Burn the cleanest fuel you can

Burn the correct fuels

A chair, tree log and a number of plastic bottles all with red crosses beside them to indicate they are not to be burned

Only burn the correct fuels. The following give off harmful particles and toxic chemicals that will contribute to air pollution and should not be burned.

Treated/painted/glued wood
Old furniture
DIY off cuts
Household waste or plastic
Turf
Traditional house coal, also known as bituminous coal - this has been banned since 2023 under the Air Quality Regulations. Approved solid fuels are more efficient to burn and create less smoke - see a list of authorised and certified fuels that can be used
Wet, recently cut or unseasoned wood - moisture creates smoke and harmful particulates when burnt. As well as being harmful to your health and the environment, this can damage your stove and chimney and is an inefficient way to heat your home, producing less heat

Store wet or unseasoned wood properly

Logs stored under cover away from rainclouds indicating proper storage

Store wet or recently felled wood in a dry place where air can circulate for at least two years. Protect it from the weather to prevent it absorbing excessive amounts of rain water. Ensure your logs are stored off the ground and don’t stack them too tightly otherwise the air won’t be able to circulate properly.

Even Ready to Burn wood can reabsorb moisture if it is not kept correctly. See advice on how to best store your firewood.

Use a moisture meter

A tree log with a 20% moisiture rating to indicate this is the maximum amount of moisture in wood for safe burning

Use a moisture meter to check the moisture content of the wood before burning. It should have 20% moisture or less. This video shows you how to use a moisture meter and to check for signs of dry wood without one.

If you haven't got a moisture meter, here is how to know your wood is dry enough to burn:

Look for radial cracks and loose bark and a pale colour
Dry wood should feel light in weight without the moisture
If you knock two pieces of wood together and the sound is a dull thud, it is probably still too wet to burn
Look for sustainably-sourced wood by checking it comes from a nearby managed woodland

Store ready-to-burn wood away from your stove or fire

Logs placed too closely to an active fire indicating improper storage

Store dry wood away from the stove or fire. Storing it too close may cause it to catch fire. Find out about safely storing your wood indoors.

Last updated 13 November 2025