Every house with a chimney in England faces £300 fines in September

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UK households are being cautioned that they could face fines of £300 from this month onwards if they use their chimney. While most homes built before the 1990s likely have a chimney, many haven't been used for years or even decades, with some fireplaces potentially blocked and inaccessible.

However, millions across the nation still utilise their fireplace for winter heating, using traditional fuels like coal or having a wood burner installed in the chimney. But under new rules concerning Smoke Control Areas, if your chimney begins to emit smoke, you could be reported to the local council and fined in certain parts of the UK.

These Smoke Control Areas dictate the amount of smoke permissible from your chimney. Most of England now falls under these areas, and residents can be fined £300 if their chimney produces excessive smoke, with repeat offenders potentially facing criminal charges.

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According to Section 19 of the Clean Air Act 1993, a £300 fine is mandatory if your chimney releases too much smoke. As stated by Direct Stoves: "The current limit on the amount of smoke your chimney can produce in a Smoke Control Area is 5g per hour, plus 0.5g for each kW of your stove's heat output. However, there are plans to reduce this limit to 3g per hour, although when this will happen is not yet confirmed.

"These rules mean that only some people with a wood-burning stove or open fire will pay a fine for using it. Most modern wood burners available are DEFRA-approved, so many stove owners do not need to worry.

"If you want to upgrade an older wood burner that emits a lot of smoke or are considering installing a wood burner in your home for the first time, get an appliance that DEFRA has approved for use in Smoke Control Areas. A wood burner with this seal of approval is designed and tested to operate within the restrictions."

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