| Retailers and manufacturers are reporting a huge | | | | stove or if your wood stove leaks. Exposure to |
| increase in sales, the key drivers being the | | | | the pollutants in wood smoke can cause eye, |
| interest in environmentally friendly technology, the | | | | nose and throat irritation, headaches, nausea and |
| potential for saving money, particularly in light of | | | | dizziness. Wood smoke can also make asthma |
| ever increasing domestic fuel bills, and the fact | | | | worse, and has been associated with an increase |
| that architects are building them into their plans as | | | | in respiratory problems. |
| a secondary green heating source because | | | | If you smell smoke indoors, it means the wood |
| planners favour this option. Correspondingly, | | | | stove or fireplace isn't venting properly - it may |
| estate agents report that wood-burning stoves | | | | be a block in the chimney or a faulty damper. |
| are increasingly popular with home buyers, people | | | | These are fire hazards and could lead to carbon |
| just love them! | | | | monoxide poisoning. |
| They are apparently the latest word in green | | | | The main pollutants that cause health concerns |
| heat.... but do people new to their use understand | | | | are: |
| how to operate them safely? | | | | - Particulate Matter: solid or liquid particles found in |
| Why have wood-burning stoves become so | | | | the air which can cause respiratory and heart |
| popular? | | | | problems. |
| - A wood-burner is much more energy efficient | | | | - Carbon Monoxide: a colourless, odourless gas - |
| than an open fire. An open fire is about 20 / 25% | | | | poisonous at high levels. |
| efficient whereas a modern wood-burning stove is | | | | - Volatile Organic Compounds: a wide range of |
| more than 80% efficient. | | | | compounds that usually have no color, taste or |
| - Some stoves allow you to cook whilst warming | | | | smell, some cause direct health effects. |
| your home. | | | | - Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: have the |
| - Wood is a carbon-neutral fuel. It does release | | | | potential to cause cancer. |
| carbon dioxide when burnt but the amount given | | | | How to reduce the risks |
| off is the same as was stored by the growing | | | | - Burn only seasoned wood. |
| tree. Most firewood in the UK is sustainably | | | | - Use logs that are 4-6 inches in diameter. |
| sourced, for every tree cut down another is | | | | Because fires burn better with more surface area |
| planted, and the carbon released from the felled | | | | exposed to the flame. |
| tree thus absorbed by another tree. | | | | - Do not burn plastics, cardboard, glossy paper or |
| - Cleanburn technology, which introduces | | | | polystyrene. |
| pre-heated air into the smoke at the top of the | | | | - Never burn wood that has been taken from salt |
| firebox to combust the hydrocarbons in the | | | | water, this produces carcinogenic toxins. |
| smoke, has the dual benefit of producing less | | | | - Do not burn treated or painted wood, chip board |
| pollution and more efficiency. | | | | or plywood. |
| - A wood-burner is much cleaner than an open | | | | - Store wood outside not inside, covered and off |
| fire. | | | | the ground. |
| - Many stoves are clean enough to be legally used | | | | - Use a high-efficiency wood stove. |
| in urban smoke-free zones, the particulate | | | | - Have the stove professionally installed. |
| emissions are three to four times less than with | | | | - Have the stove inspected and cleaned every |
| an open fire. | | | | year. |
| - They look great, from traditional to ultra | | | | - Make sure the fire is getting enough air - install a |
| modern designs. | | | | chimney fan if necessary. |
| Safety and wood smoke -what to look out for | | | | But most importantly |
| Wood smoke contains pollutants, these can leak | | | | - Install a carbon monoxide alarm. |
| into the air of your home when you open the | | | | - Install a smoke detector. |