Warning for UK households with a fireplace this winter
Sitting beside an open fire, playing games, enjoying a warming drink or simply getting stuck into a good book is one of winter's great pleasures — it adds an extra layer of atmosphere to any festive living room.
While it's now considered less common to have a fireplace in a living room, hallway or bedroom, it's a way to heat the room without turning on the central heating; a roaring fire also creates a cosy atmosphere for guests.
But for UK households with a fire this winter, there's one vital consideration homeowners should be aware of to avoid a potentially hefty fine.
Official government advice warns that you could be fined up to £1,000 if you use unauthorised fuel in your fire.
The advice, available on the gov.uk website, reads: "You can be fined up to £1,000 if you buy unauthorised fuel to use in an appliance that's not approved by Defra. If your appliance uses a chimney on the roof of a building (for example, a summer house), you can only burn authorised fuel unless it's an exempt appliance."
A Defra-approved fireplace (which is also known as a Defra Smoke Exempt Appliance) is a wood-burning stove that has been tested and certified to meet the UK government's environmental standards.
It's also important to check whether you live in a "smoke control" area, as a chimney omitting smoke here can result in an additional fine of £300.
"In a smoke control area, you can only burn fuel on the list of authorised fuels, or any of the following 'smokeless' fuels, unless you're using a Defra-approved appliance: anthracite, semi-anthracite, gas, low volatile steam coal," the advice continues.
You can contact your local council to find out if you live in a smoke control area, where the environmental services department will be able to help you.
If you're considering having a fire pit or bonfire in the garden over the festive season — another popular winter activity once the cold weather sets in — this is permitted in smoke control areas.
Still, you'll need to follow the government's rules on bonfires, which include forbidding the burning of domestic waste and ensuring smoke doesn't drift into the road and pose a danger to traffic.
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