This short wood smoke video below explains how to operate your wood heater to reduce smoke pollution.
Smoke reduces the quality of the air we breathe. Prolonged exposure to smoke from wood heaters is a significant problem for people who have chronic illnesses like asthma and heart conditions. In Tasmania, poor air quality is common during the colder months when the air is calm, as wood smoke tends to build up and linger for days, particularly in low-lying areas.
If you use a wood heater you can reduce smoke pollution and help your neighbours to breathe easier. Simply follow these steps to burn your wood heater brighter, warmer and cleaner, this winter:
- Always burn with a flame – don’t let your fire smoulder
- After reloading, open the air control and burn your fire on high for 20 minutes, especially before going to bed
- Only burn dry, seasoned wood
- Ensure your flue is clean
Reduce wood smoke from your Heater
We have a range of information about how to improve your wood heater usage.
This two minute wood smoke video explains how you can operate your wood heater overnight to reduce wood smoke.
By following the Burn Brighter steps above, you can reduce wood smoke emissions from your heater by up to 90 per cent. A smoky chimney is polluting; is a health risk for many people; and it’s costing you money, as smoke is just wood that hasn’t burned properly.
Smoke Pollution and Health
The Department of Health maintains smoke alerts and health advice to people effected by smoke.
Smoke Regulations
EPA Tasmania has developed the Environmental Management and Pollution Control (Smoke) Regulations 2019 to control the manufacture, importation for sale and sale of wood heaters prohibiting those that do not meet the current Australian Standards for efficiency, (AS/NZS 4012:2014) and emissions (AS/NZS 4013:2014).
The regulations also cover smoke from wood heaters, fireplaces, barbecues and backyard burning. Reduce wood smoke
Additional information on the regulations is provided on the following pages:
