issue fixed penalty notices to stop excessive smoke emissions.

This was in response to an increasing number of complaints about chimney smoke from some solid fuel fires.

We asked Bruce Allen, CEO of HETAS and Woodsure for advice on how to use stoves responsibly and here is what he said:

With an estimated two million stoves in the UK and around 150,000 installed in England by HETAS registered installers, it is important that they are used in their intended way to minimise environmental impact.

There are rules and regulations around using wood burners in smoke control areas, within which you cannot release smoke from a chimney and can only burn authorised fuel, unless you use an appliance approved by Defra, also known as an “exempt appliance” or “Defra approved appliance”.

Your local council will be able to advise if you live in a smoke control area.

Retailers will be able to inform you whether your appliance is Defra exempt or not, alternatively there are plenty of online marketplaces that list compliant, safe appliances of all types, which are provided by trusted, independently inspected suppliers.

A good way to know whether your fuel is authorised to use in a smoke control area is to look for the Ready to Burn certification mark when shopping around.

Defra’s Ready to Burn Scheme ensures that retailers are selling wood and smokeless fuels which adhere to government regulations.

Buying Ready to Burn certified wood fuel means you can be sure that you’re not only meeting regulations and potentially avoiding a fine, it also helps to increase the efficiency and heat output of your fuel and reduce the impact of usage on the environment.

So how do you ensure you are using your wood burner in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible way?

There were a reported 2,540 chimney fires in England from April 2022 to March 2023, so it is crucial that you continue to maintain your wood burner and chimney regularly, for your safety and the safety of others and the environment.

You should have your chimney swept at least twice a year when burning wood and at least once a year when burning smokeless fuels.

The best time to do this is just before the start of the heating season in September or after your stove has not been used for a prolonged period.

It is just as important to ensure that you are using your appliance in accordance with your manufacturer’s instructions and that your appliance is regularly maintained.

As mentioned above, using the right fuel for your appliance and local area will help ensure you are burning safely without breaching regulations.

If buying in bulk, ensure you know how to store the wood appropriately so it is dry when you do come to burn it. There are some helpful tips on the Ready to Burn website, www.readytoburn.org, that cover firewood storage and using a pin meter to check the moisture content.

Use your postcode on the Woodsure website to find local wood fuel suppliers. If you use manufactured solid fuels, you can also look for the Ready to Burn certification mark or check the smoke control website. The Ready to Burn fuels are those whose ID code starts with MSF.

The risks to people and planet if you don’t use your wood burner properly include chimney fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and breaching regulations.

Incorrect use of any heating appliance can lead to a myriad of risks, dangers and complications, which is why it is so important that those using heating appliances do so properly, with the right fuel and right maintenance.

Aside from fines, further risks of misuse include a build-up of creosote deposits in the flue , which can cause chimney fires, increased levels of carbon monoxide in the home, increased levels of smoke in the home, and excessive emissions being released into the air.

A HETAS approved retailer can offer expert advice to ensure you make the right purchase if buying new.