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As the\u00a0weather grows increasingly colder, Britons are being warned they could face hefty fines and even a criminal record for lighting up their log burners.<\/p>\n
Under current regulations, the amount of smoke new stoves can emit per hour has dropped from 5g to 3g.<\/p>\n
The rules come as part of the Government\u2019s effort to reduce emissions and encourage the use of greener alternatives. Last year, the Government moved to ban the sale of house coal and wet wood in England.<\/p>\n
Experts are warning the estimated 1.5 million Britons who currently own a log burner, that if clean air regulations are not followed correctly, they could face a \u00a3300 fine and a criminal conviction for not adhering to the law.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re suggesting people use certified fire logs and monitor the stove\u2019s glass to ensure there are no small cracks or excess damage.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> Martin Lewis shares \u2018one energy deal\u2019 to switch to as energy bills set to rise<\/strong><\/p>\n John Cutts, expert at\u00a0MeandMyGlass\u00a0said: \u201cWith the cold weather fast approaching, it\u2019s likely many of us will want to get warm and cosy by lighting up log burners at home.<\/p>\n \u201cBut many log burner owners are unaware of the recent implications of clean air regulations. If they\u2019re not followed correctly, thousands of Britons could face large fines and even a criminal conviction.<\/p>\n \u201cThe regulations state that owners are to face penalties for using wood-burning stoves which don\u2019t meet the UK\u2019s standard for emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n And not only do people have to be aware of the type of log burner they\u2019re using, but also the material being burned on it, Mr Cutts said.<\/p>\n He explained: \u201cUsing the wrong log burner and materials will result in a hefty penalty. The regulations encourage owners to switch to more eco-friendly alternatives, so we strongly advise all log burner owners to be cautious of the materials they\u2019re using on the stove.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Cutts added: \u201cIt\u2019s important to [also] make sure that any stoves with glass doors are still fit to function without any cracks that could lead to fumes escaping from the burner.\u201d<\/p>\n Although there are no plans to ban woodburning stoves as of yet, the Government\u2019s Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 has implemented stricter regulations for burners in designated \u201cSmoke Control Areas,\u201d which include most towns and cities.<\/p>\n The move comes to help reduce particulate matter air pollution, which is considered the most damaging pollutant.<\/p>\n Government\u00a0statistics\u00a0found the primary contributor to PM2.5 pollution, which refers to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, is the burning of solid fuels in homes, including a small percentage of coal.<\/p>\n In comparison, road transport, industry, and the combustion of wood and other biomass for electricity generation generate lower levels of PM2.5 emissions.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> ![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/23\/590x\/secondary\/WOOD-BURNING-STOVE-RULES-5083178.jpg?r=1700830965961\")
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