Air Quality > Wood Stove - Fireplace Information

Wood Stoves, Fireplaces, Pellet Stoves and Masonry Heaters

Wood smoke is one of the main sources of air pollution in Washington. Wood stoves, fireplaces, and other wood burning devices put out hundreds of times more air pollution than other sources of heat such as natural gas or electricity.

This web site has information about burn bans, which wood burning devices are legal in Washington, why wood smoke is harmful to health, and how to reduce the smoke from your wood burning device.

Contents

• Health concerns about wood smoke
• Washington's wood stove/pellet stove requirements and fine particle emission standards
• Choose the right wood burning device
• If you burn, burn clean
• Links to more information

Health concerns

The most dangerous material in wood smoke may be the fine particles that make up the smoke and soot. Many of these particles are toxic. Most are so small that, when you breathe them, they get past your body’s defenses and go deep into your lungs. There, they can cause serious problems such as scarring of the lung tissue. Studies show that death rates in several U.S. cities increased when there were higher levels of fine particles in the air. Wood smoke is most dangerous to the health of infants and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with lung or heart disease. Some of the reasons wood smoke is such a serious problem are:

• Almost all the wood smoke in Washington is released during winter months. This means it is very concentrated. It takes just three months for wood smoke to become Washington’s third leading source of air pollution.
• In the winter, we often have weather conditions that cause stagnant air. As a result, wood smoke is trapped close to the ground in neighborhoods. At these times, air pollution in many neighborhoods is unhealthy.
• Studies show that people who heat their homes with wood have more respiratory problems than those who don’t. Smoke particles also invade neighboring homes. Research shows that children in wood burning neighborhoods are more likely to have lung and breathing problems.

Washington's wood stove/pellet stove requirements

To protect health, Washington has strict laws about wood stoves and other wood burning devices. Most states use federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission standards for fine particles to determine which wood burning devices can be sold. To be sold in Washington, all wood burning devices must meet both EPA’s standards and Washington’s stricter standards. Outdoor wood-fired boilers are illegal in Washington.

Fine particle emissions standards

Type of Device	Washington Limit	EPA Limit
Catalytic wood burning device	2.5 grams per hour	4.1 grams per hour
Non-catalytic wood burning devices	4.5 grams per hour	7.5 grams per hour
Factory-built fireplaces and masonry heaters	7.3 grams per kilogram	Currently no limit

Any new wood burning device sold, offered for sale, or given away to Washington residents must meet Washington’s standards. Even devices that are exempt from EPA certification must meet Washington standards. Wood burning devices include:

• wood stoves
• pellet stoves
• wood furnaces
• manufactured fireplaces
• masonry heaters

Other Washington requirements

• Burn only wood that has a moisture content of no more than 20 percent. Wood that is split and then dried for at least a year usually meets this requirement.
• It is illegal to burn some materials. Illegal materials include garbage, treated or painted wood, particle board, plastics, rubber, waste petroleum products, animal carcasses, asphalt products, paints, chemicals, or anything that normally emits dense smoke or obnoxious odors.
• Smoke density is restricted. Smoke plumes can have no more than 20 percent opacity. This means you should see only heat waves coming from your chimney. If you can see smoke coming from your chimney, you're wasting fuel and your fire needs more air. (It’s okay to have more smoke only when you are starting or stoking a fire.)
• There is a $30 fee on the sale of new solid fuel burning devices. This includes wood stoves, pellet stoves, coal stoves, manufactured fireplaces, masonry heaters, wood furnaces, or any other devices that burns a solid fuel. The fee pays for wood stove education and enforcement programs. More information about the fee is available from the Department of Revenue.
• Non-wood heat sources are required in new or significantly remodeled construction.
• A local air quality agency or Ecology may prohibit the use of uncertified stoves under certain conditions. Usually, this happens when an area fails to meet federal air quality standards.
• Air quality agencies call burn bans when wood smoke pollution reaches unsafe levels. Burn bans have two stages:
  • Stage 1: The use of all uncertified wood heating devices is banned when pollution approaches unhealthful levels.
  • Stage 2: All wood heating is banned when pollution reaches an even higher level.

Burn bans do not apply to homes with no other source of adequate heat. All outdoor burning is also banned during burn bans. Find out if there is a burn ban in your area

Choose the right wood burning device

Use a wood stove or fireplace that is certified in Washington, the right size, and properly installed:

• See two helpful videos (Windows Media Player Required -
  Download for free)
  • A Quick Guide on How to Select a New Stove for Home Heat
  • How to Operate Your Wood Stove More Efficiently

• Consider all other heating choices before you purchase or install a wood stove. Natural gas and electricity are much cleaner ways to heat your home. Insulating and weather stripping can cost less than a wood stove and reduce your heating costs. Many cities, counties, housing authorities, and utility companies offer grants, low-interest or interest-free loans, or free weatherization and conservation programs. Check with the local clean air agency in your area for more information.
• If you choose to heat with wood, use a wood stove that is certified in Washington, the right size for your home, and properly installed.
• Never install an uncertified stove. It is illegal to install an uncertified stove in Washington.
• Brochure: "Which Wood Burning Devices Can Be Sold in Washington?
• Wood stoves that meet Washington standards (Adobe PDF)
• Pellet stoves that meet Washington standards (Adobe PDF)
• Fireplaces that meet Washington standards (Adobe PDF)
• Masonry Heaters that meet Washington standards (Adobe PDF)

If you burn, burn clean

If you heat with wood, you can reduce smoke by burning properly:

• Burn only dry, seasoned wood. Be sure your firewood has been split and dried for at
  least one year. Store it under cover.
• Never burn wet, painted, stained or treated wood; colored newsprint; plastic; garbage; diapers; or magazines.
• Build small fires to help the wood burn completely.  Adding too much wood at one time cuts down on the air to the fire and leaves you with unburned wood.
• Keep your fire hot. Dampering down your stove just cuts off the air, which wastes wood, creates a lot of smoke, and produces very little heat. You can tell if your fire has enough air by checking the smoke coming from your chimney. You should see only heat waves. If you see smoke, increase the air supply to your fire.
• Make sure your wood stove is the right size for its space. A stove that is too large for the space it is heating will have to be damped down, causing more smoke. Make sure your stove is properly installed.

Other information

• Who to contact about wood stoves or fireplaces
• Find out if there is a burn ban in your area
• Sign up to receive email alerts about burn bans in Washington
• Information for manufacturers of solid fuel burning devices
• Outdoor wood-fired boilers
• Watch two helpful videos
• Wood Smoke and Your Health
• Tips for Cleaner Wood Burning
• The Health Effects of Wood Smoke
• Wood Smoke Work Group Report to the Legislature
• Plans for Building a Wood Drying Shed
• Information About Washington's Wood Stove Regulations
• Information About Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
• Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association

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