Woodburning Tips for Clean Fireplace and Woodstove Burning
How to Build a Clean, Efficient
Fire
Build a small, HOT fire
first to preheat the firebox and chimney...
- Open damper wide—always
make sure it is open enough to ensure an adequate oxygen
supply to the fire.
- Leave a thin layer of
ash for insulation.
- Crumple a few sheets of
nonglossy white paper or uncolored newspaper and add
some small pieces of kindling, then light. Add bigger
kindling as fire grows. When hot coals are visible, add
2 or 3 logs close enough together to keep hot, but far
enough apart to let sufficient air move between them.
Burn Only
Seasoned Firewood -“Seasoned” firewood
contains little moisture and creates less polluting “smoke” when
burned. It should be dried for 6 to 12 months minimum.
When buying “seasoned” wood look for the following:
- Wood should have dark colored,
cracked ends, with cracks radiating from the center like
bicycle spokes.
- Wood should be light in weight
with little moisture left. Note: hardwood logs are heavier
than softwood.
- Pay attention to the sound of wood
when two logs are hit together. Dry wood sounds like
a bat hitting a ball. Wet wood makes a dull “thud” sound.
- Peel back bark and make sure no
green is showing under the bark.
Burn a Mixture
of Hardwoods and Softwoods - Start
your fire with softwood kindling like pine or fir.
It ignites easily, burns fast and hot and will heat
the firebox and flue quickly. Then burn hardwoods (eucalyptus,
almond. apple cherry etc.). Hardwoods are denser and
take longer to ignite, but burn slower and more evenly,
producing less smoke. They also provide more heat energy
than softwood logs the same size.
Light and Refuel
your Fire Quickly and Carefully - Smoldering
fires cause as much as six times more pollution than
hot, clean fires.
Maintain your
Fire Properly - Look
for a thin stream of white smoke coming from your chimney.
IF YOU SEE BILLOWS OF DARK SMOKE, YOU ARE CAUSING UNNECESSARY
POLLUTION! Adjust your fire to burn cleaner. Follow
stove manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
EPA Standards for
Clean and Safe Woodburning - Burn Safely and Legally
It is illegal and dangerous to
burn garbage, plastics, rubber, glossy paper, oil, painted
or treated wood, particleboard and plywood. Smoke and
fumes from these items can be toxic and dangerous to
your health and the health of your neighbors.
The Environmental Protection Agency
began certifying all new fireplace inserts and freestanding
woodstoves in l 988. These stoves have from 70 to 90%
less particulate matter (smoke) than conventional stoves.
Look for the EPA Certification when you buy a new fireplace
or woodstove.
If you have an old (pre 1987)
woodstove or fireplace you need to be especially conscientious
about burning clean fires and may even want to consider
investing in less polluting ways of heating your home.
Some alternatives include:
Keep Warm Air in the
House - Close the damper tightly
when stoves and fireplaces are not in use to keep
warm air from escaping. Also, close doors to unused
rooms.
Keep your Woodstove
or Fireplace Properly Maintained - Regular
maintenance of your stove or fireplace will protect
you from fire hazards and ensure a clean burning,
efficient operation.
