To say don't use a wood burner if you have children in the house?

I'm going to weigh in here. House behind me has installed one. Their house is a significantly lower elevation to ours. Thanks to the prevailing winds, their chimney blows directly into my daughter's bedroom. We can't air out her room at all in the winter, which isn't ideal for ventilation etc.

There should be more rules about where these things can be installed.

We had an open fire growing up, we used to throw crisp packets and plastic packaging on it to watch them melt 🫣 this wood burner must be better?

dont worry about that

My wooden window frames ensure we have a constant supply of fresh air.... even with the windows closed.... because my house is listed I cant change them for nice modern airtight ones.

The room with the stove is dual aspect so it has draughty windows at both ends of the room, so there is always air flow, no matter if the windows are open or closed!

(can tell you have NO clue what living in these beautiful old traditional (uninsulated, freezing and draughty) buildings is like!!!!!)

I agree @MojoMoon but you won't get much support on here. Some people are obsessed with their woodburners, and won't hear a word against them!

I wouldn't have one in my house if you paid me. JMO.

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What’s making you think it only stays around the chimney? Particulates have mass, and they fall to ground level, where they are breathed in.

So if you are burning wood, you are forcing your neighbours to breathe in particulates that are harmful to them. Their risk of heart disease, lung disease, cancer and dementia increase because of what you’re doing. And they don’t even get the benefit of the nice warm cosy fire like you do.

The other thing is that it is actually possible to filter the smoke. It costs money to install a filter though.

But nobody actually does it because they care more about their own bank balance than they do about their neighbours health.

I've just returned from living abroad in a rural community where a wood burner was most people's only source of heat over winter. And ohhhhhhhhh I am so grateful to step back into the 21st century, where generations have worked hard to make GCH possible so that we no longer have to slave chopping wood and carrying water and are freed to do more interesting things!

We had a high-end Stuv burner but my health has definitely improved since no longer dealing with wood and ash.

I think a key problem is that, as PP mentioned, it can be difficult to get hold of properly seasoned wood especially in a severe winter where stocks are running low. Then everyone burns whatever they can get their hands on. Suitably kiln-dried wood is also expensive, so I doubt everyone in the UK is forking out for it.

OMG this. There is also the issue of no recording of the type, age and maintenance of the wood burner and what is burned. No skin in the game here either and not likely to be as my house has no chimney.

'Short pollution peaks were also measured when children walked past bakeries and restaurants on the high street.'

Will nobody think of the poor children exposed to dangerous patisserie?

'One young kiddie on cake cried all the water out of his body'

Probably because you can gas yourself out with scented candles if you want, but it won't affect your neighbours that much who choose not to.

Stove pollution affects everyone. Basically the idea is chuck the nasty stuff outside so you don't have to deal with it inside.

Haven’t read the full thread and this is a side thought…. We have a wood burner with a large air purifier right next to it. The purifier kicks into action when cooking happens in the kitchen next door, but doesn’t switch on when the fire door is opened to add more wood. Why is that…?

edit to add: genuine question, by the way. It has always baffled me assuming smoke would be more prevalent when doors are opened.

We have mains gas and are on the edge of a town. I wouldnt be without ours. The heating doesnt get the house hot enough for me and we've had a few incidents of boiler breaking down and needing a new part, part takes time to come in and no heating or hot water, the burner has been invaluable for that.

OP it makes sense to say that, but as with a lot of things, people won't stop.
Family members almost live for the chance to light their fires, and there is no amount of scientific evidence that will stop them doing it. The fire is more important than anyone's health, including their own.

Lead and arsenic have been around since the dawn of time but that doesn't mean they are good for you.

This is silly. One of the worst things for indoor air quality is scented candles, and nobody makes a big fuss about that.

People like to defend them because they cost them money to install and they are cheap to run - at least if you steal wood or burn any old crap in them. If you burn proper seasoned logs then they cost as much as gas, if not more and are a whole load more hassle.

It seems weird how in cities we have made huge strides in trying to remove vehicle pollution, only to wreck it all with fire pollution. It makes absolutely zero sense.

They should really be banned in any areas where there is mains gas available IMO.

In the country out of cities the outside pollution impact is less, and if you wish to risk your own lungs that is your business.

Yet another area where the government is refusing to do something to benefit the environment and air quality, probably because they are scared of the vocal minority.

Sure. Also should ban children being in the kitchen when cooking, candles, drying laundry indoors or living next to a busy road which are comparable in risk increase (which is basically zero in a child without asthma)

Or just make sure that your home is well ventilated and don't leave it burning overnight especially if next to a bedroom (which helps with everything above except when you live next to a busy road).

Oh, and also driving the kids to school - 1 child in 2-4 million with a 20 minute drive to school is killed by that drive. This absolutely dwarfs the danger from heating their home with a wood burner

Thank you. Not that I have a wood runner but would be interested in testing our home.

YABVU

Wood burners have been around for centuries
Actually just as bad for the environment as central heating or gas/electric fires, only it's wood being burnt instead of fossil fuels

As long as they look nice, innit?

The whole life environment impact of electric vehicles is less than that of petrol and diesel and that was true before battery recycling was sorted out

ah but everywhere here

my area is not connected to the mains gas, oil is expensive to heat the whole house, using the wood stove is a lot cheaper.

Obviously in London it's ridiculous. The study wasn't London though, it was a rural Welsh island

When we were poor our log burner was vital because we could bring logs home on walks so it was free heating. I understand that was an extreme case though. We never use ours nowadays unless the boiler breaks.

Is the same thing as saying electric cars produce less fumes than diesel, therefore electric is better. Until you look at the battery environmental production issues not to mention the battery disposal environmental issues?

Anecdotally my dd suffered asthma in old house - by a main road and hot air heating (powered by gas). Moved, and despite having an evil wood burning stove she’s not had an attack since, and overall much much healthier,

I worry about anything where people argue black and white, with no nuance. It makes be concerned there is an agenda behind the argument.

Not differentiating between open fire, old log burners and newer ones. Not differentiating between the type of fuel used. Not stating other products used within those homes (cleaning products, air fresheners etc). Commenting on walking past a bakery or restaurant seems to also still be saying don’t worry about what’s in your house - bigger issues walking down high street. Probably true…