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FIREPLACE AND WOOD STOVE

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family by the fireplace

Burning wood is like burning any other fuel — it creates air pollution. Even though fireplaces and wood stoves provide comfort on cold winter nights, they also release pollutants inside our homes and into the environment.

The problem is that furnaces and wood stoves often do not burn wood at high enough temperatures to burn it completely. As a result, uncombusted materials are released and a wide range of contaminants — including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde — are released into our air.

Of particular concern is the release of fine particles, which can cause burning eyes, runny nose, and bronchitis. They can aggravate heart or respiratory problems, including asthma. All ages are affected, but the greatest risk is to the health of children, the elderly and people with chronic conditions.

You don’t have to give up your fireplace or wood stove, but you can use and maintain them in smarter ways that cut pollution.

You can prevent harmful emissions from fireplaces and wood stoves if you avoid burning the following materials:
  • green wood
  • wet wood
  • pressure-treated wood, painted wood
  • particle board, plywood
  • plastic
  • coloured or glossy paper
  • cardboard
  • coal

Preventing Pollutants from Fireplaces and Wood Stoves

It’s easy to tell if fireplaces and wood stoves are causing pollution. If there are odours inside your home, pollutants are being released and affecting the health of your family. Smoke from the chimney indicates that pollutants are being released into the environment — darker smoke means more pollutants.

The best way to reduce pollution is to burn wood at as high a temperature as possible. This burns the wood more cleanly and prevents the release of partially-combusted pollutants.

What you burn is just as important as how you burn it. Burn only clean, dry and properly seasoned wood in fireplaces and wood stoves.


A Few More Helpful Tips

The first thing you should do with a wood stove is make sure that it is properly installed and has adequate ventilation. Maintenance is very important — have your wood stove cleaned and inspected annually.

If you are in the market for a fireplace or wood stove, you should be considering units that use “advance combustion” technology to burn wood more completely. To find out more, go to — www.canren.gc.ca