Reduce wood smoke pollution

How to do it now!

Purchasing or Collecting Firewood

Dry, well seasoned firewood will save you money!  It produces less smoke and gives you more heat for your dollar.  Wet or green wood generates 50% less heat and causes your wood heater to smoke excessively, blocks up your flue and chokes your fire.

1. Purchase wood from a supplier who is a member of Firewood Association of Australia (FAA). Ask when you order.
2. It is against the FAA Code of Practice for suppliers to sell wood with a moisture content of more than 20% without informing your first.  Ask your supplier to show you how dry the wood is using their moisture meter.
3. If you collect your own wood, split it and make sure it is dry before you store it away.
4. Never burn garbage, painted or treated wood in your wood heater as it can produce poisonous gases.

Store It Right

1. Stockpiling wood in summer is a good way to ensure you’ll have an adequate supply of dry, well seasoned firewood to see you through winter.
2. Split logs dry faster than big logs, so split wood into pieces about 10-15cm thick before you store it away.
3. Store firewood in a place where it is well ventilated and under cover.  A cross-cross pattern allows air to flow.
4. Store firewood off the ground (e.g. on a pallet or raised platform).

Burn It Bright

It is important to get the fire burning brightly and as hot as possible BEFORE loading on larger logs. This will ensure the wood burns properly and minimises smoke pollution.

1. Start with plenty of dry kindling and newspaper with the air control fully open.  The fire is only established when the fire box is really hot and you have glowing embers from your starter wood. ONLY then gradually add larger wood pieces, being careful not to choke the fire by overloading it with logs.
2. An efficient fire will have bright swirling flames and red glowing embers with little or no smoke coming from the chimney.  It will take practice to get the cleanest burn from your wood heater.  Step outside for a second and check your chimney to see how its going.
3. If your wood heater is working properly your chimney should be almost clear of smoke.  If it is smoking too much keep the air flow open – remember “a little air avoids a lot of smoke”.
4. It is best to let the fire burn out completely overnight, Is your house insulated? An insulated house will hold enough heat to keep your house warm until morning. Note that some heaters are designed to burn wood overnight allowing sufficient air flow. Many though will not and are the cause of significant air pollution whilst you sleep. Find out from your local retailer or the Australian Home Heating Association (AHHA) what sort of heater you have.
5. Clean your chimney every year.  A build-up of soot makes starting hard, it will reduce the fire’s efficiency and can cause chimney fires. Check the Yellow Pages under Chimney Sweeps.

Using SmartBurn Canisters in your Fire

SmartBurn canisters are designed to help fires burn more efficiently and can reduce wood smoke emissions by up to 50%. To get the best results with SmartBurn from your wood fire:

1. Place SmartBurn in the base and to one side of the wood heater, away from direct heat – Do not “cook it”
2. Keep SmartBurn  flat and level at all times
3. Place ash around SmartBurn to stop it from tipping
4. Keep both ends of SmartBurn “open”, not covered in ash.

Getting the Most from your Wood Heater

In NSW you need to have an approval from Council to install a wood heater in your home. CLICK HERE to download the form.  Complete the form, post, email, fax or drop it in to Armidale Dumaresq Council (135 Rusden Street, 2350).

There is currently an application fee of $85.00 and your application will normally be assessed within five working days.

1. Purchase your wood heater from a member of the Australian Home Heating Association.  This ensures you have a certified product which will perform and you will receive guaranteed after sales service.
2. Ensure the wood heater complies with Council’s Local Approvals Policy for Solid Fuel Heaters INSERT LINK (ask your local retailer or Council if in doubt).
3. Every heater has slightly different characteristics, so read and follow instructions from the manufacturer carefully.
4. Choose a qualified installer to install your wood heater correctly. This is a worthwhile investment for safety and to get best heating results.

You can visit the following websites for additional resources:

• Firewood Association of Australia Inc.
• Australian Home Heating Association
• SmartBurn Pty Limited
• NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW)
• Let's Clear the Air
• NSW Health
  
• Australian Lung Foundation
  

NOTE: The link to non-government sites should not be taken as an endorsement by Council of the information on that site.

Drop into Council, or call 6770 3600, and ask for a wood smoke education pack, including a FREE video.

Why is this action important?

Smoke from wood heaters is a major cause of air pollution. In fact, during winter, wood heaters can produce up to seven times as much particle pollution as cars. Not only is a smoking fire wasting your money, but the air pollution it causes can also affect our health. That's why we need to change the way we use our heaters.

We Need Your Help!

Complete our Reducing Wood Smoke Checklist and enter our free SmartBurn draw.

The UNE researchers are also conducting a study to better understand attitudes, beliefs, and wood heating practices of Armidale residents, and will use this information to develop more effective strategies to reduce winter woodsmoke pollution in the region. To participate in the Armidale Wood Smoke Reduction Project, please visit www.une.edu.au/woodsmoke