Wood heaters

If you use a wood heater to heat your home, you must ensure it operates correctly.

Excessively smoky wood heaters cause air pollution. Wood smoke contains fine particles that can have a damaging effect, particularly for the young, the elderly, and people who have existing respiratory problems.

You can reduce the amount of smoke coming from your chimney by keeping the fire burning brightly, never using green or wet firewood, and by keeping woodpiles undercover.

Please consider your neighbours, and your own safety, by following the guidelines for good wood heating.

For more information please check the advice below:

Choose your wood carefully. Green wood is inefficient; it does not generate much heat, it wastes money as more wood is needed than if dry wood were used, and it causes your wood heater to smoke excessively.

Stockpiling wood in summer builds an adequate supply of dry and well-seasoned wood which burns correctly. If you are collecting your own wood, dry brushwood is best.

When purchasing wood, make sure the wood is dry. Retailers cannot legally sell wood with a moisture content of more than 20 per cent. Wood should be light pink, and should make a hollow, cracking sound when two pieces are banged together. Wet or dark wood is heavier, usually red or dark brown, and makes a dull thud when banged together.

Setting and lighting your fire correctly also helps its efficiency. Remember the following tips for good burning:

start with dry kindling, with the air control fully open
when the fire is well established and as hot as possible, gradually add larger wood pieces
keep the fire burning brightly. The flame should have bright swirling flames and red glowing embers, with little or no smoke coming from the chimney
do not shut the flue down overnight. Let fire burn completely out overnight.
clean the chimney regularly, as a building up of soot will reduce the fire’s efficiency.

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