Responsible Wood Burning Tips
The Hearth Products Association offers the following tips on
responsible wood burning and encourages people to utilize new
wood burning technology and make changes in burning habits to
reduce excessive wood smoke in an effort to help protect air
quality:
-
Use EPA-certified Wood Stoves and
Fireplace Inserts. People with older stoves and fireplace
inserts should consider changing out to EPA-certified wood
burning appliances. Wood stoves and fireplace inserts manufactured
on or after July 1, 1990 - or sold on or after July 1, 1992
- are certified by the EPA to meet stringent emission standards.
Replacing an older appliance with EPA-certified wood burning
technology can cut wood smoke emissions by up to 85 percent.
-
Upgrade Existing Traditional Fireplaces
with EPA-Certified Fireplace Inserts. People with
traditional fireplaces can reduce their emissions significantly
by adding an EPA-certified wood burning fireplace insert.
-
Add a Low Emission Fireplace or Masonry
Heater: There are wood burning fireplaces sold today
that are as clean burning as EPA-certified appliances. A masonry
heater is another wood burning appliance that produvces minimal
smoke and helps protect winter air quality.
-
Use Seasoned Firewood: Choosing
ther right firewood is critical whether or not a person uses
new wood burning technology. Well-seasoned firewoodl can make
a big difference in the amount of smoke a fire produces.
-
Start a Fire with Fire Starter:
Independent research indicates that using a fire starter to
start a fire in a wood stove can cut particulate emissions
by more than 69 percent.
-
Build Small, Hot Fires: Using
small pieces of wood can help produce fires that burn hotter
which results in less smoke.
-
Use Manufactured Firelogs:
Made from wax and sawdust or just sawdust, manufactured firelogs
produce significantly less emissions than firewood. Wax and
sawdust firelogs are for use in fireplaces only, while sawdust
only firelogs can be burned in a fireplace, stove or fireplace
insert
