Demand for wood-burning stoves rises to cut energy bills amid cost of living crisis

Demand for wood-burning stoves has risen as Britons opt to heat their homes the old-fashioned way amid rising energy bills.

Retailers are reporting a shortage of stoves, as manufacturers struggle to meet demand following Covid supply chain issues and a shortage of materials like cast iron.

According to the Telegraph, some dealers have reported people buying multiple wood-burning stoves at once as temperatures plummet.

Consumers grab the burners as they battle rising bills as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to drive up gasoline prices.

Choice Stoves, an online retailer in Lancashire, has posted on its website that it has suspended online orders due to the ‘UK stove shortage’

Sign of their growing popularity, sales of wood stoves jumped 40% between April and June to reach more than 35,000 compared to 25,000 for the same period last year.

Choice Stoves, an online retailer in Lancashire, posted on its website that it had suspended online orders due to the ‘UK stove shortage’.

Backwoodsman, a Highland retailer, has reported a 165% increase in sales over the past year.

The seller posted a notice on its website saying it was “unusually busy due to the effects of the energy crisis”, with inquiries taking up to six weeks.

Lancashire stove fitting company Bowland Stoves has also announced that it is fully booked for installations until next year.

“If you are still thinking of having a stove installed to beat gas and electric prices, why not book your survey and installation for next year now,” the company wrote on Twitter.

Backwoodsman posted a notice on their website saying they are “exceptionally busy due to the effects of the energy crisis”, with investigations taking up to six weeks.

In September, DIY store Toolsstation revealed that its sales of chainsaws had also increased.

A company spokesperson said at the time: ‘We suspect the demand is being driven by customers turning on their chainsaws to cut logs and wood for wood burning stoves as many are trying to mitigate the impact of energy surges.”

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed electricity and gas prices rose 54% and 99% respectively in the 12 months to September.

And after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the energy price cap will rise from April, millions of households are expected to face an increase of up to £500.

With the end of the energy price guarantee, a typical household will see gas and electricity prices rise from £2,500 a year to over £3,000.

But increased wood burning could lead to more pollution, experts warn.

Earlier this year, wood and coal stoves were estimated to account for 38% of particulate air pollution

The government plans to reduce this total by 30% by 2030, and on 1 January this year passed rules saying that all stoves sold must comply with ‘ecodesign’ rules, meaning they have been tested for their effectiveness.