When you build a warming fire this winter, take steps to limit air pollution and protect your health and your neighbors' health, the state Department of Environmental Protection says.
Smoke from fireplaces or wood stoves has fine particles that can cause health problems, especially for sensitive groups of people, according to a recent DEP statement.
Moreover, wood-burning pollutants can be trapped near the ground by dense, cold air in the wintertime, the statement says.
An outdoor wood-burning boiler spews smoke (Source: N.J. Department of Environmental Protection)
Here are some DEP tips:
- Allow wood to season for at least six months.
- Wood burns most efficiently when its moisture content is below 20 percent. You can buy wood moisture meters.
- Stack wood neatly off the ground and cover the top.
- Use newspaper and dry kindling to start fires and keep them burning hot.
- To ensure proper airflow, remove ashes regularly.
- Never burn garbage, cardboard, plastics, wrapping materials, painted materials or other items in stoves or fireplaces.
- Keep anything flammable - including drapes, furniture, newspapers and books - far away from any wood-burning appliance. And keep a fire-extinguisher nearby.
- Check local air quality before burning wood. If air quality is poor, consider other heating options. State rules and some municipal ordinances ban visible smoke from outdoor wood boilers.
For more information, visit the DEP's Wood Burning in New Jersey website and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Burn Wise website.
Happy Holidays everyone!
