EGLE - Woodburning & Air Quality

Woodburning & Air Quality

Contact: Environmental Assistance Center, 800-662-9278
Agency: Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Wood burning has been a part of Michigan's heritage. Homeowners choosing to use fireplaces and woodstoves need to understand that healthy indoor and outdoor air quality requires good wood burning habits. The following guidelines for responsible wood burning minimize health problems and help keep the environment clean. For Open Burning information, visit the open burning web page.

Wood Burning Tips

Know When to Burn
- Monitor all fires; never leave a fire unattended.
- Upgrade an older woodstove to one with a catalytic combustor that burns off excess pollutants.
- Be courteous when visitors come to your home. Wood smoke can cause problems for people with developing or sensitive lungs (i.e. children, the elderly) and people with lung disease
Know What to Burn
- Split large pieces of wood into smaller pieces and make sure it has been seasoned (allowed to dry for a year). Burning fresh cut logs = smoky fires.
- When buying wood from a dealer, do not assume it has been seasoned.
- Season your fuel wood.
- Small hot fires are more efficient and less wasteful than large fires.
- Never burn chemically treated wood or non-wood materials.
- Manufactured fire logs provide a nice ambience, have the least impact to air quality, and are a good choice for homeowners who use a fireplace infrequently.
Know How to Burn
- Proper combustion is key. Make sure your wood fire is not starved. If excess smoke is coming from the chimney or stack, the fire isn't getting enough air.
- Visually check your chimney or stack 10 to 15 minutes after you light a fire to ensure it is not emitting excess amounts of smoke.
- Homeowners should have woodstoves and fireplaces serviced and cleaned yearly to ensure they are working properly.