Home » News » New Government Regulation: Stove FAQs
Date posted: 07.09.20
In a recent article we produced on the Air Quality Domestic Fuels Standards in England we outlined how from 1st May 2021, there will be a phasing out of burning house coal and the use of wet wood, with the objective of lowering the emissions that come from domestic wood burning.
We have created a short number of Q&A’s below to help you get a better understanding of what this new legislation means for you:
Will wood burning stoves be banned?
No – they certainly will not. But there will be more legislation on what you can burn. From May 2021 the selling of wet wood and house coal will be phased out.
What is wet wood?
Wet wood is wood that has not been fully seasoned or seasoned at all. The word «wet» doesn’t mean the wood is wet to the touch, although of course, it could be. It relates to the moisture content of a log. A moisture content above 20% is generally considered «wet». Seasoning is a way of drying out wood over time. This can take over two years for wood such as oak, and is achieved by storing wood in an airy, dry place.
Why is burning wet wood so bad?
When you burn wet wood, it’s an inefficient burn. When wet wood burns it creates a lot more smoke, tar and a great deal more deadly PM2.5 emissions when compared to when you burn seasoned wood. Wet wood damages the chimney, and also increases the risk of chimney fires, and that’s on top of the additional emissions pumped out into the atmosphere.
Will this new legislation impact my old stove?
Not directly. But it’s strongly advised that you consider replacing your old, inefficient stove with an Ecodesign Ready model, and one that achieves a level 4 or above clearSkies Mark. Not only are these more efficient, and so cheaper to run, they are much better for the environment.
How can I make sure I burn wood more efficiently?
We have a number of tips on burning wood more efficiently, which include:
