Stoves as an alternative to gas heating? Consumers will have to pay attention to some changes from 2025 onwards – otherwise there is a risk of high fines.
Munich – The energy crisis has triggered a veritable run on wood-burning stoves. Many consumers bought a wood-burning stove in winter in order to have an alternative heat source to their built-in heating systems – the prices for oil and gas rose too high. But with the new heating law by Robert Habeck (Greens) from 2024 there will also be stricter laws for wood-burning stoves.
| Affected wood-burning stoves | |
|---|---|
| Period of installation | 1 January 1995 to 31 December 2010 |
| Limit values of exhaust gases | 0.15 grams of dust and 4 grams of carbon monoxide per cubic meter |
According to the Heating Act: New deadlines for wood-burning stoves apply from 2025
The traffic light coalition has decided that, if possible, every newly installed heating system should be powered by at least 1 percent renewable energies – such as green gas or greenhouse gas – from January 2024, 65. So there is a strong restriction on conventional gas heaters. However, in order to advance the energy transition and achieve the energy policy goals, the new regulations also affect wood-burning stoves. "Contrary to popular belief, heating with wood is not climate-neutral," explains the Federal Environment Ministry.
From 2025, the deadlines of the so-called Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) will take effect. This bundles the regulations on air pollution control and other harmful environmental effects – with the aim of preventing and reducing environmental pollution. The law stipulates that from 2025, wood-burning stoves and wood-burning stoves may emit a maximum of 0.15 grams of dust and 4 grams of carbon monoxide per cubic meter of exhaust gas. If these limits are not complied with, retrofitting must be carried out by 31 December 2024.
Changes for wood-burning stoves according to the Heating Act: Chimney sweep provides information
What does this mean in practice? Consumers should definitely check how long they have owned their stove: The upcoming deadline applies to all stoves installed between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2010. If the stove is affected, it is worth calling the responsible chimney sweep. These can check the amount of carbon monoxide emitted.
Some consumers will have to buy a new stove from 2025. © Thomas Trutschel/imago
If the stove emits more than 0.15 grams of dust and four grams of carbon monoxide per cubic meter of exhaust gas, it may no longer be used from January 1, 2025. In some cases, a conversion is also an option. "There are particulate filters, for example, against particulate matter," as Frank Hettler from Zukunft Altbau explained to Focus.de. However, there are hardly any conversion options against excessive amounts of carbon monoxide - Tim Froitzheim from the Central Association of Sanitation, Heating and Air Conditioning already emphasized this in the context of past deadlines for wood-burning stoves: "With the old stoves, this actually makes little sense."
According to Habeck's heating law: fines of up to 50,000 euros for continued operation of stoves
Systems that have to be taken out of operation by the end of 2023 without a retrofitted filter are around 30 to 40 years old. "For a technical device that is exposed to this load, this is a proud age," explains Froitzheim. Therefore, in most cases, a new purchase makes sense. While consumers have to pay up to 1,000 euros for retrofit kits, new stoves can be purchased for as little as 500 euros.
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Anyone who simply continues to heat even though the stove exceeds the guidelines must expect high penalties. The chimney sweep will notice this at the regular fireplace show. "The responsible emissions authority will ask us for the data and the owners will then receive mail from there," warns Volker Nawroth, technical guild warden of the chimney sweep guild for the Kassel administrative district in an interview with hna.de. In most cases, a further deadline is set, but in the worst case, a fine of up to 50,000 euros is imminent.
