Smoke from wood heaters can have serious health and environmental impacts if not operated satisfactorily or if incorrect materials are burnt.
Reduce smoke emissions from your wood heater by:
- checking that your wood heater, whether it is new or existing, complies with relevant Australian standards
- only using well-seasoned firewood – the Firewood Association of Australia recommends buying wood in the summer months and stacking under a roof cover with open sides
- burning the fire on high for 20 minutes after adding wood
- always keeping the air vents open enough to keep some kind of flame
- not shutting your fire right down when you go to bed
- never letting the fire smoulder.
More information is available from EPA Tasmania’s information on wood heaters and cookers.