The Best Woodburners
The relaxing, blood pressure-reducing benefits of a wood burning stove have been documented. But what about the tiny sooty particles that they release into the air?
Luckily, new stoves are built with the EcoDesign directive in the back of your mind. You can enjoy an inviting and cozy home without compromising on your environmental obligations.
1. Ekol Edge
The Ekol Edge wood burner is simple in appearance, yet does not compromise on performance. It is a great choice for people who live in smoke-free areas, since it comes with ClearSkies Level 5 certification. This means it can burn dry and seasoned wood logs or approved solid fuels. The high output of heat makes it an ideal option for larger rooms, and the generous fire glass provides a stunning view of the flames.
It is made of modern steel, which means it can be used in both traditional inglenooks and freestanding spaces. It features an air wash system that keeps the glass clean and helps prevent the accumulation of soot. The stove is extremely efficiency during the winter months, which means that a large portion of the heat it produces is being transferred into your home, rather than being lost up the chimney.
The criticism of wood burning stoves has increased, because it was shown that they can contribute to the creation of microscopic sooty air particles called PM2.5. These particles have been associated with lung and heart problems. Newer models that comply with the Eco design Regulations will be less likely to generate these sooty particles. Wood burning stoves contribute to the pollution created by burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas.
Selecting the appropriate wood for your stove is vital to ensure the highest heat output and combustion. There are a myriad of wood that can be used for burning, including eucalyptus, ash hazel, beech, and hazel. Eucalyptus, which is fast-burning and also produces plenty of heat, is a good option. However, it must be well-seasoned. Beech is also a good alternative, but it's hard to manage due to its thorns.
The Ekol Adept is designed to meet the new regulations. It's clearSkies-rated and Defra-exempt, which means you can use it as long as you follow the guidelines. It's a powerful sturdy burner with a 10-year Body Warranty and a strong construction. Its heating performance is also impressive.
2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen
Wood burning stoves remain extremely popular, and despite the directive muddle that is surrounding them and their use, they're going to stay. In fact, some campaign groups are calling for much stricter restrictions, and even a complete ban on log burners, so it's worth checking out our guide on stove pollution and regulations prior to you buy a new log fire or multifuel burner.
Arada Stoves is a company that is doing their part to ensure that woodburners remain popular. They've released a widescreen version for their popular Holborn Multifuel/Wood Burning Stove. It's an DEFRA approved, SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready woodburner with a large glass door that offers a great flame picture. There's also an airwash system which prevents soot build-up.
This stove is easy to use and has a an output of 4.9kW. The curving lines and classic style make it ideal for modern or traditional design. wood burning fireplace means it can be fitted into shallower recesses and it's very easy to set up a direct air system to increase the efficiency even more.
This stove also has a built-in ash dump which makes it simple to clear ashes and clean them frequently. This reduces the risk of odours and dust getting out of the room. There are two flue adaptors (standard or pre-fabricated) dependent on the chimney type you have, and it's available with an remote control.
While the debate rages on about whether or not woodburning stoves are good for your health, we can all agree that they create wonderful ambience in our homes. It's important to consider the health effects of indoor pollution and particulate matter. If you're installing a woodburner, it's recommended that you close the door when you are not working on the fire. You should also regularly clean the stove to keep the air as healthy as possible.
3. Go Eco 5kW Plus
It's relaxing to watch the flames flicker and help lower blood pressure. But there's not a lot of good news. Research has shown that older stoves can be harmful because they emit microscopic particles of soot which can get into your respiratory system. This has resulted in new regulations being put in place and new log burners must be able to meet the highest standards. This helps reduce smoke leakage, creosote accumulation and more importantly, harmful gases like carbon monoxide.
New woodburners have to meet a new safety standard. The Go Eco 5kW Plus is a multi-fuel stove that meets, but exceeds these new standards, but also exceeds them. It has a large, clear viewing window that offers an excellent view of the flame, and is maintained clean by a powerful air wash system. This stove boasts an impressive energy efficiency of 80% 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 emissions restrictions for wood-burning stoves that will come into effect in 2022.
If that wasn't enough this stove is supplied with an air venting kit that is included making it much easier than ever to put it in place. This is a robust stove made of high-quality steel. The finish is a classic matt black, and it's easy to keep clean since the body is coated in an enamel that repels dirt and grime.
The clearSkies label on this stove shows that it has been independently tested and confirmed to be sustainable and efficient, this goes over the minimum requirements laid out by Ecodesign. This is one of a few stoves in our list to have the full five-star clearSkies rating.
4. Chilli Penguin Defrost
A feisty Welsh brand, Chilli Penguin has become an established player in the wood burner market with a unique style that's not to be ignored. Chilli Penguin is known for its small multi-fuel stoves that come with an array of features and sizes. This 4.7kW model is an excellent example of their focus on brand and demonstrates their ability to offer a premium product at a price that's not too high. This DEFRA approved woodburner can be used in Smoke Control Areas and is fully in compliance with the current 5g/hr emission limit. It also has ClearSkies Level Five credentials. It's the perfect option for those who don't know what the directive will be and want to be confident that their log burners will be free of smoke control regulations.