The Best Woodburners

The relaxation and blood pressure-reducing benefits of a wood burner are well-documented. What about the tiny soot particles released by them?

The good news is that new stoves are built with the EcoDesign directive in the back of your mind. You can enjoy a warm and cosy home without compromising on your environmental obligations.

1. Ekol Edge

The Ekol Edge wood burner is simple in appearance, but does not compromise on performance. It's a great option for people who live in smoke-free areas, since it has ClearSkies Level 5 credentials. This means that it can burn dry and seasoned wood burning stove for a shed logs, or approved solid fuels. The high heat output makes it an excellent option for large spaces. The large fire glass also allows you to take pleasure in the flames.

It is constructed from modern steel, and therefore can be used in both traditional inglenooks and freestanding spaces. It features an air wash system that keeps the glass clean and helps prevent the accumulation of soot. The stove is a great seasonal efficiency, meaning that a high percentage of the heat it generates is being transferred into your home rather than being lost to the chimney.

Wood burners have been the subject of many criticisms in recent years since it was shown that they can contribute to microscopic sooty particles in the air known as 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 generate these sooty particles. These are only a small portion of the overall pollution generated by burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas, but there is no doubt that wood stoves are the main source of this pollution.

It is essential to choose the appropriate wood for your stove in order to get the highest heat output and combustion. There are a myriad of wood that can be used for burning in your stove, including eucalyptus hazel, beech, and hazel. Eucalyptus, which is quick-burning, but also offers lots of heat, is an excellent choice. However, it needs to be well-seasoned. Beech is a different option, but its vicious thorns make it difficult to handle without protective gloves.

The Ekol Adept has been designed to handle the upcoming changes to regulations that were recently implemented, and it's Defra exempt and ClearSkies rated. This means you can use it with approved fuels so long as you follow the guidelines. It's a robust, durable burner with a 10-year body warranty and a robust construction. Its heating performance is also impressive.

2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen

Wood burning stoves continue to be popular despite the confusing guidelines that govern the use of these stoves. Some campaign groups have called for stricter regulations, and even the ban of log burners. It's worth reading about our guide on the pollution of stoves and regulations, before you decide on the latest multifuel or log fire.

One company that is trying to keep the popularity of woodburners up is Arada Stoves. They have recently launched a widescreen version of their renowned Holborn 5 Multifuel/Wood Burning stove. It's a DEFRA approved, SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready stove with a wide door glass that gives you an excellent flame picture and an airwash system that helps to prevent soot from accumulating.

With a maximum heat output of 4.9kW This is a great stove for most rooms and it's also extremely simple to use and maintain. The curvaceous lines and classic design make it suitable for modern or traditional style. The flat back design means that it can be fitted into shallower recesses and it's very easy to install a direct air system with this model to increase the efficiency even more.

This stove also has a built-in ash dump, which makes it easy to clear ashes and clean them regularly. This helps reduce the risk of odours and dust escaping the room. There are two types of flue adaptors dependent on the chimney type. It is also available with a wireless remote control.

While the debate rages on about whether wood-burning stoves are beneficial to your health We can all agree that they provide a wonderful ambience in our homes. It is important to think about the health consequences of indoor pollution and particulate matter. So, if you're planning to have a woodburner installed it is recommended that you keep the door closed when you're not in the vicinity of the fire and regularly clean out the stove to ensure that the indoor air is as healthy as possible.

3. Go Eco 5kW Plus

It's soothing to watch the flames flutter and can lower blood pressure. However, it's not all positive news. Studies have shown that older stoves are harmful due to the tiny particles of soot that could be absorbed into your respiratory system. New regulations have been enacted to ensure that log stoves meet higher standards. This helps to cut down on creosote leakage, smoke build-up and most importantly harmful gases like carbon monoxide.

New woodburners have to meet the new safety standards. The Go Eco 5kW Plus is a multi-fuel stove that not just meets, but surpasses the new standards. The stove features a large-screen viewing glass that allows you to see the flames clearly. It is also kept clean by the powerful air cleaning system. This stove boasts an impressive 80% efficiency rating. It is DEFRA exempt, meaning that it is able to be used in smoke-free areas. It's also SIA Ecodesign ready, which means it already meets the European restrictions on the emissions of wood-burning stoves which will take the market in 2022.

If that wasn't enough the stove comes with an air venting kit for free making it much easier than ever to install. It's a sturdy little unit, that has been built using high-quality steel. The finish is a classic matte black. It's easy to clean as the body has been coated with an enamel that wards off dirt.

This stove comes with a clearSkies label, which indicates that it has been independently tested and confirmed as environmentally friendly and efficient. This goes above and beyond the basic requirements of Ecodesign. This is one of the stoves on our list that have the five-star clearSkies rating.

4. Chilli Penguin Defrost

Chilli Penguin is a feisty Welsh portable wood burning stove uk burner manufacturer with a maverick style that shouldn't be overlooked. They specialize in small corner wood burning stove wood burning stoves for shed - click here to read -, do-it-all multi-fuel stoves that have gained an enviable reputation due to their low flue-draught requirements, integral ovens and hotplate tops and a variety of sizes and features. This 4.7kW model exemplifies their focus on brand, and also shows that they can still provide the best quality product at a price that won't break the bank. This DEFRA approved woodburner can be used in Smoke Control Areas and is fully conforming to the current emission limit of 5g/hr. It also has ClearSkies level five credentials. It is a great option for those who are unsure what direction the directive is going and want peace of mind that their fireplace remains exempt from the smoke control regulations.