Steps to help reduce winter haze from wood heaters

May 10, 1997

With winter just around the corner, temperatures are dropping and people are stocking up their wood piles and starting to light wood heaters.

But with winter comes haze - the brown smudge we are starting to see more and more in the air over Perth.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said today the biggest source of haze in winter was smoke from poorly operated wood heaters.

"We all know the appeal a wood heater can have in the colder months, but the popularity of slow combustion wood heaters in Perth is directly attributing to the haze problem, particularly during cold, calm, winter nights and mornings," Mrs Edwardes said.

"Haze is an environmental problem and it is getting worse. The State Government is introducing measures to help reduce haze from non-domestic sources, but when it comes to heaters in the home it is the people of Perth who will have to make the difference."

The Minister said people who owned or were intending to purchase a wood heater could follow a few simple steps to help reduce haze.

"Always make certain that you are burning dry, untreated wood," she said.

"Green, wet wood does not burn properly, it generates 50 per cent less heat and it produces a lot more smoke.

"When buying wood, always choose dry, seasoned wood. It must have a moisture content of less than 25 per cent to be suitable. Once you get your wood home keep it out of the rain."

To help consumers know they are buying dry wood, Mrs Edwardes said all licensed wood merchants would be supplied with a meter that would estimate the moisture content of wood before sale.

"When it comes to using your heater, if it does not have a label showing that it has been manufactured according to Australian standards you must keep the fire burning brightly at all times," she said.

"Heaters that comply with Australian Standard 4013 are more efficient and produce less smoke. They can be safely left to burn overnight with their air supply turned right down."

Mrs Edwardes encouraged people to look for the Australian Standard label when shopping for a wood heater and to ensure the heater was installed to Australian Standard 2918.

The Department of Environmental Protection has produced a free chimney checker information card to help people check to see if they are operating their fires correctly. It is available by calling 9222 7000.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote (08) 9421 7777 or 018 906 948 pager 9485 7857