15 Shocking Facts About Defra Approved Multi Fuel That You Didn't Know

What is a Defra Approved Multi Fuel Stove?

A defra certified multi fuel stove is one that has been passed the Defra smoke tests. They are also sometimes referred to as SE (smoke exempt) stoves.

The Defra department of the government is responsible for rules and regulations related to rural issues, agriculture, and the environment. The Defra Test ensures that you can burn wood, approved smokeless fuels like Anthracite Ovals, for instance, in a smoke-free area without disturbing your neighbours.

Eco-Friendly

Eco-friendly stoves make use of renewable materials and fuels to reduce emissions. Eco-friendly stoves are typically built to burn wood, or in combination of other approved fuels. There are a variety of eco-friendly multi-fuel stoves and log burners available, from modern to traditional models. Some eco-friendly stoves even make use of dung (the excrement of domestic livestock) as an extremely efficient and carbon neutral alternative to wood.

The most important thing you can do to ensure your stove is green is to make sure that the fuel is properly seasoned or dried and kiln-fired. This reduces the amount of moisture and allows the wood to burn more efficiently, and produce less smoke. It is also a great idea to only purchase wood that comes from sustainable forests. When purchasing wood, look for the Woodsure 'Ready to Burn' label to confirm that it has been dried correctly.

The majority of newer stoves are built to meet the strict EU EcoDesign standards. These standards require that stove makers create wood burning stoves that have energy efficiency and environmental protection in the back of their minds. Ecodesign stoves should be designed to take into consideration emissions, resource efficiency and the reduction of waste. These are some of the cleanest and eco-friendly stoves that are available.

Replace the grill on your stove with ceramic grate. This will make it more environmentally friendly. This material is not only visually appealing but also has the added benefit of not being a smoker and helping reduce sulphur dioxide in the air. Ceramic Grease liners also have a longer duration and are much easier to clean than steel grate inserts.

While you can still take pleasure in the comfort of a cosy wood burner or multi fuel stove in a Smoke Control Area it is crucial to only use Defra approved fuels. If you do not, it is possible that you may be in violation of the law and risk a fine from the local council. Only make use of fuels that have been approved by Defra, such as a manufactured anthracite round, in your stove.

Clean Burning

Multi fuel stoves approved by Defra can only be used in areas that are smoke-controlled if they burn only authorised smokeless fuel. It could be a form of manufactured or natural smokeless log or anthracite and it must adhere to certain regulations in order to be able to qualify as a Defra approved wood burning stove. Stove makers must also comply with the regulations in order to make a DEFRA exempt wood burner for sale. The Stove Yard has a huge choice of DEFRA approved multi-fuel stoves and wood burning stoves by leading brands like Arada, Parkray and Burley.

These types of Defra exempt stoves come with the most modern combustion technology that is designed to reduce emissions and the build-up of tar up in your chimney and flue system. The stoves use secondary and tertiary systems that ignite particulates, tar gases and other pollutants before they escape into the air. This is why Defra approved wood burning stoves are much cleaner than open fires and older models of stoves.

The design of the Defra approved stove is also different, most of our range will have a hidden mechanism inside the stove that allows a small continuous circulation of air into the fire even if the vents for air are shut. This is to stop soot and ash from being carried up the chimney, which can block your stove and can lead to dangerous chimney fires.

The new Defra-approved stoves don't allow you to shut the vents to let air in and then sleep on the stove over night and release part-burned combustibles to the atmosphere.

A DEFRA approved stove will also offer you the longest burn time than non-Defra models, but it's important to note that if you swapped your approved fuel for smokeless coal and you wanted to slumber your stove overnight then this would shorten the burn time too as the constant supply of air required for slumbering would reduce the combustion of the smokeless fuel.

Reduced Emissions

If used properly, a stove that is exempt from DEFRA can produce very low levels of emissions. These emissions are usually PM2.5 particles, which can cause a variety of health problems such as heart diseases and lung disease, when inhaled.

The high combustion efficiency of a DEFRA approved wood burner reduces the amount of harmful particles and pollutants released during the combustion process. This reduces the environmental impact, particularly in urban areas where pollution levels are high.

In addition to cutting harmful emissions, the efficiency of a stove can reduce the cost of heating your home. Making use of an DEFRA approved wood burning stove over gas boilers of the conventional variety will reduce your carbon footprint as well as save money on your energy costs.

If you reside in a smoke-free zone, it's important to ensure that your stove is DEFRA Approved or Smoke Exempt as this will allow you to burn approved Defra fuels such as manufactured smokeless coal ovals such as Anthracite and Homefire and dried wood and other approved solid fuels. This allows you to enjoy your fireplace without worrying about a nuisance smoke affecting your neighbours.

In addition to being approved by DEFRA Many stoves are tested to clearSkies standards and can be labelled with the clearSkies mark. The clearSkies scheme is an independent scheme which requires stove manufacturers to display information about the effectiveness and emissions of their products to help consumers make an informed choice. The information must include the stove's efficiency rating, emissions, as well as the type and size.

It is important to remember that, just like Ecodesign the clearSkies regulations are minimum standards. Manufacturers may go above and over these. ESSE for instance, has engineered its latest stoves to be even more efficient and cleaner burning and produce less particulates, without compromising on performance or control. This latest advancement utilizes patented twin catalytic combustion technology that burns off the smoke particles it releases significantly reducing their impact on the environment.

If you live in a smoke-controlled zone and defra Stoves comparison are using a DEFRA Approved Stove with a high-quality, kiln-dried or seasoned log, then you'll get as much heat, or even more than that, from the same amount of dry wood as the same amount of wood burned in the non DEFRA stoves benefits Approved Stove. It could be up to 24 percent less expensive to heat your home by using the latest DEFRA Approved Stove than using gas boilers.

Conforms to Building Regulations

If you reside in an area under smoke control, it is essential to use a multi-fuel stove that has been approved by defra stoves comparison. The stoves have been tested to ensure that they do not emit smoke when burning approved fuel. You can therefore use them in areas that have large number of buildings. We install and supply DEFRA approved log stoves made by top brands like Mi-fires and Contura.

A DEFRA approved multi fuel stove can allow you to burn peat, wood and other solid fuels in a safe manner. It is crucial to be aware that certain fuels can't be used in Smoke Control Areas.

To allow a multi-fuel stove to perform safely, it's important that you have the proper ventilation. This will help reduce the accumulation of carbon monoxide in your home. DEFRA approved multi fuel stoves have a built-in venting system that is able to automatically deliver sufficient air to the combustion process, ensuring that your home will always be properly ventilated and safe for use.

DEFRA approved stoves also come with a minimum size of 550mm2, which means they can be used conjunction with a standard dualwall flue system. Our vast range of flue liners are compatible with DEFRA approved stoves, which means you can use them to upgrade your existing fireplace to ensure it is compliant with the latest emissions requirements.

Look for the DEFRA symbol on the stove's packaging or on the internet. Many reputable stove retailers will also include this information on their websites as well as on their displays in the store, so you can easily identify which stoves comply with the requirements.

If you're planning to install a multi-fuel stove, you must ensure that you have the task done by a professional who is certified to ensure compliance with building regulations. Failure to follow the proper installation guidelines could result in the issuance of a fine and damage to your property. We suggest that you select an HETAS-approved installer to set up your stove, because they are knowledgeable about the guidelines of the manufacturer as well as the building codes.