What is the Future of Wood Burning Stoves?

Here at Direct Stoves, we’ve been providing the best log burners to our customers for years. But, while they do seem to be more popular than ever, there are sometimes questions around what the future holds for wood burning stoves.

In particular, we get asked a lot about whether wood burning stoves are going to be banned by concerned people unsure about whether they should invest in one.

And, although we don’t have a crystal ball, we can fairly confidently say that there are no signs that there will be an outright ban on log burners in the near future.

So, why is the future of our stoves so often in question?

Are Wood Burning Stoves Likely to Be Banned in the UK?

There have been two big news stories in the past couple of years that have led to this misconception. They were:

In both of these announcements made by the government, new legislation was introduced to ensure the log burners we do use are as efficient and eco-friendly as possible.

What does this mean for the future of wood burning stoves? It means that going forward, we should all work together to ensure that:

We are using a log burner that is as efficient as possible - one that is Ecodesign Ready, for example
We are using fuel that produces as little CO2 and smoke as possible - such as seasoned firewood and smokeless fuel
By doing both of these things, we can help lower air pollution while continuing to burn wood in a way that benefits us all

Related: What is an Ecodesign Stove?

It is important to recognise that wood burning stoves themselves have not been singled out as the only cause of concern by the government. Woodburning stoves offer a method of heating that is both renewable and carbon neutral when carried out sustainably.

However, the way that fuel is burnt and the type of fuel being burnt can be improved to reduce air pollution.

So what wood burner is best to ensure you can burn your fuel well into the future? Take a look at some of our least polluting and most efficient log burners for some ideas...

Woodford Lowry 5X Ecodesign Ready Wood Burning / Multi Fuel Stove

Woodford Lowry 5X Ecodesign Ready Wood Burning - Multi Fuel Stove

Price: From £654.95
Efficiency: 83.2%
Energy Rating: A+
Heat Output: 4.9kW

The Woodford Lowry 5X Ecodesign Stove meets all clean air rules set for 2022, making it exceptionally efficient and clean burning. It’s sleek steel body design makes it an attractive option for almost any room, with a comfortable heat output for medium-sized spaces.

Saltfire Peanut 5 Eco Design Ready Wood Burning Stove

Price: From £699.00
Efficiency: 80%
Energy Rating: A
Heat Output: 5kW

The ever popular Saltfire Peanut 5 Ecodesign Stove is the perfect addition to any home. It boasts a large viewing window and firebox for an impressive display, plus its cast iron body gives it a classic appearance that feels chunky despite its compact size.

Charnwood Aire 5 Eco-Design Ready Wood Burning Stove

Price: From £1,290.00
Efficiency: 84%
Energy Rating: A+
Heat Output: 5kW

Charnwood produces some of the UK’s leading stove designs, and the Charnwood Aire Blu Ecodesign Stove is no different. Using the brand’s patented Quattroflow air management system, just the right amount of air is allowed into the firebox to ensure excellent fuel efficiency.

Westfire Uniq 36 Eco Design Ready Wood Burning Stove

Price: From £1,452.00
Efficiency: 78%
Energy Rating: A
Heat Output: 7.2kW

For big spaces that need big heat, the Westfire Uniq 36 Ecodesign Stove provides a powerful output with fantastic efficiency. It’s cylindrical design makes it a perfect centrepiece for your room, with a large window that provides a stunning display of the flames inside.

Burley Swithland 9308-C 8kW Ecodesign Wood Burning Stove

Price: From £1,370
Efficiency: 85%
Energy Rating: A+
Heat Output: 8kW

If you want a wood stove with serious power, the Burley Swithland 9308-C Ecodesign Stove is a great option. It features an exclusive Vortex firing system that ensures every last bit of fuel is used up, while its built-in catalytic converter makes it over 85% efficient.

What Fuel Should You Be Burning in a Wood Burner in the Future?

While clean burning stoves are clearly the future for log burners, it’s also important to ensure you are using the right kind of fuel with them, too.

It has long been recommended that you use only properly seasoned wood on your stove. Unseasoned wood has a significantly higher moisture content that leads to excessive smoke and less efficient burning.

One of the new regulations that made people worry about the future of wood burning stoves, though, was the restrictions placed on the sale of bagged wood. From February 2021, you will no longer be able to buy wet wood in a quantity of less than 2m3.

But again, this move is to improve the efficiency of log burners, not to ban them.

Buying a small amount of wet wood is often expensive, and unless you season it yourself beforehand, will produce significantly less heat.

It is much more cost effective - and efficient - to either buy wet wood in a large quantity and dry it yourself, or simply buy pre-seasoned wood from a trusted supplier.

We have a guide on how to stack, store and season firewood with more information.