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Burning Stoves in an Environmentally Friendly Way

The amount of CO2 released when wood is burnt is equivalent to the carbon footprint that would otherwise be released by the tree rotting on the forest floor.

Burn cleanly - Follow the simple tips to get the best out of your wood burning stove:

Use clean, seasoned wood - Wet wood burns inefficiently and produces a lot of smoke. After splitting, wood should ideally dry for 1-2 years before you use it. At that time the moisture content will be below the 20% recommended. Do not burn wood that has been treated (painted, impregnated, etc.).

Never burn rubbish - Burning household rubbish such as milk cartons, plastic bags, wrapping paper and other waste in your wood-burning stove is very polluting and also illegal. This is because the burn temperature is not high enough to produce complete combustion.

Ensure adequate airflow - Lack of air results in poor combustion and produces many particles in the smoke which are hazardous to your health. Light the stove using dry twigs, kindling, firelighter or a small amount of newspaper so that the fire takes hold rapidly. Turn down the air vent when the flames start to turn blue.

Burn a small amount at a time - Small frequent loadings are recommended. Increase the airflow every time you add wood; this results in cleaner burning and makes the most efficient use of the wood.

Close down the air vent - When only glowing charcoal remains, you can close the air vent right down and still cover your heat requirements. As the airflow is reduced, wood burns more slowly and less heat is lost up the chimney.

Check that smoke is almost invisible - Too much smoke or a foul smell is an obvious sign that something is wrong. Consult your Chimney Sweep if this is the case.

Remember, you can use the ash as garden fertilizer.