Households risk £300 fine over log burner mistake use following law changes | Personal Finance | Finance

Households in England with wood-burning stoves face fines of up to £300 for a common mistake.

Meteorological spring may have just arrived in the UK, but temperatures are still a bit chilly, so it’s not the time to ditch the heating or log burners just yet. While daytime temperatures become increasingly milder, spring evenings often bring a significant drop in temperatures, often reaching average lows of around 3C. Therefore, March evenings still require a burst of warmth; This means households with wood stoves will continue to burn them to protect against cold weather and stay warm.

But the change in law means those living in a smoke control zone must pay attention to how much smoke their burners produce; Because those who exceed a certain limit may face significant fines.

The law states that the amount of smoke that new stoves can emit is only 3 grams per home; This rate was previously 5 grams. The figure fell after the Government banned the sale of domestic coal and wetwood in England in 2022 as part of efforts to cut emissions and encourage the use of greener fuels.

This means homes in smoke control zones, which cover most towns and cities in England, face fines of up to £300 under section 19A of the Clean Air Act 1993 if log burners emit too much smoke from their chimneys.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) defines a smoke control area as an area where people and businesses must not vent smoke from a chimney or buy or sell fuel without permission for use in the smoke control area, unless it is used as an ‘exempt’ device.

Defra explains: “A smoke control area is a legally defined area where you cannot remove smoke from the chimney. If you break this rule, you could be issued with a financial penalty of between £175 and £300.”

“You must not purchase unauthorized fuel for use in a smoke control area unless it is used in an exempt device. If you break this rule you could face a fine of up to £1,000.

“To find out which parts of England have been designated as smoke control zones, please smoke control area map. Please note that the data on this map is indicative only and you should always contact your local authority to confirm whether you live in a smog control zone.

Households are warned to use only certified fire logs on burners and to check the stove’s glass to ensure there are no small cracks or excessive damage.

Burning at home with traditional household charcoal or wet wood is a major source of the pollutant PM2.5, which can enter the bloodstream and settle in the lungs and other organs. This pollutant has been identified by the World Health Organization as the most serious air pollutant for human health.

Every home with a wood burner or open fire is now required by law to purchase cleaner alternative fuels, such as dry wood and manufactured solid fuels that produce less smoke. Burning dry wood produces more heat and less soot than wet wood and can reduce emissions by up to 50%.

Households who purchase fuel without permission for use in a device not approved by Defra will face fines of up to £1,000. If your solid fuel is not turned on approved listIf you live in a country you can’t burn it in your log burner. smoke control area.

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Defra said: “Wood can only be burned in exempt appliances and must be dry and ready to burn. Non-exempt appliance users can only burn approved solid fuels.”

In its advice for homes, Defra added: “Check you’re in a smoke control area. Consider whether you need to burn. Just make sure you’re using the right appliance or fuel.”

“Maintain stoves and vacuum chimneys. Install a carbon monoxide monitor; this will alert you to hazardous fumes and reduce your risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.”