UK smoke control areas - don't get caught out!

There is nothing quite as comforting as thinking about a nice, welcoming wood burning stove, or perhaps a coal fire to make you feel at home. However, before you hurry into making any decisions about the type of appliance or fuel you want to use to heat your home, it's important to consider your surroundings.

Many people, especially those moving into new areas, are astonished to realise certain places across the UK have smoke control rules. These UK smoke control rules basically mean that you aren't allowed to have smoke coming out of your chimney, unless you use particular appliances and/or fuels.

So, what are the UK smoke control area rules exactly?

Well, it's not all doom and gloom. If you do find yourself living in one of these areas, you can use ‘smokeless’ fuels, such as low volatile steam coal, gas, anthracite, oil and kindling. Other fuels that are 'unauthorised' (like wood) can still be burned in certain appliances that are exempt, for example some chimineas, boilers, stoves, fireplaces, barbecues, and pizza ovens.

So, the first thing to do before you start shopping around is to find out whether or not you live in a smoke controlled area. To find out about smoke controlled areas near your home, you can visit your local authority's website or you can call and speak to the environmental services department within your local council.

It's worth getting to know where these areas are, as breaking these rules can be costly, with fines of up to £1,000 for people who don't comply.

If you discover that you do indeed live in a smoke controlled area, there is no need to worry. At Logs Direct, we have the right fuel for wherever you live. We can supply you with a wide range of high quality smokeless fuels that have been approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for use within smoke controlled areas. Or, if you do decide you want to use an unauthorised fuel such as wood with an exempt appliance, we can provide high quality fuel for everything from stoves to chimineas.