Ask the EXPERT

We answer your DIY and maintenance questions with a little help from the experts

Q I live in a city, are there any rules about installing a wood-burner in my home?

Mrs O’Neill, by email

A Phil Wood, Contura Country Manager for the UK and Ireland says… A number of UK cities are bound to the Clean Air Act set by the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which means there are rules to be aware of prior to installing a wood-burner.

Firstly, you should contact your local council to see if you live in a Smoke Control Area as this will determine the type of wood-burning stove you are able to install. In addition, the type of fuel you can burn is also subject to rules set by DEFRA unless an exempt appliance is used, and you should only use materials specified by the manufacturer. For Contura stoves, only wood should be burned, however multi-fuel capacities are present in other stoves and it is worth being aware that this can differ between manufacturers.

75% of all Contura stoves are DEFRA Clean Air Act exempt and can therefore be installed in Smoke Control Areas without infringing on legislation, this is due to the highly efficient heat output found within the in-built combustion system. Modern, clean burning Ecodesign stoves reduce emissions by 90% and are therefore an environmentally sound option for anyone looking to reduce their carbon footprint.

You can check smoke regulations in your area and your eligibility to install a wood-burning stove by logging on to www.gov.uk/smoke-control-area-rules.