Using your wood heater efficiently

Wood heaters can be an effective and economical way to heat your home. However, when they are not operated correctly, they can produce excessive smoke that affects air quality, can affect neighbours and increases the amount of wood needed to generate heat.

Council receives reports about excessive wood smoke and investigates complaints where necessary. While some smoke from a chimney is normal, excessive smoke may indicate that a wood heater is not operating efficiently.

Health impacts of wood smoke

Wood smoke contains fine particles and gases that can affect air quality and human health. Exposure to wood smoke can impact anyone, but young children, older people and those with heart or lung conditions may be more sensitive to its effects.

When wood smoke levels are high, NSW Health recommends:

• Limiting strenuous outdoor activities.
• Keeping windows and external doors closed where practical.
• Following medical advice and taking prescribed medication if you have a heart or lung condition.
• Seeking medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen.

The following tips can help improve your wood heater's performance, reduce smoke, lower heating costs and get the most from your firewood.

Clean your chimney regularly

Have your flue or chimney cleaned at least once a year. This helps remove creosote and other materials that can build up inside the chimney, restrict airflow and increase the risk of chimney fires.

Keep air flowing

A common mistake is closing the air intake too much once a fire is established. Restricting airflow causes wood to smoulder rather than burn efficiently, producing more smoke and less heat. Keeping the air intake open allows for a cleaner, hotter burn and better heating performance.

Avoid overfilling the firebox

Overfilling the firebox limits air circulation around the wood, reducing combustion efficiency. A well-ventilated fire burns more completely, produces more heat and generates less smoke.

Use dry, seasoned wood

Dry, seasoned wood burns more efficiently than freshly cut or unseasoned timber. Wood should ideally be seasoned for at least 12 months and stored in a dry, covered location protected from rain and moisture.

Check for excessive smoke

After lighting your wood heater, check the chimney after about 10 minutes of operation. If excessive smoke is still visible, you may need to increase airflow or ensure you are using properly seasoned wood.

Start small

When lighting a fire, begin with kindling and smaller pieces of wood before adding larger logs. This helps heat the firebox and flue, establish good airflow and create the conditions needed for efficient combustion.

More information

For additional information on reducing wood smoke and operating your wood heater efficiently, visit the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) website.