The Best Woodburners

Wood burners are believed to lower blood pressure and relax. What about the tiny soot particles released by the wood burners?

New stoves are designed to be compliant with the EcoDesign directive. You can enjoy an inviting and cozy home without compromising on your environmental obligations.

1. Ekol Edge

The Ekol Edge is a simple-looking wood burner that doesn't scrimp on performance. It's an excellent choice for those living in areas with smoke restrictions since it comes with the Level 5 ClearSkies credentials that means it can be used with dry and seasoned logs and approved solid fuels. The high output of heat makes it an ideal option for larger rooms, and the generous fire glass offers a beautiful view of your flames.

It has a modern steel frame that allows it to be incorporated into traditional inglenooks and freestanding areas. It has an air wash system that keeps the glass clear, and prevents soot accumulation. The stove is extremely efficient, which means that it carries a large portion of the heat it produces to your home, instead of going up the chimney.

Wood burners have been the subject of a lot of criticism recently, as it has been shown that they can contribute to tiny sooty particles in the air known as PM2.5, which has been linked to heart and lung problems. Modern models that are compliant with the Eco design Regulations will be less likely to create these sooty particles. These are only a small portion of the total pollution created from burning fossil fuels, such as gas and coal, but there is no doubt that wood stoves are a source of this pollution.

It is important to choose the correct wood for the stove in order to get the most efficient heat output and combustion. There are a variety of wood that can be used for burning in your stove, including eucalyptus hazel, beech, and hazel. Eucalyptus is quick-burning, but also offers plenty of heat, is an excellent choice. However, it needs to be well-seasoned. Beech is another good choice however its thorns that are vicious make it difficult to handle without protective gloves.

The Ekol Adept is designed to comply with the new regulations. It's clearSkies-rated and Defra-exempt, which means you can use it so it is if you follow the guidelines. It's a powerful, durable burner with a 10-Year Body Warranty and a robust construction. The heating performance is also impressive.

2. Arada Holborn 5 Widescreen

Wood burning stoves are very popular and despite the directive muddle that is surrounding them and their use, they're going to stay. Some groups have called for tighter regulations and a ban on log burners. It's worth reading our guide on stove pollution and regulations, before you decide on the latest multifuel or log fire.

Arada Stoves is one company that is doing their part to ensure that woodburners remain popular. They've released a widescreen version of their popular Holborn Multifuel/Wood Burning Stove. It's an DEFRA approved, SIA 2022 Ecodesign Ready woodburner with a huge glass door that gives a great flame picture. There's also an airwash system that stops soot build-up.

This stove is easy to operate, and comes with a a heat output rating of 4.9kW. Its curved lines and classic design makes it a great choice for traditional or contemporary design. This model is easily incorporated into smaller recesses due to its flat back design. It is also easy to install direct air systems with this model, which will increase the efficiency.

The stove also has an ash dump built-in, which makes it easy to clear ashes and clean them up regularly. This decreases the chance of odours and dust getting out of the room. You can select between two types of flue adaptors depending on your chimney type. It is also available with an wireless remote control.

While the debate rages on about whether wood-burning stoves are beneficial to your health We can all agree that they create a wonderful ambience in our homes. However, it's important to keep in mind the impact of particulate matter and the way that burning wood and other kinds of fuels can impact the quality of indoor air as well as health. If you are installing a woodburner, it's recommended that you close the door when not working on the flame. Also, you should regularly clean the stove to keep the air as healthy as it can be.

3. Go Eco 5kW Plus

It's relaxing to watch the flames flutter and help reduce blood pressure. But it's not all good news. Research has shown that older stoves can be harmful because they release microscopic particles of soot that could get into your respiratory system. This has resulted in new regulations being put into place which means that all new log burners have to meet higher standards. This helps to cut down on smoke leakage, creosote build up and more importantly harmful gases like carbon monoxide.

New woodburners must comply with a new safety standard. The Go Eco 5kW Plus is a multi fuel wood burner-fuel stove that not just meets, but surpasses these new standards, but also exceeds them. The stove comes with a widescreen viewing glass that lets you see the flames clearly. It is also kept clean thanks to an air-washing system that is powerful. The stove boasts an impressive rating of 80% energy efficiency and is DEFRA exempt, meaning it can be used in smoke controlled areas. It's also SIA Ecodesign ready which means that it already meets European restrictions on wood burning stove emissions that will be in force in 2022.

This stove comes with a no-cost air ventilation kit. It's now easier to install than it has ever been. It's a solid little stove constructed 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 wards off dirt.

The clearSkies label on this stove demonstrates that it has been independently tested and confirmed to be eco-friendly and efficient. This goes above and over the minimum requirements laid out by Ecodesign. This is one of only a few stoves in our list that have the entire five-star ClearSkies rating.

4. Chilli Penguin Defrost

A spirited Welsh brand, Chilli Penguin has become a major player among wood burner brands with a unique style that is not to be missed. They specialise in small do-it-all multi-fuel stoves that have achieved an enviable reputation due to their low flue-draught requirements integral ovens and hotplate tops as well as a variety of features and sizes. This 4.7kW model is a prime example of their focus on branding and also shows that they are able to provide an excellent product at a price that won't cost you a fortune. This DEFRA-approved woodburner can be used for use in Smoke Control Areas, and is fully conforms to the current 5g/hr emissions limit. It also has ClearSkies level five credentials. It's the ideal choice for those who aren't sure what the future direction of the directive is and want to feel secure that their log burners will be exempt from smoke control regulations.