The Best Woodburners

Wood burners are believed to reduce blood pressure and help relax. But what about the tiny sooty particles that they release into the air?

New stoves are designed to be compliant with the EcoDesign directive. This means you can enjoy a warm and cozy home without breaking your environmental responsibilities.

1. Ekol Edge

The Ekol Edge is a simple-looking wood burner that doesn't compromise on performance. It's an excellent choice for those living in areas with smoke restrictions since it comes with Level 5 ClearSkies credentials, which means it can be used with dry and seasoned logs and approved solid fuels. Its large heat output makes it a great choice for large rooms. The generous fire glass also allows you to enjoy the flames.

It is equipped with a modern wood burner steel body, which means it can be used in both traditional inglenooks as well as freestanding spaces. It features an air wash system that keeps the glass clean and helps prevent the accumulation of soot. The stove is extremely efficiency during the winter months, which means that a large portion of the heat produced is transferring into your home rather than being lost up the chimney.

Recent criticism of wood burners has grown, since it was discovered that they can contribute to the production of microscopic sooty air particles referred to as PM2.5. These particles have been linked to heart and lung issues. However, modern models that conform to the Eco design Regulations are much less likely to produce these particles. These are only a small part of the overall pollution produced from burning fossil fuels, such as gas and coal, however there is no doubt that wood burners are a source of this pollution.

It is crucial to select the appropriate wood for your stove to ensure the most efficient efficiency of heat and combustion. There are a variety of wood that can be burned such as eucalyptus, ash, hazel and beech. Eucalyptus is fast-burning and also produces plenty of heat, is an excellent choice. However, it needs to be well-seasoned. Beech is another great choice but its sharp thorns make it difficult to handle with protective gloves.

The Ekol Adept has been designed to cope with the upcoming changes to regulations that were recently implemented and is Defra exempt and ClearSkies rated, which means you can use it with approved fuels, as long as you follow the guidelines. It's a powerful sturdy burner with a 10-Year Body Warranty and a sturdy construction. Its heating performance is also impressive.

2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen

Wood burning stoves remain popular despite the confusing regulations that are thrown at them. Some groups have pushed for stricter regulations, and even a ban on log burners. It's worth reading about our guide on stove pollution and regulations, before you shop for an all-fuel or log fire.

Arada Stoves is one company that is doing their part to ensure that woodburners remain popular. They have released an expanded version of their popular Holborn Multifuel/Wood Burning Stove. It's a DEFRA-approved, SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready High-Efficiency Portable EcoZoom Stove for Outdoor Cooking with a large door glass that gives you an impressive flame image and an airwash system that helps to prevent soot from accumulating.

With a power output of 4.9kW, this is a great stove for most rooms and it's also extremely simple to operate and maintain. The curving lines and classical style make it suitable for traditional and modern decor. The flat back design means that it can be placed in shallower recesses. It's also very simple to install a direct-air system with this model to boost the efficiency further.

The stove also has an integrated ash dump, which makes it easy to remove ashes and clean them regularly. This helps reduce the risk of odours and dust escaping the room. There's a choice of two flue adaptors (standard or pre-fabricated) dependent on the chimney type you have, and woodburningstoves, from Fireplacesandstove, it's accessible with an remote control.

As the debate rages about whether wood-burning stoves are beneficial to your health, we can all agree that they create wonderful ambience in our homes. It's important to consider the health consequences of indoor pollution and particulate matter. If you're installing a woodburner, it's recommended that you close the door when not tending to the flame. You should also regularly clean the stove to keep the air as healthy as possible.

3. Go Eco 5kW Plus

A woodburner adds a lovely atmosphere to any room, it's not just relaxing to watch the flames dance, but it also helps reduce blood pressure. But it's not all good news. Studies have shown that older stoves are dangerous because they emit microscopic particles of soot that can be absorbed into your respiratory system. This has led to new regulations being put into place which means that all new log burners must be able to meet the highest standards. This helps to cut down on smoke leakage, creosote build up and more importantly - harmful gases such as carbon monoxide.

New woodburners have to comply with a brand new standard and this is where the Go Eco 5kW Plus stands out. This multi-fuel stove not only 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 with an air-washing system that is powerful. The 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 is already in compliance with European restrictions on wood burning stove emissions that will be in effect in 2022.

This stove comes with a free air vent kit. It's now simpler to install than ever. It's a robust little appliance, that has been built using top-quality steel. The finish is a classic matte black. It's easy-to-clean as the body has been coated with an enamel that repels dirt.

The clearSkies label on this stove demonstrates that it has been independently tested and verified to be eco-friendly and efficient, this goes over the minimum requirements laid out by 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 wood burner brand that has an unorthodox style that shouldn't be overlooked. They are renowned for their small multi-fuel stoves with an array of sizes and features. This 4.7kW model is a great example of their brand focus and shows that they can deliver a superior product for a price that's not too expensive. This DEFRA-approved woodburner is suited for use in Smoke Control Areas, and is fully in compliance with the current 5g/hr emissions limit. It also has the level five ClearSkies certification. It's the ideal choice for those who aren't sure where the directive will go and want to be sure that their log burners will remain free of smoke control regulations.