Fire has always fascinated mankind and from the very first fire it has become a distinctive way of life. Building a fire with your own hands brings a feeling of accomplishment, but even more, it brings a sense of freedom, strength and independence. Even the coldest North Idaho winter day is no match for an energy-efficient, expertly installed wood stove. Wood stoves create ambiance and keep our homes warm independent of the energy grid by allowing us to burn locally sourced wood. But would you be surprised to hear that Idaho residents are some of the top polluters in the nation when it comes to fine particle emissions from wood-burning stoves and fireplaces? Especially in Northern Idaho, where we have a cold climate and lots of national forest land with easy access to firewood. Wood heat is one of the most economical forms of heat for some people, it brings a sense of comfort and romance into our homes. There are many things we can do to help make the use of wood burning stoves safer, more environmentally healthy, and even save money.

Start with the right stove.

Particles from wood burning are especially dangerous because they can get deep into our organs, harming not just our lungs, but also our blood vessels, hearts and brains. Wood smoke can cause coughing and asthma attacks, and may also lead to serious health issues including heart attacks, strokes and premature death. The Environmental Protection Agency has stepped in by requiring manufacturers to produce stoves that are much more efficient in the way they burn. New stoves now have to meet much more rigorous EPA standards, no more than 4.5 grams of smoke per hour compared to older stoves that release 15 to 30 grams of smoke per hour. These new rules state that any home that is sold must have a current EPA Certified stove. It’s important to make sure when you buy a home with a stove installed, that the stove meets new EPA standards and was permitted when installed because most Homeowner’s Insurance will no longer insure a home with a stove that does not meet these requirements. You can contact your local DEQ office or Hearth Specialist to help you make sure your stove does meet these requirements. If you find yourself having to replace a stove, make sure to also ask about the Federal Rebates that are available for the purchase and installation of a new EPA Certified Wood Stove. These tax credits allow eligible consumers to claim a 30% tax reduction based on the complete cost, both the stove and the installation on qualifying wood and pellet stoves, including inserts.

These new stoves are 50% more efficient. This means you save money by using less wood, increase safety because there is less risk of creosote buildup and house fires, reduce air pollution by 70%, and reduce health problems from smoke and particulates. New stoves burn the wood, then secondary burn tubes burn the smoke, and a catalytic converter burns the smoke again. The new stoves have longer burn times and provide more heat from the same amount of wood. When we burn good, dry wood and have proper air supply, we will not see any smoke coming from chimney, only heat waves.

Choose the right size stove! So many people want the biggest. Biggest isn’t always best. If a stove is bigger than the house needs, you end up dampering it down because it’s too hot and this just creates more air pollution and creosote in the chimney.

Some people may have told you these new EPA Certified stoves are terrible to get a fire started in. New stoves are harder to start, it is harder to heat the flue and get a good draft because of the efficient burn. Houses are tighter than they used to be which just causes more difficulties, we often need to crack a window or door near stove to get it going without smoking the house up. There are products to help with drafting issues, such as the Atmosfire Draw Collar. Ask your local hearth specialist about installing one of these if you have difficulties.

Use the right wood.

Firewood is an essential component to a cozy, warm fire. But not all firewood is created equal. Some woods burn hotter and longer and produce less smoke. In general, the best firewood is a harder wood because it is denser, has low resin content, and burns longer, hotter and slower. Some softwoods, such as Douglas Fir, are popular in our area because they burn fast with a high heat output. Other softwoods, such as pine and cedar, are not recommended because they have a very low density and high resin content which causes a lot of creosote in the chimney. Never use treated wood or trash wood in your wood burning stove.

No matter what kind of wood you choose, the most important thing is to ensure it is seasoned and dry. Wet wood will result in incomplete combustion, more smoke, and dangerous creosote buildup in the chimney. Dry wood is easier to start a fire, burns hotter, uses less wood for the same amount of heat, reduces creosote buildup, decreases the chance of chimney fires, produces less smoke and air pollution, and is better for our health. Seasoned firewood is wood that has been air-dried for an extended period of time- at least 6-12 months. It should be stored in a covered area. You can purchase a moisture meter to be certain your wood is ready to burn efficiently. They are simple to use - split a piece of wood, test in newly split side by inserting the probes into wood grain. You want no more than 15-20% moisture in your wood.

Maintenance tips.

· Carbon monoxide is a concern with any appliance where combustion is present, this includes wood burning stoves and fireplaces so installing carbon monoxide detectors is highly recommended and required by most state codes.

· Proper venting and clearances to combustibles is very important and should be done by a licensed hearth specialist to ensure safety.

· Do not use starters such as gas, kerosene, charcoal starter, or a propane torch to start your fire. The best things to start your fire with are crumpled newspaper and dry kindling. Make sure you allow plenty of air to get your fire burning and heat the flue before adding more wood – this drafts the smoke out and not in your house.

· Do not let your stove smolder. When you reduce air supply to the fire, it increases pollution and does little for heating.

· Keep ash cleaned out and away from appliance. Place in a metal container away from your house or other combustibles until cool.

· Keep your chimney clean. A clean chimney allows for better draft and less risk of fire.

· An Atmosfire thermal fan can help to move the heat out into the room when there is a power outage and your blower doesn’t work.

The ambiance and heat provided by burning wood will always be a popular choice for heating our homes. To maintain our health and prevent house fires, we need to ensure that the stoves we use are up to the newest EPA standards, installed safely and properly by a licensed hearth installer, burned and maintained properly and ensure we are using properly dry, seasoned wood. As long as we follow these guidelines, we can build a nice fire, grab a good book and cup of coffee and sit back and relax.