Woodburners and Asthma: Can Modern Stoves Be Used Safely by Families?

Asthma concerns are valid, but modern woodburners can be used safely with care. This guide explains the science, compares common triggers, and shares practical advice for families who want reassurance.

January 30, 2025
By Reece Toscani
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Guides & Knowledge

Parents worry: can stoves worsen asthma?

For any parent managing a household with asthma, indoor air quality isn’t a luxury – it’s a daily concern. Whether it’s dust in the carpet, pollen drifting in from outside, or smoke from cooking, the triggers are everywhere. Adding a woodburner into the mix naturally raises questions: could it make things worse?

The worry is valid. Wood smoke contains fine particles (PM₂.₅) that can irritate lungs and airways. Asthma sufferers are often more sensitive to these pollutants, so it’s no surprise that many families pause before installing or lighting up a stove. But there’s an important distinction to make: not all fires are equal. An open fire or old stove produces far more emissions indoors than a sealed, modern Ecodesign woodburner. With today’s technology, stoves are designed to burn cleaner, hotter, and more efficiently – which dramatically changes the picture.

What the science shows: Ecodesign stoves and indoor air quality

Modern Ecodesign stoves are built to meet strict EU and UK emissions standards introduced in 2022. They use advanced combustion chambers, improved airflow systems, and secondary burn technology to ensure wood is burned as completely as possible. The result: less smoke, fewer particulates, and more heat from every log.

Independent studies, including those commissioned by the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA), have tested indoor PM₂.₅ levels while Ecodesign stoves were running. The findings are reassuring: with the stove door closed, indoor particulate levels remain comfortably below World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. In fact, emissions during normal stove use are often lower than those created by everyday activities like frying food, lighting scented candles, or even vacuuming.

The only real spike occurs during refuelling, when the door is briefly opened. But even then, the increase is minor and short-lived – especially if the stove is operated correctly and good fuel is used. In practice, this means that for most households, the risks are manageable and no greater than other common sources of indoor pollution.

Putting it into perspective: stoves vs everyday triggers

Asthma doesn’t have a single cause, and triggers vary between individuals. But to give some perspective, here’s how woodburners compare with familiar culprits:

Cooking smoke: Frying food on a gas hob can produce PM₂.₅ levels many times higher than those observed with a modern stove. Add oil splatter and poor kitchen ventilation, and it becomes one of the biggest indoor air offenders.
Candles and incense: Scented candles, incense sticks, and air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) alongside particulates. These can linger for hours and are known irritants for sensitive lungs.
Pets and dust: Dander from cats and dogs, combined with dust mites in soft furnishings, often triggers asthma more consistently than any other indoor source.
Pollen: During peak seasons, pollen sneaks in through windows and doors, leading to prolonged exposure for allergy and asthma sufferers.

Knowing the causes of emissions and particulates in the home helps you make better decisions that work for your family. If you currently burn candles, for example, but are considering installing a woodburner, then it makes sense to keep the candles off when the stove is on. That small sacrifice helps balance out the overall emissions in the room. The same principle applies to any of the other household sources mentioned: limit what you can, and the combined air quality picture improves significantly, even with a woodburner installed.

Practical Stove Tips for Families with Asthma

Modern Ecodesign stoves are designed to keep indoor air clean when used correctly. The only real window for particle exposure is during refuelling, when the stove door is briefly opened. By being prepared and following best practice, families can keep this exposure to an absolute minimum.

For Families Considering a Stove

If you don’t yet own a woodburner but are worried about how one might affect your loved ones, these points can guide you at the buying stage. They’ll also apply once your stove is installed, giving you peace of mind both now and later:

Choose a stove with an active baffle – this feature redirects smoke straight up the chimney when the door is open, reducing the chance of it entering the room.
Consider external air supply carefully – leaving it disconnected can draw room air into the stove, helping to remove particulates from the living space via the chimney. This may require additional ventilation.
Step up your flue size – while many DEFRA-exempt stoves can legally run on a 125mm (5″) liner, upgrading to 150mm (6″) (if your chimney allows) can improve draw and reduce smoke spillage when refuelling.

For Families Already Using a Woodburner

If you already have a stove at home but are worried about its impact, these steps will help you run it more confidently and safely — and they’re just as useful to keep in mind if you’re considering installing a stove:

Be prepared before opening the door – keep logs stacked nearby, gloves on, and reload quickly but safely to minimise the release of particles into the room.
Use only seasoned or kiln-dried logs – aim for a moisture content below 20%. Damp wood produces more particulates and leads to a dirtier burn.
Keep the room well ventilated – balanced airflow helps maintain healthy indoor air. Adding a HEPA filter air purifier can provide extra reassurance.
Fit a rotating cowl – a wind-driven cowl helps create stronger up-draught, reducing smoke drifting back inside when you open the stove door.
Boost with a chimney fan if needed – if natural draw and a cowl still don’t solve the problem, a draft booster or chimney fan ensures reliable extraction and virtually eliminates smoky refuelling moments.
Sweep and service regularly – annual chimney sweeping and stove servicing keep the system efficient and safe, reducing the risk of smoke leaks or poor combustion.

Burning the right wood: a non-negotiable

If there’s one factor that makes the biggest difference, it’s fuel quality. Burning damp logs is a recipe for excess smoke, tar build-up in the chimney, and higher indoor emissions. Modern Ecodesign stoves are optimised for logs with a moisture content below 20% — either air-dried for at least a year or kiln-dried to standard. Using wet wood isn’t just bad for health; it’s inefficient, as much of the heat is wasted evaporating water instead of warming your home.

The UK’s “Ready to Burn” certification helps families identify suitable firewood at the point of purchase. Choosing the right fuel is a simple but powerful way to protect both health and efficiency.

What the experts say

The Stove Industry Alliance continues to highlight the gap between perception and reality when it comes to modern stoves. Their studies show that Ecodesign stoves cut emissions by up to 90% compared with an open fire, and 80% compared with a stove built just a decade ago. Public Health England also recognises that while wood smoke can contribute to local air pollution, indoor exposure is far more affected by cooking, smoking, and cleaning habits.

The World Health Organization (WHO) sets global guidelines for PM₂.₅ exposure, and tests on Ecodesign stoves show indoor levels during normal operation remain comfortably within those limits. Taken together, these findings underline that stoves can be part of a safe, healthy home when used responsibly.

Valid Concerns, Manageable Risks

Asthma is a serious condition, and no responsible stove owner should dismiss the concerns of families living with it. But context is vital. The risks posed by modern, well-operated woodburners are modest compared to other everyday household activities. By choosing the right stove, burning the right wood, and following best-practice tips, families can enjoy the warmth and comfort of a fire without compromising health.

Modern Ecodesign stoves don’t eliminate particulates altogether, but they reduce them to levels that are manageable — especially when weighed against the many other triggers already present in most homes. For families who love the idea of a fire, the message is clear: with care, woodburners and asthma can coexist.

Are you a parent weighing up whether a stove is right for your family? Or do you already own one and have experiences to share? Leave a comment below – your story could help other families find the reassurance they need.

See related stories to this one:

Stove Buyers Guide, Stove Owners Guide

Reece Toscani

Reece has over two decades in the fireplace and stove world — testing, reviewing, and occasionally getting covered in soot, all in the name of wood-fired home heating. He cuts through the nonsense, busts the myths, and shares straight-talking advice to help you enjoy your stove without the confusion. From Fireplace Products to Redefining Woodburners, if it burns wood, he’s probably tested it, fixed it, or argued about it. Now, through Woodburner Insights, he shares that experience with the world — both here and on YouTube.