Brits with log burners and wood-burning stoves could face a fine of up to £1,000 if they burn the wrong fuel in their home.
The rules apply in designated Smoke Control Areas, which cover many parts of the UK. In these areas, households are restricted over the type of fuel they can burn and the appliances they can use.
Wood is classed as an unauthorised fuel in Smoke Control Areas unless it is being burned in an appliance that has been approved by DEFRA, known as an exempt or DEFRA-approved appliance.
Anyone who buys unauthorised fuel to use in a non-approved appliance can be fined up to £1,000.
The rules do not mean households have to stop using log burners altogether. DEFRA-approved wood-burning and multi-fuel stoves can burn certain unauthorised fuels, including wood, provided the fuel is one the manufacturer says can be used with that particular appliance.
For people using a stove that is not exempt, only authorised fuels can be burned.
Households should check whether they live in a Smoke Control Area with their local council before lighting their stove.
There is another important rule for anyone buying firewood in England.
Wood sold in quantities of less than two cubic metres must be certified as Ready to Burn, meaning it has a moisture content of no more than 20%.
Households should also avoid burning treated waste wood, such as old furniture, pallets or fence panels, or household rubbish in their stoves, as these can release harmful pollutants.
The £1,000 maximum fine is separate from penalties for releasing smoke from a chimney in a Smoke Control Area. In England, households can face a penalty of up to £300 if their chimney releases smoke in one of these areas.
The rules mean log burner owners should check their appliance and fuel before lighting a fire, particularly as colder weather approaches.
A stove being designed to burn wood does not automatically mean it can legally burn any type of wood in a Smoke Control Area. Checking that the appliance is approved and using the correct fuel can help households avoid falling foul of the rules.
