Whether you call yours a logburner, stove or wood burner, one of the key questions cropping up in recent years is whether these solid fuel-burning appliances are bad for the environment. The short answer is that yes, they can be – if they’re not used and maintained properly. Burning wet or unseasoned wood, for example, releases more harmful particles into the atmosphere and significantly reduces the efficiency of the appliance. However, when used correctly, log burners and stoves are a sustainable and low-carbon way to heat your home. Here’s a quick guide to using your stove in an eco-friendly way:
1. Only burn well-seasoned wood
This is the most important thing you can do to reduce emissions from your stove. Wet or unseasoned wood has a high moisture content which means it doesn’t burn as hot or as cleanly as dry wood. This causes your appliance to work less efficiently and produces more harmful particles (smoke), which are released into the atmosphere. Seasoned wood is typically around 20% moisture content or lower, so make sure you give it plenty of time to dry out before using it in your stove.
2. Use a chimney fan
If you have a wood burning stove or log burner with a chimney, fit a chimney fan. This will help to create a strong updraft in your chimney, which will improve the draw on your fire and make it burn hotter and cleaner. As a result, you’ll use less fuel and produce fewer emissions.
3. Use an efficient wood-burning stove
If you’re in the market for a new wood-burning stove, make sure you choose one that’s been approved by the Environment Agency. These stoves have to meet strict efficiency standards and are some of the cleanest-burning appliances on the market.
4. Get your chimney swept regularly
A build-up of soot and creosote in your chimney can reduce the draught and cause your fire to smoke. This is bad for the environment and can also be a fire hazard. Make sure you get your chimney swept at least once a year (more often if you use your stove frequently) to keep it clean and working properly.
5. Don’t overfire your stove
If you burn too much wood at once, it can cause your fire to ‘smoulder’ which produces more harmful particles and reduces the efficiency of your appliance. Only add small amounts of wood to your fire at a time and make sure the flames are always visible.
6. Invest in an eco stove
The fact of the matter is this: the technology used by EcoDesign stoves produce 90% fewer emissions than open fires and 80% less than a typical 10-year-old stove. If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly option, an eco stove is the way to go.
7. Use your wood burner wisely
When used correctly, wood burners can actually help to improve air quality. In rural areas, for example, burning wood can reduce particulate matter in the atmosphere. This is because wood smoke contains particles that act as ‘seed crystals’ around which water vapour can condense. This process effectively removes harmful particulates from the air.
So there you have it – everything you need to know about using a log burner in an eco-friendly way. Just remember to use dry, seasoned wood and to get your chimney swept regularly, and you’ll be doing your bit for the environment.