The Best Woodburners
Wood burning stoves are known to lower blood pressure and relax. What about the tiny soot particles released by the wood burners?
The good news is that new stoves are built with the EcoDesign directive in mind. This means you can enjoy a warm, cosy home, without breaking your environmental obligations.
1. Ekol Edge
The Ekol Edge wood burner is simple in appearance, but doesn't compromise on performance. It's a great choice for those living in areas with smoke restrictions since it has Level 5 ClearSkies credentials, which means it can be used with dry and seasoned wood and approved solid fuels. The high heat output makes it a great option for large spaces. The generous fire glass also lets you to enjoy the flames.
It is constructed of modern steel, which means it can be installed in both traditional inglenooks as well freestanding ones. It is equipped with an air wash system, which keeps the glass clean and prevents the build-up of soot. The stove is extremely efficient, meaning that it can transfer a significant amount of the heat it produces to your home, instead of being emitted up the chimney.
Wood burners have come under some criticism in recent times, as it has been demonstrated that they cause microscopic sooty particles in the air called PM2.5 that has been linked to lung and heart problems. Newer models that comply with the Eco design Regulations will be less likely to create these sooty particles. They're only a tiny portion of the overall pollution produced from burning fossil fuels, such as gas and coal, but there is no doubt that wood burners are the main source of this pollutant.
Choosing the right wood for your stove is vital to ensure the best heat output and combustion. There are a variety of wood that can be used for burning such as eucalyptus, ash, hazel and beech. Eucalyptus is an excellent choice because it's fast-burning and produces a lot of heat, however it needs to be well and properly seasoned. Beech is another good choice but its sharp thorns make it difficult to handle even with protective gloves.
The Ekol Adept is designed to meet the new regulations. It's cleared by ClearSkies and Defra, so you can use it as long as you follow the guidelines. It's a powerful burner designed to last, featuring solid construction and a 10-year body warranty, which is back by its impressive heating performance.
2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen
Wood burning stoves remain popular despite the confusing directives that surround the use of these stoves. In fact, some campaign groups are calling for much more 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 go shopping for new log fires or a multifuel burner.
One company which is making an effort to keep the popularity of woodburners at a high is Arada Stoves, who recently launched a widescreen version of their popular Holborn 5 Multifuel/Wood Burning stove. It's an DEFRA approved, SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready woodburner with a huge glass door that offers the best flame image. There's also an airwash system which prevents the accumulation of soot.
With a maximum heat output of 4.9kW this is a fantastic stove for all rooms. It's very easy to use and maintain. Its curving lines and classic style make it ideal for both traditional and modern decor. The flat back design means it can be inserted into smaller recesses, and it's easy to set up a direct air system to boost the efficiency further.
Another fantastic characteristic of this stove is the built-in ash dump that makes it simple to clean up and remove ashes on a regular basis, helping to reduce the chance of odours and dust that escapes into the room. You can choose between two types of flue adaptors, according to the chimney type you have. It also comes with wireless remote control.
Wood-burning stoves create a beautiful ambience in our homes, regardless of whether they are healthy for us. It is important to think about the health consequences of indoor pollution and particulate matter. If wood burning fireplace installing a woodburner, it is recommended that you close the door when not working on the fire. Also, you should regularly clean the stove to ensure that the air as healthy as possible.
3. Go Eco 5kW Plus
A woodburner provides a beautiful atmosphere to a room. it's not only relaxing to watch the flames flicker but it can also help to reduce blood pressure. However, it's not all positive news. Research has shown that older stoves are harmful because they emit microscopic particles of soot which can be absorbed into your respiratory system. This has resulted in new regulations being put in place which means that all new log burners need to meet higher standards. This helps reduce creosote build-up, smoke leakage and, most important, harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.
New woodburners must be in compliance with a new standard, and this is where the Go Eco 5kW Plus stands out. This multi-fuel stove not only meets but exceeds the new standards. The stove comes with a widescreen viewing glass that lets you see the flames clearly. It is also kept clean with an air-washing system that is powerful. This stove boasts an impressive energy efficiency of 80% and is DEFRA exempt meaning that it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas. It is also SIA Ecodesign-ready. This means that it already meets European emission standards for wood-burning stoves that will come into effect in 2022.
This stove comes with a free air ventilation kit. It is now easier to install than ever. It's a solid little stove, that has been built with high-quality steel. The finish is a classic matt black, and it's easy to keep clean as the body is coated in an enamel that repels dirt and grime.
The clearSkies label on this stove indicates that it has been independently tested and confirmed to be environmentally friendly and efficient. This goes over the minimum requirements laid out by Ecodesign. It's one of the very few stoves on our list that has the complete five-star clearSkies rating which means you can be certain that this woodburner is as efficient as it gets.
4. Chilli Penguin Defrost
Chilli Penguin is a feisty Welsh wood burner brand that has a maverick style that shouldn't be missed out on. They specialise in small do-it-all multi-fuel stoves, which have earned them an enviable reputation due to their low flue-draught requirements stove tops with hotplates, integrated ovens and a variety of sizes and features. This 4.7kW model is a prime example of their brand focus and also shows that they can still deliver a superior product at a cost that won't cost you a fortune. This DEFRA-approved woodburner is suitable for use in Smoke Control Areas, and is fully in compliance with the current emissions limit of 5g/hr. It also comes with ClearSkies Level Five credentials. It's the ideal choice for those who don't know where the directive will go and want to be confident that their log burners are free of smoke control regulations.