"What is going to happen to my stove?" All of your questions answered.
Recently there has been an uproar in the media around stoves; namely that stoves are the evil mastermind behind much of the UK's dangerous and unhealthy emissions, and will be restricted, banned, and – possibly, to stay on theme – burnt on a pyre en masse.
However, here at Stove Supermarket, we want to debunk the myths and uncover the truth, so you can stop worrying about hiding your stove under a blanket when the authorities come a-knocking.
This wood burner from Jotul doesn't look so scary does it?
Much of the confusion has sprung from the ill-explained Clean Air Act. The Act, spearheaded by Gove, seeks to slice particulate matter air pollution by 30% in total by 2030 – 38% of particulate matter pollution currently comes from the use of wood and coal burning stoves.
When speaking on the aforementioned pollution Gove commented; "We must take strong, urgent action. Our ambitious strategy includes new targets, new powers for local government and confirms that our forthcoming Environment Bill will include new primary legislation on air quality.”
In line with this the government are making plans to ban the sale of all but Ecodesign ready stoves by 2022 in order to facilitate this dramatic reduction in air pollution.
Upon hearing this you may take it upon yourself to leap out of your chair, stride towards your stove with a bucket of sand and yell hasta la vista baby as you kill the flames under a cloud of dust – but refrain. There is far more to this story.
Your stove is not going to be swept from under you or stolen away in the night if it is not up to standard under the new laws – you will simply be advised to buy a new, more efficient stove, and also asked to ensure that you are using it correctly and burning the right kind of fuel.
Here at Stove Supermarket we heartily encourage the purchase of DEFRA approved and Ecodesign ready stoves as a step to reduce emissions. You can find our DEFRA approved collection here.
It is true that times have changed; stoves that have been designed recently release on average 80% less emissions than those that were on the market 10 years ago. This knowledge makes it imperative not for you to get rid of your stove altogether - and thereby never again experience the joys of a cheery flame and toasty feet - but rather to upgrade to a more efficient model.
The Stove Industry Alliance recommend that everyone, no matter how new or old their stove, should make sure that they are taking good care of their stove and using them properly and also that they are burning the correct fuel.
By burning wood with a high moisture content you release more emissions and run the risk of inefficiency; the wood you burn should have a moisture content of 20% or less, and any wood that you chop yourself the SIA recommends that you leave for two years to dry before burning.
We recommend that you purchase Ready To Burn wood that is guaranteed to be at the proper moisture level.
It is also key to ensure that your stoves chimney is regularly swept to keep the air that it is releasing as clean and free from pollutants as possible.
The key therefore is in upgrading to an Ecodesign ready stove and burning the right fuel alongside a thorough care regime for your stove, by taking these simple steps you can lower your emissions dramatically; that way you can enjoy your stove in guilt-free peace knowing that it is both healthier for you, and the environment.
- Stove Reviews
