Wood burner ban...

BusyGreySnail · 2026-11-12T16:16:00+00:00

Apparently there is a call for wood burners to be banned. They are bad for air quality, inside and out, and bad for the environment. I assume it's the same for fireplaces, but I don't know. What about all this talk of black outs, and vulnerable critical infastructure and preparedness, should that factor in? If we really are at risk, people having an alternative source of heat is quite a good idea. Do you have one?

TheOlderIGetTheStayerIHome · 12/11/2026 16:26

They are awful. The fine particulate matter damages lungs, and even goes through lung tissue and enters the blood stream.

I wish they were banned. My bathroom and kitchen fill up with the stinking smoke from the neighbours log burner if I ever open my windows, but the smell (and presumably the particles) still manage to get in my home with the windows shut. My choices are to have a bathroom & kitchen full of condensation, or the selfish neighbours stinking smoke. 😡

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:27

I’m in London & wouldn’t get one

LindorDoubleChoc · 12/11/2026 16:29

I wouldn't dream of having one (live in London). Several neighbours do and the smell is awful and catches in your lungs.

Soontobe60 · 12/11/2026 16:32

Love a wood burner!

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:33

I do find it odd that Mnetters in general are quite climate conscious but wood burners seem to be the exception.

Pootles34 · 12/11/2026 16:33

Love them, love the smell of woodsmoke, which I know is meant to be awful for us. I must admit I don't light mine very often because of it, but it is nice to know it's there in case of a power cut!

There would be an uprising in our village if they banned them.

Blackoutmaybe · 12/11/2026 16:35

Yes. And I love it. But I live in the middle of nowhere with no neighbours for miles and I am on oil fired heating. I can afford to fill my tank but many people can’t, so for them, a burner is the only/most affordable form of heat.

Original poster

BusyGreySnail · 12/11/2026 16:36

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:33

I do find it odd that Mnetters in general are quite climate conscious but wood burners seem to be the exception.

Yes, it is a bit strange. My in laws have theirs on every night, and have for years (previously a fire place) and I dread to think of the impact on their health.

We have one (as it was in the house), but use it only very rarely for all the reasons mentioned. I often think of removing it but then do think thta if WW3 hits it might be quite handy!

OP posts:

Ablondiebutagoody · 12/11/2026 16:36

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:33

I do find it odd that Mnetters in general are quite climate conscious but wood burners seem to be the exception.

Wood burners don't really affect the climate, pretty much carbon neutral, but they do create pollution.

Either way, I love them.

LiberteLynx · 12/11/2026 16:36

I cannot wait for the ban. I think they can ban them except for during blackouts.
So many people have them due to the skyrocketing energy prices that I cannot burp the house without it filling with the smell of woodsmoke. It also makes it near impossible for me to walk with my friend when she walks her dog as it triggers my asthma.

musicalfrog · 12/11/2026 16:37

Hoping to get one in our next house. They are really effective at heating a whole house.

Original poster

BusyGreySnail · 12/11/2026 16:37

LiberteLynx · 12/11/2026 16:36

I cannot wait for the ban. I think they can ban them except for during blackouts.
So many people have them due to the skyrocketing energy prices that I cannot burp the house without it filling with the smell of woodsmoke. It also makes it near impossible for me to walk with my friend when she walks her dog as it triggers my asthma.

DH is asthmatic and I can't help but wonder if it's related to his parents' wood burning habits!

OP posts:

Propagandalf · 12/11/2026 16:38

In the summer time, AIBU had daily threads about wishing for air con and that the heatwaves would end.

Now some of us on here have got log burners or begging for one :-D

I'm just glad that summer is now over and that the radiators I have are sufficient.

Froughties · 12/11/2026 16:38

I hate them but dh wants one. I've recently got a few quotes due to this whole prepper situation. As a pp said living rurally I now feel it makes sense to get one in case of emergency. Currently have a gas fire that we probably switch on twice a year. I imagine the log burner would be similar. Are we made to get one? Just for occasional use and emergencies? Not too many neighbours and I think they have them anyway.

singlepringle23 · 12/11/2026 16:39

I love them but do think they should be banned as they are so unhealthy. If there was an emergency then surely the ban could be paused/overlooked for that emergency time?

Blackandyellow65 · 12/11/2026 16:39

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:33

I do find it odd that Mnetters in general are quite climate conscious but wood burners seem to be the exception.

I don’t think the majority of them are anywhere near as climate conscious as they pretend. They just love to act superior and tell everyone they’re wrong for one reason or another

mysittingduck · 12/11/2026 16:40

The smoke gets into my lungs except when the stove has just been serviced.

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:41

@Ablondiebutagoody I thought it took decades to offset the output?

GoodGirlFaith · 12/11/2026 16:41

My chimney sweep always tries to convince me that a wood burner would be better but I will not change my open fire. I only use it for effect, really, on at most 10 nights a winter. It is handy when there's a problem with the boiler, or a power cut, though!

computerquays · 12/11/2026 16:41

@Blackandyellow65good point!

Original poster

BusyGreySnail · 12/11/2026 16:42

singlepringle23 · 12/11/2026 16:39

I love them but do think they should be banned as they are so unhealthy. If there was an emergency then surely the ban could be paused/overlooked for that emergency time?

Yeah but if you ban them people don't have them in the longer term....

OP posts:

underthehawthorntree · 12/11/2026 16:44

People seem to forget that almost everything we do in a day has some form of negative effect- every biscuit, every hour sat on our arses scrolling, every time we get in the car and risking death, every glass of wine. If we eliminate all pleasure from life what's the bloody point?! We might live a bit longer but we would be miserable! Most people enjoy siting by the fire and it has the added benefit of keeping us warm. Bad for the environment probably but possibly not worse than burning fossil fuels to heat our homes and definitely not worse than all the climate pollution caused by data centres and war.

Narniaisthatway · 12/11/2026 16:44

In many areas of Scotland you really need a source of heating/cooking that is viable in long power cuts, we get them a lot! If there was a ban it would have to be able to be by postcode or something.

Blackoutmaybe · 12/11/2026 16:45

LiberteLynx · 12/11/2026 16:36

I cannot wait for the ban. I think they can ban them except for during blackouts.
So many people have them due to the skyrocketing energy prices that I cannot burp the house without it filling with the smell of woodsmoke. It also makes it near impossible for me to walk with my friend when she walks her dog as it triggers my asthma.

They aren’t being banned though? The type of fuel you can burn in a Smoke Control Area must be approved and you must use a modern, defra approved appliance, which all are anyway since 2022. There are no plans to ban wood burners completely, anywhere, as far as I know.

NotAnotherScarf · 12/11/2026 16:46

So all the wood i burn that costs me nothing and instead would release its carbon anyway and I am not using fossil fuels means that im bad for the environment.?