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Like cars, wood heaters produce air pollution. During winter, smoky wood heaters can produce as much particle pollution as cars.
When wood is burnt, small particles are released into the atmosphere as smoke. These particles contribute to the haze sometimes seen on still winter mornings in Adelaide.
Wood smoke contains many different chemicals, some of which are toxic to humans. When these chemicals are inhaled they cause health problems in young children and the elderly, particularly those with breathing and heart illnesses.
Taking responsibility for your wood heater and using it correctly to minimise the harmful effects of wood smoke pollution in your neighbourhood also saves you money on running costs.
Smoke is essentially small particles of fuel that have not burnt completely. Your wood heater should only produce smoke for a short time when you first light it and when you add extra fuel.
If your wood heater is still smoking 20 minutes after it has been lit, this may be because:
- you are burning wet or unseasoned wood (freshly cut wood)
- there is a build up of creosote in your flue, which can occur if your wood heater is not kept burning brightly and not cleaned annually
- your fire is smouldering due to a lack of air
- your wood heater is inefficient and does not comply with Australian Standards or is installed incorrectly (eg flue system height too low)
- you are burning rubbish or treated wood
- your firebox is packed too tightly or you are using only one or more large logs
- you have set your wood heater’s convection fan too high (if fitted) causing excessive cooling of the firebox.
If you think that one or more of the above is causing your smoky wood heater, find out what you can do to reduce wood smoke pollution.
Last modified: 01/05/2012 04:12 pm
