When you begin your search for a new stove, you will notice that many of them display a DEFRA approved logo – but what exactly does this mean?
Many parts of the UK are smoke control areas where you cannot emit smoke from a chimney unless you are burning an authorised smokeless fuel or are using an exempt appliance, which in the case of stoves requires their approval for smokeless zones by DEFRA (Department of Environment for Food and Rural Affair). This basically means that if you live in a smoke control area and you want to burn wood on your stove, which is not an authorised smokeless fuel, then you must install a DEFRA approved stove or you could be fined up to £1000.
So, when considering which stove to purchase you first need to ascertain if you live in a smoke control area. You can find this out by contacting the environmental services department of your local council – https://www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules
Even if you don’t live in a smoke controlled area, DEFRA approved stoves are a good investment as they burn the fuel more efficiently enabling a completer combustion. This in turn reduces smoke and emissions which is much more environmentally friendly and will avoid upsetting any neighbours with nuisance smoke.
We have a large range of DEFRA approved stoves which you can browse here or alternatively call in our Chapel-en-le-Frith showroom where we can help you find a stove to suit your requirements.
