UK households risk being handed a ￡300 fine and a criminal record for lighting their log burners this winter after a law change.
According to government rules, the amount of smoke new stoves can emit is now 3g per hour - down from 5g previously.
The lower figure comes after the government moved to ban the sale of house coal and wet wood in England in 2022 as part of efforts to cut emissions and encourage the use of greener alternatives.
Now as the UK heads for a bitter cold snap, with the Met Office forecasting snow and ice across much of the country this week, millions of households will be lighting up their log burners to keep toasty and warm.
But experts at MeandMyGlass.co.uk are urging people to be cautious as they could be issued a ￡300 fine if clean air regulations aren’t followed correctly, as well as a criminal conviction for not adhering to the law.
Households are warned to only use certified fire logs in their burners and to monitor the stove’s glass to make sure there are no small cracks or excess damage.
Burning at home with traditional house coal or wet wood is a major source of the pollutant PM2.5, which can enter the bloodstream and lodge in lungs and other organs. This pollutant has been identified by the World Health Organisation as the most serious air pollutant for human health.
Any households with a log burner or open fire are now required by law to buy cleaner alternative fuels, such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels, which produce less smoke. Burning dry wood also produces more heat and less soot than wet wood and can reduce emissions by up to 50%.
Under government rules:
sales of bagged traditional house coal and wet wood in units under 2m3 are now unlawful
wet wood in larger volumes must be sold with advice on how to dry it before burning
all manufactured solid fuels must now have a low sulphur content and only emit a small amount of smoke
John Cutts, expert at MeandMyGlass.co.uk said: “Many log burner owners are unaware of the recent implications of clean air regulations. If they’re not followed correctly, thousands of Brits could face large fines and even a criminal conviction.
“The regulations state that owners are to face penalties for using wood-burning stoves which don’t meet the UK’s standard for emissions.
“Not only do people have to be aware of the type of log burner they’re using, but also the material being burned on it. Using the wrong log burner and materials will result in a hefty penalty.
“The regulations encourage owners to switch to more eco-friendly alternatives, so we strongly advise all log burner owners to be cautious of the materials they’re using on the stove.
“That’s why it’s important to make sure that the materials being used adhere to the guidelines and that any stoves with glass doors are still fit to function without any cracks that could lead to fumes escaping from the burner.”
