The Best Woodburners
Wood burning stoves are known to reduce blood pressure and help relax. But what about the tiny sooty particles they release into the air?
The good news is that new stoves are designed with the EcoDesign directive in mind. This means you can enjoy a warm, cozy home, and not break your environmental responsibilities.
1. Ekol Edge
The Ekol Edge wood burner is simple in appearance but doesn't compromise on performance. It's a great option for people who live in smoke-free areas, as it has ClearSkies Level 5 credentials. This means that it can burn dry and seasoned wood logs as well as approved solid fuels. Its high heat output also makes it a great option for larger spaces and the huge fire glass offers a beautiful view of your flames.
It is constructed of modern steel, and therefore can be used in both traditional inglenooks as well freestanding spaces. It has an air wash system which keeps the glass clean and helps prevent the accumulation of soot. The stove is highly efficient, meaning that it carries a large portion of heat produced to your home instead of being emitted up the chimney.
Wood burners have come under some criticism in recent times because it has been shown that they can cause microscopic sooty particles in the air, known as PM2.5 that has been linked with heart and lung problems. Newer models that meet the Eco design Regulations will be less likely to generate these sooty particles. These are only a small part of the overall pollution generated from burning fossil fuels, such as gas and coal, but there is no doubt that wood burners are the main source of this pollutant.
It is crucial to select the correct wood for the stove to ensure the best efficiency of heat and combustion. Many types of wood can be utilized, including eucalyptus as well as Ash. Eucalyptus is a good choice due to its rapid burning and offers a great deal of heat, but it must be and properly seasoned. wood burning stoves near me is another good choice but its sharp thorns make it difficult to handle with protective gloves.
The Ekol Adept is designed to meet the new regulations. It's Defra-exempt and ClearSkies-rated, so you can use it as long as you follow the guidelines. It's a robust burner designed to last, with sturdy construction and a 10-year body warranty, which is supported by its impressive heating performance.
2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen
Wood burning stoves remain very popular and, despite the directive maze that is surrounding them and their use, they're going to stay. Some groups have pushed for stricter regulations, and even a ban on log burners. It's worth reading about our guide on the pollution of stoves and regulations, before you shop for an all-fuel or log fire.
One company that is doing its bit to keep the popularity of woodburners high is Arada Stoves, who have recently launched a widescreen model of their popular Holborn 5 Multifuel/Wood Burning stove. It's a DEFRA-approved SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready stove with a huge door glass that gives you the best flame view and an airwash system to avoid soot accumulation.
With a power output of 4.9kW, this is a great stove to heat most rooms and it's also extremely simple to operate and maintain. The curvaceous lines and classic style makes it a great choice for modern or traditional style. This model can be easily incorporated into smaller spaces because of its flat back design. It is also simple to install direct air systems using this model, which can increase the efficiency.
The stove also has an ash dump built-in that makes it simple to clean ashes and remove them regularly. This decreases the chance of dust and odours escaping the room. You can select between two types of flue adaptors, dependent on the chimney type. It also comes with wireless remote control.
As the debate rages about whether or not woodburning stoves are beneficial to your health We can all agree that they create a lovely ambience in our homes. However, it's important to be aware of the impact of particulate matter and the ways that burning wood or other forms of fuels can impact the quality of our indoor air and health. If you're installing a woodburner, it is recommended to shut the door when you are not working on the flame. You should also regularly clean the stove to keep the air as clean as possible.
3. Go Eco 5kW Plus
A woodburner adds a lovely ambience to a room, it's not just relaxing to watch the flames dance, but it also helps reduce blood pressure. But it's not all good news. Studies have shown that older stoves are harmful due to the tiny particles of soot that could get into your respiratory system. New regulations are in place to ensure that log stoves have higher standards. This will reduce smoke leakage, creosote accumulation and more importantly, harmful gases like carbon monoxide.
New woodburners must comply with the new safety standards. The Go Eco 5kW Plus is a multi-fuel stove that not just is in compliance, but even exceeds these new standards, but also exceeds them. The stove has a widescreen viewing glass that allows you to see the flames clearly. It is also kept clean by a powerful air washing system. This stove has an impressive rating of 80% energy efficiency and is DEFRA exempt which means it is able to be used in smoke-free areas. It is also SIA Ecodesign-ready, meaning it already meets the European emission limits for wood-burning stoves which will be in effect in 2022.
As if that wasn't enough the stove comes with a free air venting kit making it much easier than ever to put it in place. It's a robust little appliance, that has been built with high-quality steel. The finish is a classic matte black and it's easy to keep clean because the body is coated with an enamel that is able to repel dirt and grime.
This stove has the clearSkies label, which means that it was independently tested and confirmed as environmentally friendly and efficient. This goes above and beyond the basic requirements of Ecodesign. It's one of the very few stoves on our list that has the complete five-star ClearSkies rating, so you can be confident that this woodburner is as great as it gets.
4. Chilli Penguin Defrost
A feisty Welsh brand, Chilli Penguin has become an established player among wood burner brands with a distinctive style that shouldn't be overlooked. They specialize in small, do-it-all multi-fuel stoves, which have earned them cult status thanks to their low flue-draught requirements hotplate tops and integral ovens, and a range of features and sizes. This 4.7kW model is a fantastic illustration of their brand's focus and demonstrates their ability to deliver a superior product for the price that's not too high. This DEFRA-approved woodburner can be used for use in Smoke Control Areas, and is fully conforms to the current emissions limit of 5g/hr. It also comes with ClearSkies level five credentials. It's the perfect option for those who aren't sure what the future direction of the directive is and want to be confident that their log burners will remain free of smoke control regulations.