East Suffolk Council

Posted by on 7 December 2022 | Comments

East Suffolk residents are being reminded of the importance of using their open fires or wood-burning stoves responsibly this winter to help reduce air pollution and improve their health.

Many homes in East Suffolk have open fires or wood-burning stoves however people may not be aware that these can contribute to air pollution and reduce indoor air quality, which can be damaging to health.

Long-term exposure to air pollution, over many years, reduces life expectancy, mainly due to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, strokes and lung cancer. And even short-term exposure, over hours or days, can impact on lung function, worsening asthma, and increasing respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions.

Cllr James Mallinder, East Suffolk’s cabinet member for the Environment said: “Many residents use open fires or wood-burning stoves and so it is important that these can be used as safely and efficiently as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to only burn seasoned wood, which will also be better for the environment and your health. The cost-of-living crisis will mean we look at cheaper ways of heating our homes and by choosing, where possible, the option with the least environmental impact, it will make a positive difference over time.”

To help reduce emissions, both indoors and into the environment, there are simple steps which homeowners can take:

• Consider burning less – if you are using your open fire or wood-burning stove in addition to your heating and your house is already warm, then consider not lighting the fire, which will reduce both costs and airborne particulates.
• Only burn dry (seasoned) wood - burning wet or unseasoned/green wood is inefficient as it takes a lot of heat to boil off the water before the appliance can give out heat into the room.  In turn, this creates a lot of smoke, tar and particulates which can damage your chimney and appliance and contributes to air pollution. 
• Buy ‘Ready to Burn’ fuel – look for wood marked as ‘Ready to Burn’ sold by a Woodsure Certified Supplier. Wood displaying the Ready to Burn logo has a 20% moisture content (or less) and can be burnt straight away. These logs burn more efficiently than unseasoned/green wood and reduce environmental impact.
• Do not burn treated waste wood (e.g. old furniture or pallets) or household rubbish – wood which has been treated with paint or preservatives can emit harmful fumes, and household rubbish may include plastics that can release toxic pollutants, such as arsenic, into your home when burnt and may affect your health.
• Consider using an approved smokeless fuel.
  
• If you are buying a new stove - check it is Defra approved and have it installed by a qualified person.
  Check how to operate your appliance efficiently - always operate your stove in line with the manufacturer’s guidance. By controlling the air supply correctly, you will improve efficiency, saving you money and reducing emissions.
• Regularly maintain and service your stove – servicing your stove annually means it will work better and will generate more heat from what you burn.
• Get your chimney swept regularly (up to twice each year) - during use, particulates build up in the chimney reducing the efficiency and increasing the risk of chimney fires. It is better to use a qualified chimney sweep who will also be able to advise you on good burning practices for your open fire or stove.
• Make sure you are using the correct fuel for your stove and flue – some stoves are specific to the type of fuel to be burnt. Some are wood only and others are multi-fuel. Burning the wrong fuel could damage your equipment or flue, which will not be covered by home insurance.