The current trend for wood-burning stoves could come to a sudden end if proposals to clean up the environment come into force.
The government is being forced to publish its Clean Air Strategy under EU rules, although the Environment Secretary Michael Gove has indicated that any measures included will continue after Brexit.
The aim is to reduce the amount of particulate matter in the atmosphere. The tiny particles can be inhaled and lead to heart disease, strokes and lung cancer.
It is hoped to halve by 2025 the number of people living in areas where particulate matter exceeds safe levels set by the World Health Organisation.
The proposals would mean that only cleaner fuels and stoves will be sold for domestic heating, curbing polluting smoke and soot, under plans being put out for consultation.
And councils will be given new powers to bring in "clean air zones" to tackle poor air from sources such as wood burners, for example limiting what people can burn or bringing in "no-burn days", and from diesel-powered machinery.
Officials say almost two-fifths (38%) of particulate matter comes from domestic wood burners and open fires, which just 7.5% of homes have.
Farmers will be targeted as well, with measures to reduce the amount of ammonia used and to cut emissions from slurry spreading.
Mr Gove said: "It's critically important we make progress there, but it's also important we deal with other sources of air pollution, whether that's from slurry and manures spread on agricultural land or whether it's from wood burning or other ways people generate domestic fuel and power."
But some campaigners have suggested that the new plans do not go far enough and more should be done to tackle pollution created by traffic, such as nitrogen dioxide.
The UK government is being taken to court by the European Commission over its failure to meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide, which should have been met by 2010.
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Alison Cook from the British Lung Foundation said: "Most importantly we can't lose focus on transport as a main culprit for air pollution."
"Meeting the WHO pollution limits will require further action including a diesel scrappage scheme and investment into cleaner travel alternatives such as walking, cycling and public transport."
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