The wood heaters have been getting a solid work out for the past few weeks, but it’s important to remember that smoke from home fireplaces can be a cause of health problems or even conflict with neighbours.
Many people think of wood smoke as somehow being ‘good’ smoke because of its association with happy camping trips or cosy nights in front of the fireplace.
But the truth is that if you can smell smoke, no matter where it’s coming from, it’s potentially doing you harm.
Smoke is a major cause of poor air quality in winter, especially in built-up areas, or regions like the Adelaide Hills and South East where temperatures are lower and many homes have wood-burning heaters.
Exposure to smoke can cause health issues for elderly people, young children, or anyone with a respiratory disease.
However, there is no reason why we can’t enjoy the warmth and comfort of a fire during winter so long as we keep a few guidelines in mind.
- Get your chimney cleaned once a year to remove creosote build-up, which can be harmful. If you own an investment property with a wood heater, don’t forget about your tenants.
- Only use well-seasoned, dry wood, and never burn treated or painted wood as this can release additional harmful chemicals into the air.
- Your chimney should only smoke for the first 20 minutes after starting the fire.
- Let your fire go out overnight instead of choking it down and letting it smoulder, as this creates unnecessary smoke.
Bonfires and wood-burning fire pits are not allowed inside townships, but if you have a fire pit or chiminea for outdoor heating, you can still use charcoal as a fuel source.
Outdoor wood fires for cooking food are allowed so long as the size of the fire is proportionate to the food being prepared, such as a wood-fired pizza oven or barbecue.
For more information on enjoying a fire without annoying your neighbours, contact your local council or check our wood smoke information page.