Warning to anyone with a log burner - 2024 rules could land users with huge fine

A raft of rules now in place restrict what type of wood burners people can buy, and what fuel you can burn

With the onset of autumn, many households will start turning on the heating - even if they might be dreading the cost.

Hundreds of thousands of people who have a wood burner in the home will also be dusting it off for the first time this season. Yet those firing it up could risk being fined up to £300 - or even be left with a penalty running into the thousands. Burning biomass wood – especially wet wood – is a source of pollutants. The World Health Organisation has identified particles they produce as being particularly harmful to human health.

If you have wet or unseasoned wood, the Energy Saving Trusts advises drying it out for at least a year before using it. Local authorities in England have the power to issue fines for improper use of a long burner, starting from £175. That can rise to £300 if your chimney releases smoke in a smoke control area. And you can be fined up to £1,000 if you buy unauthorised fuel to use in an appliance that not approved by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.

That said, the track record on councils actually taking action is not good. The BBC reported in July that Wakefield Council had started imposing fines in a bid to clamp down on the illegal use of domestic log burners. It came after a rise in complaints about chimney smoke from solid fuel appliances. However, a report late last year suggested there had been just one prosecution and three fines for people using banned wood burning stoves in England. That was despite more than 10,000 complaints since January 2022.

All stoves sold after January 2022 must be Ecodesign compliant. If you bought your stove before this time, or your stove was placed on the market before January 2022, this legislation does not apply to you. The HomeOwners Alliance explains that the Ecodesign mark indicates the stove has been independently tested by an approved lab and meets requirements on air quality and particulates. Stoves are assessed on seasonal efficiency over a year, levels of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and organic gaseous compounds produced by burning fuel. If you own a log burner that doesn’t meet Ecodesign standards, you can still use it unless you live in a smoke control area where different rules apply.

Smoke control areas are legally defined zones where significant amounts of smoke cannot be emitted from a chimney, according to Government guidelines. There are online maps available to check if you live near a smoke control area. Since May 2021, new rules have made the sale of bagged house coal and wet wood in units under two cubic metres illegal.

Only certain types of dry wood, with less than 20% moisture content, are suitable for burning. As it can be difficult to determine the wetness of wood, it is recommended to invest in a moisture meter or buy from a trusted supplier. Look for the ‘Ready to Burn’ logo on fuel packaging. This means the fuel has less than 20% moisture and complies with Defra’s regulations. As an aside, it is worth knowing that you can use outdoor barbecues, chimineas, fireplaces or pizza ovens in smoke control areas. You are also allowed garden bonfires in smoke control areas.