The Best Woodburners

Wood burning stoves are known to lower blood pressure and relax. But what about the tiny sooty particles they release into the air?

Fortunately, the latest stoves are built with the EcoDesign directive in the back of your mind. You can enjoy a warm and cosy home, without breaking your environmental responsibilities.

1. Ekol Edge

The Ekol Edge wood burner is simple in appearance, but doesn't compromise on performance. It is a great choice for people who live in smoke-free areas, as it has ClearSkies Level 5 credentials. This means it can burn dry and seasoned wood logs, or approved solid fuels. Its large heat output makes it an excellent choice for large-sized rooms. The generous fire glass also lets you to take pleasure in the flames.

It is constructed from modern steel, which means it can be installed in both traditional inglenooks and freestanding situations. It comes with an integrated air wash system, which keeps the glass clean and avoids soot build-up. The stove is extremely seasonal efficiency, meaning that a significant portion of the heat it generates is transferring to your home instead of going up the chimney.

Wood burners have come under many criticisms in recent years since it was proven that they cause microscopic sooty particles in the air known as PM2.5 which has been linked to lung and heart problems. However, the latest models that comply with the Eco design Regulations are much less likely to produce these particles. Wood burning stoves contribute to the pollution created by burning fossil fuels like gas and coal.

It is crucial to select the appropriate wood for your stove in order to get the highest heat output and combustion. There are a variety of wood types that can be employed, including eucalyptus and Ash. Eucalyptus is a great choice because it's fast-burning and produces a lot cost of wood burning stove heat, but it requires to be prepared. Beech is another good choice but its sharp thorns make it difficult to handle with protective gloves.

The Ekol Adept has been designed to handle the upcoming changes in regulations that have been put in place and is Defra exempt and ClearSkies certified, which means you can use it with approved fuels as long as you follow the guidelines. It's a powerful burner that's built to last, featuring sturdy construction and a 10-year body warranty, supported by its impressive heating performance.

2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen

Wood burning stoves continue to be popular despite the confusing regulations that govern the use of these stoves. Some campaign groups have pushed for tighter regulations and even a log burner ban. It's worth checking out our guide on stove pollution and regulations, before you shop for the latest multifuel or log fire.

One company doing its bit 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, which gives you the best woodburner flame view and an airwash system to avoid soot from accumulating.

With a maximum heat output of 4.9kW, this is a fantastic stove for the majority of rooms. It's extremely simple to maintain and use. The curving lines and classic design makes it suitable for both traditional and contemporary modern wood burning stove decor. This model is easily fitted into smaller spaces because of its flat back design. It is also easy to install direct air systems on this model, which can increase the efficiency.

Another fantastic characteristic of this stove is its built-in ash dump, which makes it simple to remove and clean out the ashes regularly, helping to reduce the risk of odours and dust escaping into the room. There are two flue adaptors (standard or pre-fabricated) depending on the type of chimney you have, and it's equipped with an remote control.

Wood-burning stoves create a beautiful atmosphere in our homes, regardless of whether or not they are good for health. It is crucial to consider the health risks of indoor pollution and particulate matter. If you are installing an appliance that burns wood, it is recommended to shut the door when not tending to the flame. Also, you should regularly clean the stove to keep the air as healthy as is possible.

3. Go Eco 5kW Plus

A woodburner provides a beautiful ambience to a room, it's not only relaxing to watch the flames flicker but it can also help reduce blood pressure. But it's not all good news. Studies have shown that older stoves are harmful because they release microscopic particles of soot which can get into your respiratory system. This has led to new regulations being put into place, which means that new log burners must be able to meet the highest standards. This reduces smoke leakage, creosote accumulation and, most importantly, harmful gases like carbon monoxide.

New woodburners have to comply 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. It has a widescreen glass viewing window that offers a great flame view, and is maintained clean by an air wash system that is powerful. The stove boasts an impressive 80% energy efficiency rating and is DEFRA exempt meaning that it is able to be used in smoke controlled areas. It is also SIA Ecodesign-ready, meaning it is already in compliance with European emission standards for wood-burning stoves that will be in effect in 2022.

This stove comes with a free air vent kit. It's now easier to set up than ever before. This is a robust unit that's made from high-quality steel. The finish is a classic matte black and it's easy to keep clean because the body is coated in an enamel that is able to repel dirt and grime.

The clearSkies label on this stove demonstrates that it has been independently tested and verified to be eco-friendly and efficient. This goes above and beyond the basic requirements set out by Ecodesign. This is one of only one stove on our list to have the five-star clearSkies rating.

4. Chilli Penguin Defrost

Chilli Penguin is a feisty Welsh wood burner brand with an unorthodox style that shouldn't be overlooked. They are renowned for their small wood burning fireplace (get more info) multi fuel wood burner-fuel stoves with a wide range of sizes and features. This 4.7kW model is a great example of their focus on brand and shows that they can offer a premium product at the price that's not too expensive. This DEFRA-approved woodburner is suitable for use in Smoke Control Areas, and is fully compliant with the current emission limit of 5g/hr. It also has ClearSkies level five credentials. It is an excellent choice for those who are not sure which direction the directive is headed and want peace of mind that their fireplace will continue to be exempt from the smoke control regulations.