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Best Practices Wood Burning During Colder Months

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ISSUED: 12/14/2015

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The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued a reminder to residents about best practices for wood burning during colder months to minimize air pollution and potential health impacts. The DEP recommends allowing wood to season for at least six months, using a wood moisture meter to ensure moisture content is below 20 percent, stacking wood off the ground and covered, starting fires with newspaper and dry kindling, and regularly removing ashes. Residents are also advised to avoid burning garbage, cardboard, plastics, or treated wood, and to maintain a safe distance between flammable materials and wood-burning appliances.

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--- Document: Best Practices Wood Burning During Colder Months Document ---
 
 
 
 
IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     Contact: Caryn Shinske          (609) 984-1795 
December 14, 2015                                                                  Lawrence Hajna       (609) 984-1795 
www.nj.gov/dep                                                                       Bob Considine         (609) 292-2994 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
           
 
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION RECOMMENDS BEST 
PRACTICES FOR WOOD BURNING DURING COLDER MONTHS 
TIPS CAN HELP REDUCE AIR POLLUTION, POTENTIALLY HARMFUL HEALTH IMPACTS 
 
(15/P117) TRENTON – With colder weather on the way, the Department of Environmental 
Protection is reminding New Jersey residents to take steps to reduce their impact on air quality 
when burning wood for heat, whether in fireplaces, wood stoves, or outdoor wood boilers. 
 
“As winter approaches, more homeowners turn to wood-burning fireplaces or wood stoves to 
heat their homes and save on heating costs,” said John Giordano, Assistant Commissioner for Air 
Quality, Energy and Sustainability. “With simple precautions and care, there’s much that can be 
done to minimize wood-burning emissions that impact the environment and the health of you and 
your neighbors.” 
 
The DEP recommends following these guidelines for burning wood at home: 
 
 Allow wood to season before burning it. Seasoning entails allowing the wood to sit 
outdoors for at least six months. Seasoned wood is darker, has cracks in the end grain and 
sounds hollow when smacked against another piece of wood.   
 
 Use a wood moisture meter to test the moisture content of wood. Wood burns most 
efficiently when its moisture content is below 20 percent. 
 
 Stack wood neatly off the ground with the top covered to protect the wood from rain and 
snow. 
 
 Start fires with newspaper and dry kindling. Keep fires burning hot. 
 
 Regularly remove ashes to ensure proper airflow. 
 
 Never burn garbage, cardboard, plastics, wrapping materials, painted materials or 
pressure-treated wood in your stove or fireplace. 
 


 
 
 Keep anything flammable - including drapes, furniture, newspapers and books - far away 
from any wood-burning appliance. Keep an accessible and recently inspected fire 
extinguisher nearby.  
 
 Consider using an indoor air HEPA filter in the same room as a stove or fireplace. A 
study by the University of British Columbia indicates these filters can reduce indoor 
particle pollution by 60 percent. 
 
State regulations and some municipal ordinances prohibit the emission of visible smoke from 
outdoor wood boilers. Wood boilers heat a fluid that is circulated in homes and buildings for 
heating purposes. Under state regulations, these boilers may only emit visible smoke for three 
minutes every half-hour to allow for start-up. 
 
In deciding how to heat your home this winter and reduce your exposure to fine particles from 
wood smoke, DEP recommends upgrading to a U. S. Environmental Protection Agency-certified 
wood stove or fireplace insert. The newer equipment will reduce air pollution and is much more 
energy efficient.  
 
For more information on wood burning in New Jersey, visit: 
http://www.nj.gov/dep/baqp/woodburning.html 
 
For more on the EPA’s Burnwise program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/  
                                                                         
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